I did some background research on Santa, and here's some stuff I found on Wikipedia. Santa came from a real person called Saint Nicholas of Myra. I won't go into the whole story now, but you can look it up here if you'd like. There are a couple names people use for Santa: they include Santa Claus, Father Christmas, St. Nicholas, and Kris Kringle. Most people imagine him to look like a fat, jolly man in a red suit with black mittens and boots, with a Santa hat. He uses his eight reindeer plus Rudolph to deliver toys to all the good girls and boys all over the world on Christmas Eve, and coal to the naughty children.
There are several views on Santa: I was brought up to believe in Santa; most little kids do. Some critics think it is bad for parents to lie to their children. Others think it detracts from the religious part of Christmas, and others think it is just a sign of how commercialized Christmas has become.
By the time kids are in, say, 6th or 7th grade, they start to question the existence of Santa. (I really hope I'm not bursting any bubbles right here.) I don't have any personal horror stories; I pretty much figured it out for myself. Some kids find out from their friends and some kids' parents break it to them gently. My parents didn't--for all I know, they still think I believe.
I don't know, though: after I stopped believing in Santa, Christmas just kind of dimmed for me. It was a lot more fun to write letters, to stay up late and then pretend that you heard sleigh bells on the roof to make your brother jealous, to leave Santa cookies and then wake up and gasp at the half-eaten cookies and the note in your mom's disguised handwriting....I guess it just lost something.
My questions for you guys are: Did you believe in Santa when you were little? How did you find out he wasn't real? What are your views on Santa and his influence on little kids?
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When I was young I used to believe in Santa and I kind of wish I still did. Sure it's never a good thing to lie to your children about Santa but the times I had believing that he was real were the best. I loved each present I got from him and always found it remarkable that he always found time to deliver toys to me every year. I was also very interested in seeing Santa but I never got the chance. I think I found out that he wasn't real about fifth grade. That was the time when I began to question his existence. A year before I concluded that all the Santa's I had been sitting on the lap of had been fake cause I found it very coincidental that he always seemed to make his showing at a small place like Glenview. I guess I found out in 5th grade because I began to realize things didn't add up. Remembering everyone's gift, where everyone lived, and the size of his sleigh were just a couple of the things that didn't make sense. I still want to believe in Santa Claus and everything that comes with it I am always unable to.
For me I there was like no point in time when I suddenly stopped believing in santa, i just kinda figured it out over the years. My parents pretend that I don't know but they probably know that I know. (if that makes any sense at all!) But I don't think santa claus is a bad thing. Most kids are smart enough to figure it out. It is just a fun tradition for the children!
My parents ended up saying something around fifth grade or whatever, but I had pretty much figured it out.
Even though I knew he wasn't real, I kind of still hoped that I was wrong and he was real. So, I was a bit sad when they told me he wasn't: although it wasn't a huge surprise, it was still sad to actually have my mom tell me.
I think it made Christmas more fun to believe in him, and I don't see much wrong in it.
christmas was more fun with santa involved. now it's kind of lost something.
I don't know really. I wish i still believed.
Every time I read the Polar Express, I wish it would happen to me.
I guess I was really young when I figured out Santa wasn't real. I was in 3rd or 4th grade. I figured it out on my own and then had it confirmed by my 'rents.
I agree with everyone when they say that Christmas was more fun with Santa. It gave me something to look forward too. I already got my Christmas presents cuz we're gonna be gone for christmas and there's nothing left to have done. A lot of Christmas spirit is from santa claus and with him gone...some spirit is lost.
Yes, Christmas was more fun with Santa. YES GRAICEY! I love the Polar Express.
I actually have a pretty good story. Like 4th grade, we were opening presents and my mom goes, "Prasad! You forgot to put the CD in!"
That basically killed it, although I'd had my doubts before that.
Wait, what are you guys talking about? Of COURSE Santa's real, you're being ridiculous!!
Jk. =)
I actually remember the moment vividly. I was reading one of those Fudge books by Judy Bloom with my mom, and at one point one of the characters makes a comment about Santa not being real. My mom sort of looked at me with horror and I started laughing like I already knew for months (I didn't). I had had my doubts before then, but I kind of went along with it.
Santa and I were TIGHT. I loved that guy when I was little! Although I agree with everyone else when they said that not believing kind of killed it. It's kind of depressing not to think of a magical fat guy in a red suit anymore, but I guess we can't believe in fantasies forever.
However, just the idea of Santa Claus made me so incredibly happy, and the fact that some parents would deprive their kids of that is just MEAN. It also kept me on better behavior so I could make the "nice" list.
To the Polar Express club: YES. When I saw the movie (even after my Santa phase was over), it made me want to believe. That movie works wonders, I'm telling you. I even believed in Santa for a day or two after seeing it! (Then I was sadly struck by reality).
WAIT I FORGOT!
True story: When I was little, I was sleeping in my mom's room on Christmas Eve, and in the middle of the night (and I wasn't hallucinating), I heard a great deal of thumping on the roof (and no, it wasn't my dad or my brother). Santa's sleigh maybe?
agreed! I know this sounds corny, but Christmas was so much more "magical" when there was a santa clause. I guess you could say that christmas has just lost some of its "magic". We should've realized how good we had it when we were young! :)
My kids think Santa, the Tooth Fairy, the Boogie man, Humbaba, and and tall Leprechauns like to watch cartoons and eat Cheetos in our basement when no one is home. Do you think I've gone a little too far?
Wait what are you talking about? Santa is a jolly old man from the north pole who comes on the 25th of december to eat my cookies! Just kidding, my friend and I still believe in Santa at heart, though. It's not really what Christmas is all about but it's just a really fun tradition and kids love it! I was quite sad to be honest when I found out Santa wasn't real, because then I thought well then the tooth fairy's not real nor are the lepracauns.
hehe, how did your kids formulate that idea Mr. Morgan?
I think its okay, its just part of a kids childhood. I mean has it really done any of us harm? yes it is very sad to finally realize there is no santa claus, but it was fun while we believed it.
haha mr. morgan, the funniest one is humbaba.
Santas not real!?!?
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