When did you first find out Santa wasn't real?

My mom is a real believer in the “spirit of x-mas”, so while I kind of knew it was her and the rest of my family leaving all those gifts under the tree, it wasn’t until I was in the 5th grade that I had to confront the cold hard facts at the hands of some kids at school in art class.

When I talked to my mother about it, she said that the idea of Santa Claus was the embodiment of the spirit of giving. A much sweeter story was shared previously.

For those raising their own children, I can neither confirm nor deny that this particular incident lead to my severe distaste for both art class and the winter holidays. Just be careful out there.

I do not have a similar story for the Easter Bunny. I did learn at some point that my mother and grandmother knew where the eggs were hidden and could guide me to them when I was stumped. Also, the Cadbury Creme Egg commercials really creeped me the hell out.

What do you mean?

All other gifts: Mom’s handwriting. Santa’s gifts: Dad’s handwriting.

My older sister ruined pretty much every childhood fantasy. She is three years older than I, and every time she found out something was a lie, she felt the need to let me in on it too. By the time I was five I had a good grasp on what was and wasn’t real.

What?! Santa’s not real?!

Thanks a lot, for ruining yet another one of my beliefs…

August 27, 2008, 8:13 AM EDT

You so full of it! Next you’ll be trying to convince me the Easter Bunny isn’t real!!

Presents wrapped with packing tape while we were in the process of moving… being sent to the back of the store after pointing out something I liked, only to receive that exact thing. Going to the toilet in the middle of the night and seeing mum and my sister laying out stuff for me to find in the morning. I can’t remember how old I was… maybe 10?
Not sure about the Easter Bunny, probably around the same time.
I stopped believing in fairies because my mum and sister used to type up little letters in the tiniest font on coloured paper and cut them out and leave them in the garden for me. I found the excess paper which they had been cut out of next to the printer once and realised I had been had.

I caught my dad putting together Santa’s big gift when I was in first grade. They had gotten me a minature pinball machine which kept making noise as they were trying to put it together. I woke up and snuck into the room and watched them for a long time before they noticed.

Since I am Jewish, it was never an issue for me. I never had any beliefs about Santa.

I’m the one who got stuck with Santa questions from both of my kids. I’m glad my children feel comfortable talking to me, but they never ask my husband any of the tough questions. I know one is coming because my son always starts out, “Mama, can I ask you something?”

when i was 4.

Next you’ll tell me that there’s no Hanukkah Harry.

There is no HH.

I knew from an early age, because my dad was a shopping center Santa every Christmas for the JayCees (kind of like Rotary Club for young men). I was let in on the “secret” because all of my friends thought he was the “real” Santa.

No Hannukah Harry???

I was a smart little kid. See when i was young and i lost a tooth, my mom would have this little cloth bag to put the tooth in for the “tooth fairy” and then in the morning the tooth would be gone, and there would be money in the bag. So i got the idea of just tying the bag to my wrist while a slept(so i could get to the bottom of this tooth fairy mystery) so when my mom went to take it, it woke me up. Once i figured out that it was BS the rest seemed pretty obvious. I believe i was around 5

@ uber: I was a smart little kid too and I kept my mouth shut on the toothfairy thing so I wouldn’t miss out on the money

we believe. Then our beliefs are shattered.
About 5.

Next you’re going to say the Easter Bunny’s a fake too. I’m on to you. Liar.

Edit- dammit. That’s what I get for not reading the narrative. still a damn liar!!

The easter bunny is a fake.

Next thing, you people will try saying there’s no Great Pumpkin!

Santa, I was probably 9 or 10. I had gotten something that had a note from Santa on it and I recognized my parent’s writing (can’t remember which parent)

Easter bunny, no idea.. I don’t think there was ever an “aha!” moment.

Tooth fairy.. well, I was an overly smart kid and I devised a way to find out if the tooth fairy was real. I guess I was about 9 or 10 and my parents had gone out of town. I was staying at my grandparents’ when I lost a tooth. I decided I wouldn’t tell my parents I’d lost the tooth, but put it under the pillow anyway. When I woke up, my tooth was still there and I felt both disappointed and smug in my planning. :P

Nope, no pumpkin.

When I never showed my parents my Christmas list and put it in the mail to the North Pole. I never got what I wanted. Tear..

Very early….I was the kid who would tear about the house looking for gifts and trying to open them.

My daughter was about 5…she figured it out when Santa used the same wrapping paper as I did.

I’m 45 and to this day my Mother has never said the words “there is no Santa”...I will also never say those words to my kids. It really is the spirit that counts. By not having the real/not real confrontation the children generally gain acceptance as common sense sets in with age. I think there is a Santa as long as you believe; that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Of course santa is real….Who keeps leaving me diamonds under the tree??? It could not possibly be my husband. The paper is always different!