View Full Version : When did you stop believing in Santa?
Christmas Mom
11-29-2007, 02:20 AM
My third grader came home from school the other day and told me that he wasn't going to go to the mall this year and sit on Santa's lap. We usually go to sit on Santa’s lap on December 6th, which is St. Nicholas Day, and it has been a tradition since his first Christmas. When I asked him why, he said that he heard from his classmates that there was no such thing as Santa Claus, and that there is no way that Santa can be in every mall and be getting ready for Christmas at the same time.
My son is only eight years old - how can he already not believe in Santa Claus? I remember I believed in Santa Claus until I was 12 or 13. Maybe I was naive, but it didn't hurt anything or anybody to believe. I remember that even after I knew the truth, I never admitted it to my parents. I kind of thought that if they knew I didn't believe in Santa Claus, they wouldn't give me presents from Santa Claus.
I talked about this with my sister, and she told me about a service at www.santasvideocalls.com that gives your child a call from Santa himself. You can choose between video calls or regular telephone calls, and Santa Claus actually calls your child from the North Pole. I decided to order a telephone call for Chase. I was able to book a time where I knew we would be at home, and you should have seen his face! He was so excited to get a phone call, but when he found out that it was Santa Claus, he was even more excited.
When he got off the phone, the first thing he asked was how Santa Claus knew his name and telephone number, and if we could still go to the mall at December 6th to see Santa in person. It's definitely worth it to have one more year with Santa Claus and my kid being a kid.
Stevie U-P
12-02-2007, 07:18 PM
When I was about 10 I think but I think I had a fair idea by then
cavaliers60
12-12-2007, 01:38 AM
For me, it was at about the age of 8 or so when I stopped... I went to bed that night and as a lot of little kids, stayed awake all night. I saw my mom carry stuff in the living room and after they went to bed, I got up and went in there. Saw what they left (she forgot to take off the JCPenny sticker off.... lol Then the note "santa left" was in her handwriting... So that pretty much did it in for me. I've been a mess ever since. :waving:
Daisy
09-09-2008, 08:18 PM
Scarily, my mother forced the idea of Santa onto us and made it really believable!
She claimed she found a reindeer in her flat when she was about 24 one Christmas, hahaha. I stopped believing at about thirteen... my brother is coming up for fourteen and I'm going to brand Santa into his mind so that he believes forever! Hah!
Still, my mother always gives me a gift from "Santa"... In her own unmistakeable writing "disguised" in capitol letters.
She's so funny. Even now she'll tell me she believes in Santa.
Treefairy
09-09-2008, 08:59 PM
YOU MEAN SANTA CLAUSE IS NOT REAL!!!!
OF COURSE HE IS:waving:
JackFrost
09-11-2008, 04:18 AM
YOU MEAN SANTA CLAUSE IS NOT REAL!!!!
OF COURSE HE IS:waving:
Of course Santa is real, who else would eat the cookies i put out!!!!!!! :dizzy:
Daisy
09-11-2008, 04:22 AM
Of course Santa is real, who else would eat the cookies i put out!!!!!!! :dizzy:
Haha, every time I come downstairs on Christmas morning, I find it hilarious when I see that my dad has taken a chunk out of Rudolf's carrot, hahaha.
Treefairy
09-11-2008, 05:55 AM
Of course Santa is real, who else would eat the cookies i put out!!!!!!! :dizzy:
PHEW! Thank you, I was starting to worry.
JackFrost
09-11-2008, 05:09 PM
PHEW! Thank you, I was starting to worry.
That's ok Treefairy. We know the truth and come christmas eve when our stockings are hung we know that santa won't bring us coal!!!:angel::angel::angel:
Merry Christmas Darling
09-12-2008, 03:03 AM
For me, it was at about the age of 8 or so when I stopped... I went to bed that night and as a lot of little kids, stayed awake all night. I saw my mom carry stuff in the living room and after they went to bed, I got up and went in there. Saw what they left (she forgot to take off the JCPenny sticker off.... lol Then the note "santa left" was in her handwriting... So that pretty much did it in for me. I've been a mess ever since. :waving:
Well, I was only four when the same thing happened to me! My sister told me that Santa wasn't real and I was so worried I couldn't get to sleep. I was mad at my sister for being right again (she usually was). When my little brother was four and a half, I told him that the toy truck he thought he was going to get from Santa had already been bought. When he got older, we became partners in crime. The two of us would sneak around the house searching for the hiding places before the gifts were wrapped. When I was in my twenties, I'd slip a pair of scissors between the folds of paper and cut the tape at the end of packages that came in the mail. I'd find out what my in-laws had sent to all of us. If the paper accidentally tore, I'd rewrap the gift. My husband didn't notice. I confessed to him though and he told on me. My father-in-law must have used a whole roll of tape on the next gift! LOL. I told my husband that that wasn't necessary. I said, "If you extract a promise from me, I won't peek!" I'm always true to my word. Eventually, I just stopped peeking.
PumpkinJack81
09-16-2008, 11:30 AM
When I was in my twenties, I'd slip a pair of scissors between the folds of paper and cut the tape at the end of packages that came in the mail. I'd find out what my in-laws had sent to all of us. If the paper accidentally tore, I'd rewrap the gift. My husband didn't notice. I confessed to him though and he told on me. My father-in-law must have used a whole roll of tape on the next gift! LOL. I told my husband that that wasn't necessary. I said, "If you extract a promise from me, I won't peek!" I'm always true to my word. Eventually, I just stopped peeking.
A co-worker and I were just discussing yesterday how she use to do the same thing; cut the tape with scissors and then tape the gifts back up. Too funny! :dizzy:
smiley-stocking
09-20-2008, 05:37 PM
Santa is real. And none of yew can deny it. :santa:
PumpkinJack81
09-23-2008, 08:05 PM
Santa is real. And none of yew can deny it. :santa:
Here, here! :santa1:
SUNFLOWER1
10-05-2008, 12:45 PM
I was about 8 but deep down i think i knew!
Its such a lovley thing and magical for children.
xx
gemiknight
10-08-2008, 07:18 AM
When I was 8 my oldest brother tried to convince me that Santa was really just Mom and Dad by bringing me into their bedroom and showing me all the gifts, wrapped and ready to be put under the tree for Christmas a few days later....
I wrote a letter to Santa telling him what my brother showed me. I also thanked him for being so generous for sending the gifts to my parents early that year. I knew how busy he must get on Christmas Eve, so it only made sense that he would send out some kids' gifts to their parents in order to keep things efficient....
Yeah, so it turns out that Jed (my brother) was dead wrong... Our parents weren't Santa, but actually, they're his helpers. And now that I'm moved out, I'll soon be training to be his helper too! I'm so excited!
Ms_Speedy_Elf
10-18-2008, 01:29 PM
I think for me it came rather early around the 4th grade to be exact .
Yah must been round 1st or second grade. Dang cousins ruin everything! :santahat:
ladyice
11-02-2008, 10:02 PM
um Never? :santa:
onemagicalchristmas
11-03-2008, 12:22 AM
I still believe in Santa even though I found out my parents were his helpers. Now hubby has to helpo him out!:presents2:presents:tree:
ladyice
11-03-2008, 02:43 AM
I still wave to Santa when I see him and smile in the mall.
He always waves back :)
onemagicalchristmas
11-03-2008, 02:46 AM
I don't see santa anywhere but when I do I thank him.. I am a shutin for now but next year I am going to get out if it kills me. Merry CHristmas!
i luv christmas best
11-03-2008, 03:33 PM
My mean first grade teacher told all the students that Santa wasn't real:sad elf:.... I was so sad...
JollyElfDC
11-10-2008, 02:33 AM
My mean first grade teacher told all the students that Santa wasn't real:sad elf:.... I was so sad...
What a HORRIBLE person!:mad:
i luv christmas best
11-10-2008, 02:41 PM
What a HORRIBLE person!:mad:
I know, my parents were really upset.
persimmonpudding
11-10-2008, 05:41 PM
Wellllll..... I might have had a lapse in judgement after 10-12 or so...but I came to my sense and I believe again!
k nielsen
11-10-2008, 08:06 PM
Never!!!!! Santa and I are very special friends, he and I have a great arrangement. I love Santa- he rocks!
alicat123
11-13-2008, 09:11 PM
I think i stopped believing in santa when i was about 8 and was sent to boarding school. But what is lovely is because i now work with young children, the magic still lives on through them each year. :)
onemagicalchristmas
11-14-2008, 03:55 AM
I think i stopped believing in santa when i was about 8 and was sent to boarding school. But what is lovely is because i now work with young children, the magic still lives on through them each year. :)
I am glad to hear that! Kids are wonders to christmas time! CHristmas is so magical for younger kids!
ajfree
11-21-2008, 04:04 AM
To be honest with you I still believe in Santa sometimes and actually wonder if there really isn't a Santa. No I am not nutso or dellusional. LOL Well sometimes I am. Back in 1996 my husband and I were in Builder Square with our 4 year old son. He was sitting in the seat of the shopping cart and we were looking at tools for someone for Christmas. There was a man working in that area that looked just like Santa Claus. My son pointed and said, "Look there is the real Santa". He walked over to us and asked if he could help and I said, "Are you really the real Santa Clause?" Now let me tell you the man looked like Santa Claus and he had the bluest twinkling eyes I've ever seen in my life. He looked me in the eye and said, "Yes I am the real Santa Claus." Then he winked at me and my husband. My husbands mouth fell open and I gasped. My son gleefully clapped his hands and said, "I told you he was the real Santa Claus" My husband and I were fabblergasted because the oddiest sensation came over the both of us as if "is this man really Santa?" We looked at each other and turned to say something and he was gone. I am not joking. He probably went on break or something but it was so real and to this day we can't help but wonder is there really a Santa if we would only believe. :santa1:
gemiknight
11-21-2008, 04:08 AM
what a wonderful story, ajfree! that had to have been so magical!
ajfree
11-21-2008, 04:14 AM
what a wonderful story, ajfree! that had to have been so magical!
yes it was definitly magical. I need to ask my son if he remembers. He was so cute with his little chubby hands clapping in glee
flick's tongue
11-21-2008, 11:21 PM
I have two kids, my oldest is 11. I think he's somewhat on the fence, although I know he wants to beleive.
For me, I think I was about 10 or 11 when I asked my Dad to "shoot it to me straight" about Santa. He did, telling me that the spirit of Christmas is what it's all about--kindness and giving. The idea of Santa only represents those ideals, not necessarily a human person.
It was important to me that my younger brother and sister believed as long as possible. I don't understand kids who delight in spoiling it for others.
charminggiftstore
12-16-2008, 06:16 PM
To be honest, I don't even remember ever believing in Santa Claus. My mom says I did when I was very young, but my older sister told me Santa Claus wasn't real so I stopped believing. Too bad I don't ever remember that though. I look at my niece and see how excited she gets just thinking about Santa and Christmas.
Denise Wilson
Charming Gift Store
http://www.charminggiftstore.com
Great Gift Baskets For Every Occasion!
onemagicalchristmas
12-17-2008, 02:59 AM
I believe in Santa and the spirit of CHristmas. He may just be mythical but I try to make the holidays magical for my greats. I want them to believe for a long time to come!presents
A.Edwards
04-29-2009, 10:13 AM
I believe in Nicholas, the guy who used to deliver presents all those years ago (I can't remember the exact details), but not in Father Christmas with all the reindeers and stuff. :gelf:
Now thats out the way, I did believe in him till I was about 11/12. I heard kids say he didnt exist, but I never believed them until my parents told me all about it. I was sad at first, but Christmas is all about spending time with family and having fun, right?
onemagicalchristmas
04-29-2009, 03:58 PM
I still believe in Christmas but Santa was alwas my parents. I would like to play Santa for my husband this year but he is always up first in the mornings! :carols: :yahoo: :presents3:
I believed until I was 12/13. Was gutted when I found out that he was not real. Questioned everything for a long time. I used to write to Santa after Christmas and empathize with him on his exhaustion. I had vision of him right through the Summer making a dolls house for me bit by bit. The 1st Christmas after I was told my parents I found Christmas so strange. I was still watching out on Christmas eve like we always did. I was still feeling strange going to bed. I was creeping around the house wondering where on earth these presents were kept. I guess I still believed really.
Reality struck
Broke ever since:dizzy:
Mistletoe
05-07-2009, 02:44 PM
I believed until I was 12/13. Was gutted when I found out that he was not real. Questioned everything for a long time. I used to write to Santa after Christmas and empathize with him on his exhaustion. I had vision of him right through the Summer making a dolls house for me bit by bit. The 1st Christmas after I was told my parents I found Christmas so strange. I was still watching out on Christmas eve like we always did. I was still feeling strange going to bed. I was creeping around the house wondering where on earth these presents were kept. I guess I still believed really.
Reality struck
Broke ever since:dizzy:
That was nice of you to write to Santa right after Christmas. :)
I used to write to him during the year (usually summer), to find out how things were going and to let him know that I didn't just care about him at Christmas time. The year or two before I was told, I started getting him gifts and leaving them next to his milk and cookies, to let him know how much I appreciated him. :)
PumpkinJack81
05-16-2009, 06:14 PM
That was nice of you to write to Santa right after Christmas. :)
I used to write to him during the year (usually summer), to find out how things were going and to let him know that I didn't just care about him at Christmas time. The year or two before I was told, I started getting him gifts and leaving them next to his milk and cookies, to let him know how much I appreciated him. :)
That is adorable! See, you've always been a kind-hearted and caring person! :D
onemagicalchristmas
05-19-2009, 12:30 AM
do you think Santa ould bring me a better healtier body?
Mistletoe
05-22-2009, 07:50 PM
That is adorable! See, you've always been a kind-hearted and caring person! :D
Haha...thanks! :p
Mistletoe
05-22-2009, 07:51 PM
do you think Santa ould bring me a better healtier body?
wouldn't that be nice?
onemagicalchristmas
05-22-2009, 11:32 PM
yes it would. dieting is hard and losing weight is harder yet!
Elvira1986
06-14-2009, 09:44 AM
I stopped believing when I was 5.
We celebrate Sinterklaas(5th december) and Christmas. The story about Sinterklaas is that his help Black Peter takes bad children to Spain. I had nightmares about that in the weeks before Sinterklaas and my parents decided to tell me. Of course I realised that if one wasn't real, the other probably wasn't either.
onemagicalchristmas
06-14-2009, 04:12 PM
It is hard to believe if you are having nightmares. Your parents could see your turmoil. Sorry to hear you were so young!
Elvira1986
07-03-2009, 03:15 PM
In retrospect I feel kind of sad about it, but I think they did the best thing possible. After that I could enjoy the holidays in full again. I also had that feeling of sharing a secret with the adults.
For me Christmas is not about believing in Santa, but believing in the magic of the season. And I still believe in the latter.
Mistletoe
07-08-2009, 04:04 PM
For me Christmas is not about believing in Santa, but believing in the magic of the season. And I still believe in the latter.
That's a nice thought.
I stopped believing in Santa Claus at the age of 10, when my big brother :gelf: told me one day, that Coca Cola created Santa Claus :santa:, for commercial reasons.
It had crossed my mind, because for years I was trying to find out how Santa delivered presents for kids all over the world, just in ONE night... and flying...
However, I always believed that there was a Santa Claus (or whatever they call him), in every country.. Or at leat, that is what I like to believe.. :santahat:
Have you ever heard of JOULUTARINA? The movie came in Greece last Christmas and it is from Finland. It is the story of St. Nicolas, in Finland..
I saw it and I loved it.. I found it very traditional Christmas.. And it is somethig different..
Here is the trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrt7uSLIiyk)...
I think that you will like it...
Exactly Elvira !! Believe in the magic of the season !!
onemagicalchristmas
07-09-2009, 01:44 AM
I am dreading the holidays at this moment because we are too broke to save the $$$$$ to shop with!
Mistletoe
07-09-2009, 06:12 PM
I am dreading the holidays at this moment because we are too broke to save the $$$$$ to shop with!
You're a thrifty shopper, if anyone can do it, you can!
Our neighbor celebrated last Christmas with no gifts, so they could celebrate the real meaning of it. I keep forgetting to ask her how it went, because sometimes I feel like I'd like to see how that would be, even though I really like buying things for other people.
Elvira1986
07-09-2009, 06:54 PM
I am dreading the holidays at this moment because we are too broke to save the $$$$$ to shop with!
I'm sorry to hear that. I know how that feels like. The first year we lived together we sometimes had to collect our empty plastic bottles to be able to buy food at the end of the month. Naturally we didn't have much too spend for christmas and it turned out that did not matter at all. It ended up to be one of my cherished christmasses. Especially because we made it special, with so little money. You can do it! Don't worry!
Buzzby
07-16-2009, 06:06 PM
When I was about 11, I think. Apparently my parents were really concerned because I was starting secondary school and they thought that people would be making fun of me, and they'd have to tell me, but apparently I'd started to faze out anyway.
The tragic thing is, I watch home videos of Christmas when I was ten or so, and I see myself saying to my mum "Are these from Santa?" and she pauses for about ten seconds and says "Erm... well... they weren't there last night..." in a REALLY awkward and reluctant voice. It's so depressing!
Then the following year I was obviously having doubts but didn't want to completely give up hope. My parents and I were sat around the TV watching one of those shows where a load of d-list celebrities talk about their Christmases as kids, and one woman said something like "My parents used to tell me, you be careful with those toys! It's our money paid for those toys, not some fat bloke come down the chimney!"
And my parents laughed, not realising that I'd been desperately clinging onto my last glimmer of possibility. It wasn't very nice. It didn't spoil my Christmas, it just made the next morning a little weird now that it was certain. I was a sweet kid though, and just took it as reason to thank my parents even more for presents...
My little cousins are refusing to believe now. The boy is 10 and is quite effeminate and sweet in his own way, and I think he would believe if it wasn't for awful, rough children growing up too fast around here. And the girl is two years younger than him but is a total tomboy and really brash, so there's no chance of her believing in pixie dust. Three years ago though they went to see Santa in Lapland which made them believe for another year. And then two years ago I went to Disneyland with them in December which brought some festiveness out in them. I'm not sure about last year. They seem to claim not to believe, but then they're willing to see Santa in his Grotto. Probably for the free gifts alone though ¬_¬ Bah.
When I'm a parent I'll be smothering my child in sentimental mush and making Christmas so excessively fairy-dust coated that they won't be able to escape from it. Mwhahaha.
gummgirl
08-05-2009, 02:35 AM
I think I was about nine or ten. I had kinda known for a while he wasn't real but to be sure that Christmas Eve I slept downstairs but, before I fell asleep I counted all my gifts(yes I really did this!) durning the night I never heard anything and when I woke up I had the same amount of gifts as I had the night before. So it was then I knew he wasn't real.
Mistletoe
08-26-2009, 10:07 PM
When I was 8 my oldest brother tried to convince me that Santa was really just Mom and Dad by bringing me into their bedroom and showing me all the gifts, wrapped and ready to be put under the tree for Christmas a few days later....
I wrote a letter to Santa telling him what my brother showed me. I also thanked him for being so generous for sending the gifts to my parents early that year. I knew how busy he must get on Christmas Eve, so it only made sense that he would send out some kids' gifts to their parents in order to keep things efficient....
Yeah, so it turns out that Jed (my brother) was dead wrong... Our parents weren't Santa, but actually, they're his helpers. And now that I'm moved out, I'll soon be training to be his helper too! I'm so excited!
That's great! :smiling angel:
Mistletoe
08-26-2009, 10:14 PM
To be honest with you I still believe in Santa sometimes and actually wonder if there really isn't a Santa. No I am not nutso or dellusional. LOL Well sometimes I am. Back in 1996 my husband and I were in Builder Square with our 4 year old son. He was sitting in the seat of the shopping cart and we were looking at tools for someone for Christmas. There was a man working in that area that looked just like Santa Claus. My son pointed and said, "Look there is the real Santa". He walked over to us and asked if he could help and I said, "Are you really the real Santa Clause?" Now let me tell you the man looked like Santa Claus and he had the bluest twinkling eyes I've ever seen in my life. He looked me in the eye and said, "Yes I am the real Santa Claus." Then he winked at me and my husband. My husbands mouth fell open and I gasped. My son gleefully clapped his hands and said, "I told you he was the real Santa Claus" My husband and I were fabblergasted because the oddiest sensation came over the both of us as if "is this man really Santa?" We looked at each other and turned to say something and he was gone. I am not joking. He probably went on break or something but it was so real and to this day we can't help but wonder is there really a Santa if we would only believe. :santa1:
That's awesome! :christmastree:
Christmasplease
08-26-2009, 10:27 PM
cool:gelf:
That story really touched my heart, it was very cute... :smitten:
kimmy
09-16-2009, 11:41 AM
i was 5, i never got anything i wanted, actually i never got anything :mad:
my daughter is 8 and still believes, she loves the thought of santa coming down the chimney
ikey2
09-16-2009, 11:51 AM
i was 5, i never got anything i wanted, actually i never got anything :mad:
my daughter is 8 and still believes, she loves the thought of santa coming down the chimney
Kimmy try your best to keep her believing in it. I know some people are against that and let kids know way to early.
However as a person that has never stopped believing its worth the effort to keep them happy inside.
kimmy
09-21-2009, 07:09 AM
defiantly, i am the one that tries to keep her believing, its sad when they no longer believe, she came back from school the other day crying because most of the people in her class no longer believe, i cant believe how many of the children don't believe no more, they are only 8-9 years old and i would say only about 5 children still believe in her class and its been like that for the last two years, its horrible because its spoils it for the children who still believe. she gets bullied because of it and it even came to where a boy hit her in her face because she still believes, the poor little love still was defending santa even after that and she still believes.
defiantly, i am the one that tries to keep her believing, its sad when they no longer believe, she came back from school the other day crying because most of the people in her class no longer believe, i cant believe how many of the children don't believe no more, they are only 8-9 years old and i would say only about 5 children still believe in her class and its been like that for the last two years, its horrible because its spoils it for the children who still believe. she gets bullied because of it and it even came to where a boy hit her in her face because she still believes, the poor little love still was defending santa even after that and she still believes.
Who says that Santa does not exist? :candycane1:
He does, in our hearts, in our dreams, in our true faith for Christmas...
For me, when I saw the movie ''Joulutarina (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrt7uSLIiyk)'', then I realised the true meaning of the kind hearted old man with presents..
Personally, I never stopped believing in the magic of Christmas..
:smitten:
Elvira1986
09-21-2009, 02:07 PM
ITA it's about the magic, Olga!
kam1187
05-08-2010, 08:31 AM
I was about 3 or 4...saw my dad putting presents under the tree because I snuck downstairs to peek. But thats ok! It has never effected me in a negative way, and every year I love Christmas more and more! If you believe or not, its such a magical time anyways :santahat:
Home alone 2
05-15-2010, 12:22 PM
I left out milk and cookies before I went to bed I was about 9 But I came back downstairs to find my big brother eating them that made me think he wasn't real :sad elf:
I left out milk and cookies before I went to bed I was about 9 But I came back downstairs to find my big brother eating them that made me think he wasn't real :sad elf:
Ha ha!!! Thats very funny!!!
I guess, your brother is still on the naughty list.. :no:
SilverBells
06-21-2010, 03:24 AM
My little one who's 5 years old still believes :santa1:and I'm so happy for that. My daughter, now 11 years old, stopped believing in Santa when she was 9 years old after some of her friends spoiled it for her. :sad elf:
stephmcuk
08-03-2010, 08:52 PM
I have no idea, i really cannot remember.
My girls are 6 and 3 and they very much believe.....to be honest my 6 year told is very gulliable and will prob believe alot longer that ost kids :)
SilverBells
08-04-2010, 12:19 AM
Sadly I don't think I ever believed in Santa the way my kids do or did. :sad elf:
devoy26
08-04-2010, 07:22 PM
Of course Santa is real, who else would eat the cookies i put out!!!!!!! :dizzy:
well said jack. i was 10 when i stopped . worsed day of my life when i found out.:sad elf:
stephmcuk
08-05-2010, 08:46 PM
well said jack. i was 10 when i stopped . worsed day of my life when i found out.:sad elf:
aww thats so sad :(
i remember i must have been about 9 and my friends telling me hes not real but my mum telling me he is real....i was going back and forth for months haha.....i dont remember how i found out for sure tho.:christmastree:
MinnesotaMike
11-02-2010, 10:50 PM
By the time my parents confirmed it, I already knew. At least I was able to mentally prepare myself. It wasn't too earth-shattering for me. My dad told my it was my "responsibility" to keep the dream alive for my little sister.
ornamentmaven
11-03-2010, 11:12 AM
I think most kids figure it out way before they admit it! I was 7.
SilverBells
11-03-2010, 04:43 PM
My son is 5 years old still believes and my daughter (11) helps so that he doesn't realise the truth just yet. She still remembers the joy she felt. I can't help but think though that when the right time comes and my little guy doesn't believe in :santa2: anymore we'll be able to put the presents under the tree way before Christmas Eve/Day. And the Christmas tree will look even more beautiful. :presents1::presents2::home::presents3:
MinnesotaMike
11-03-2010, 09:55 PM
Actually...every year (until my sister and I had families of our own) we still got presents from Santa, and my parents waited to put out presents until Christmas Eve. I always thought that was kinda cool. We still got excited to see how much the "load" under the tree changed overnight! My mom even still filled the stockings.
ornamentmaven
11-04-2010, 02:27 AM
I was the oldest of 4 children and always helped to keep the dream alive for the younger ones! It made me feel as if I was part of the adult world!
SilverBells
11-04-2010, 09:35 PM
You know in Greece our Santa Claus is a saint called St. Vassilios who was a real life person, a very rich one, that gave everything he owned to the poor. We celebrate his memory on New Year's Day and that is why it is customary in Greece to give the presents on Jan, 1st. So in a way the gift giving excitement and anticipation here lasts longer. Now in my family, because we lived for a number of years in the US, we do both. Santa Claus comes Christmas Day (I want the kids to enjoy their new toys for several days before they go back to school) and Agios Vassilis comes New Year's with an extra present to keep the tradition going. Plus it's good luck to have something new to start the year.
ornamentmaven
11-05-2010, 05:57 AM
Oh - your kids are so lucky!
MinnesotaMike
11-05-2010, 06:26 AM
It's all Greek to me! ;)
SilverBells
11-05-2010, 03:33 PM
It's all Greek to me! ;)
:santahat: In Greece we say "it's all Chinese to me!" :dizzy: Now isn't chinese harder to learn than greek? :elf1:
SilverBells
11-05-2010, 03:36 PM
Oh - your kids are so lucky!
Other families save all the presents for new Year's Day :rudolph:
xmasallyearround
08-04-2011, 11:41 PM
Actually...every year (until my sister and I had families of our own) we still got presents from Santa, and my parents waited to put out presents until Christmas Eve. I always thought that was kinda cool. We still got excited to see how much the "load" under the tree changed overnight! My mom even still filled the stockings.
Everyyear i still got gifts from santa too and my mom use to wait untill christmas eve to fill the rest of the gifts in under the tree and she would still load my stocking...Now i have a lil one of my own who's too young to know who santa is right now but i wanna keep the dream alive for her and her soon to be sister about santa untill they are ready to discover if he is real or not but i found out and i still believe
christmasloves
08-21-2011, 06:16 PM
I think I was six when I realised but my parents told me at eight
MinnesotaMike
08-21-2011, 11:08 PM
I think I was six when I realised but my parents told me at eight
To me, that seems young. My son will be 5 in October, and I sure hope we have more than ONE more year to keep the magic alive for him. One problem, I think, is that our culture has shifted slightly, and nowadays there are a lot more parents who spill the beans early (or don't even tell their kids about Santa at all), and it carries over into school, where they ruin it for the other kids. When I was in elementary school back in the '70's, ALL kids believed in Santa!! Just another sign that our society is weakening and crumbling. I think I was 9 when I discovered presents from Santa (after digging), and 10 by the time my dad actually fessed up. Sad if my boy stops believing NEXT year. :sad elf:
christmasloves
08-21-2011, 11:13 PM
I was a kid that never missed anything though. Hope your kid believes for much longer!!
ornamentmaven
08-22-2011, 01:22 AM
I was seven and just came to the conclusion myself. It was 1963. I wasn't told by other kids. I remember saying to my Mom - "There's no Santa is there?" I also remember thinking at the time..."Don't lie to me Mom - cause I'm not that stupid". I promised to never tell another child what I knew. Most of the kids in my class had stopped believing by 8 or 9. I even remember my 4th grade teacher asking us who still believed. It was always amazing to me that kids would still believe after being asked that question!!!
When I was in 4th grade, I stopped. I can't really remember what age I was...either 9 or 10?
My little brother just turned 11 and he still believes in Santa, or at least leads on that he does. I feel like since he's going into 6th grade he's too old, but whatever. Keeps the holiday fun, haha. I just wonder how he still does when my cousin who is the same age as him doesn't, and I'm sure plenty of kids in his class don't either.
michelmas
08-24-2011, 09:56 PM
I don't ever remember believing in Santa. I do remember being very young (4-ish) and knowing that Santa was make believe. I had older siblings so maybe that had something to do with it. It was fun even though I knew Santa was not real and it is fun as adults. We always 'did' Santa, still do and always will.
Slopotak
09-09-2011, 03:53 AM
Hi everyone, interesting article ;)
omgitzdestineex
10-18-2011, 01:48 AM
I learned in 4th grade, when someone in my
class brought it up. But for the sake of
the season & festivities, I still believe ;)
kristleful
11-01-2011, 04:29 AM
My mom told me when I was 7, because I told her the kids at school were making fun of me for believing in Santa. I was so sure I was right, and when my mom told me the kids were right, I was shocked and crushed.
When I have kids, I'm going to let them believe for as long as possible. I still refuse to fully let go of my belief in Santa, lol! I mean, he IS real; he's just St. Nicholas, and he lives in Heaven--not the North Pole. But he's gotta still love Christmas and probably works Christmas miracles here and there! :elf1::santa1:
Fezziwig
11-06-2011, 02:05 PM
I am not really sure what age I was, probably about the same as many of you. My folks always had a lot of answers for the Santa Questions.
The Mall Santa's were not REALLY Santa but they worked for him and would report back about the kids and their wishes. After all, Santa had a factory to run.
Santa didn't bring you ALL the presents under the tree, mommy and daddy bought some, but he did bring select ones just for you.
Stuff like that. I credit my parents inventiveness and making the fantastic realistic which kept me believing all those years. I retell the same things to my son now.
Not Long Until Christmas
11-07-2011, 10:22 PM
I was told by a friend at infant school that it was really mum and dad. I was about 5. Didn't stop the fun though.
Jayne78
11-09-2011, 11:58 PM
My kids still think Santa's real since I get Elf Mail (elfmail.org.uk) letters for them each year - they're personalised too so they believe Santa's written it especially! They'll never doubt him again haha
frostythesnowman
04-26-2013, 08:40 PM
when i was 9..my brother told me there"s no such thing as santa clause...went to my room and cried my eye"s out..but i"m 43 now,i"m still a believer!!!...:presents1:
Penny Berry
05-04-2013, 06:34 PM
I still do believe!!! :santa2: