When and how did you learn that there was no such thing as Santa Claus?

Whaddya mean there’s no Santa? Is too, is too, is too!

A Christian sitter told this little Jewish boy when he was around 8—on Christmas Eve yet! I haven’t been the same since.

Ermmm.

Oh, I figured it out gradually. I was about 9, and one day, a few days after Christmas, when my little sister’s weren’t around, I just said to my folks, “Santa isn’t real, is he.” My Dad turned around with a sad look on his face and said, “No. He isn’t.” I felt sad! But only for a while.

@Austinlad People who take it upon themselves to instruct other people’s kids like that just piss me off!

When I was 10 and my mom and step-dad didn’t wait till I was good and asleep to take the presents out of the attic.

In the fourth grade. A few friends and I had our doubts, and were debating the subject. We all agreed to keep one of the tags from Santa, and bring it to school when it started up again. When we did, lo and behold – different handwriting! We thought our little plan was ingenious, and it softened the blow when we found out for real.

@jeffgoldblumsprivatefacilities Now THAT was a great idea!

What – there’s no such place as Santa Cruz?

I overhead something about it on the school bus in grade 1. I can’t say I was especially surprised. Frankly, I think if your child is very surprised to learn that Santa is a fantasy, there’s something wrong there.

@janbb No no no. There is no such person as Tom Cruise.

dang!

I never believed in him in the first place.

i still get presents from santa!

This is still a duplicate question.

I really don’t know. There was no defining moment that I can recall. I think even after I knew he didn’t exist, I still hoped he did.

Rangerr. Didn’t mean for it to be a duplicate question… It was a real life experience for me. I queried it and your question didn’t show as one. Just because it was asked before. doesn’t mean that others have seen it and have some input/thoughts around it, especially if they are new. Thanks for the feedback.

Rawr, rawr. Does Holden know about you yet?

I had suspected it from day one that there was no Santa, but I stopped believing when I was seven. I have two much younger siblings and I still get gifts from “Santa” and still have to go and take pictures with him at the mall each year. I still get into the spirit of Christmas just for kicks. I dressed up as an elf and now my english teacher’s son thinks I’m one of Santa’s elves that is getting my education while helping Santa keep track of all the good little boys and girls. ( i was leaving early on the last day before break and he spotted me and his mother had to think of a quick story as to why an “elf” was in highschool)

There is a Santa, but no one can see him. Santa is a spirit or a metaphor for caring for and helping others. People get all hung up on the existence of a physical Santa and totally miss the point. It’s about caring and kindness. A kid might not be able to tell you that, but they experience it—even if it is in a crass, commercial way.

I think I always knew it was my dad – maybe when I was 3 or 4 I didn’t but back then I didn’t care about who the hell Santa was anyway.

I’m pretty sure I never believed in Santa Claus, I was born a skeptic. Nonetheless, I always left out carrots and milk and biscuits for Santa, and to this day I still receive presents in my Santa stocking (I’m 17). It’s not about whether a jolly man in a red suit comes down the chimney, it’s about the magic of the Christmas spirit and an excuse to get more presents.

Don’t remember, sure was not traumatic.

Well, I found out that Santa was real when I was about 25. Before that I hadn’t heard of Saint Nicholas of Myra and his passion for secret gift giving.

@rangerr Yes, it is a duplicate question, but not for me because I never saw the first one!