How old and How did you figure out the Santa Claus was not what you were told?

[smithjcsdfw]

How old were you and how did you figure out that  Santa Claus was not exactly what you were told he was?

I was 8 when I figured out that presents left under the tree bore a significant resemblance to those in my parents room the night before.

[SarahPunk]

Actually, I never did believe in Santa. My parents taught me about Jesus and the real reason for Christmas instead of filling my head with a figment of someones imagination. They taught me that Santa Clause was a pretend man to help make Christmas more fun for some people. I personally love that that's what I was taught. In my opinion, when you teach you're children that Santa Clause is real then you're setting them up for disappointment. Why would you knowingly do that to your child? I'm just wondering.

[babyblu19]

I never believed in santa either,like the person post above I was also raised to believe in Jesus Christ and God the Father and still do believe.I always known that my parents bought the presents because they would ask me and my brother to pick out what we wanted at the store and later they would buy it.Some of the kids at school, even the teacher would get angry at me, for saying I did not believe in santa.I remember I was four and I told this girl that my barbie dolls hair was messy and she said I shouldn't have say that or santa would take back the gift.So,my parents worked hard all year to buy me these presents and you expect me to believe that a very chubby fellow comes down a chimney to bring me those gifts?And we didn't even have chimney!

[articx]

I dislike that my parents made me think Santa Claus was real. I never lived in houses with chimneys but is it hard to imagine a magical man couldn't find another way into houses? Even if he had to create a temporary chimney? At age four, I got a wagon for Christmas and was told Santa Claus came in and out through sliding glass doors.

[dawn21207]

WHAT?!? SANTA ISN'T REAL!?! 

Hehe... I was around 8 or 9 I believe.. I figured it out because I went searching for the presents

[trujillo33]

I think I was around 7 when I figured out santa wasnt real! It didnt really bother me since I always got presents! When would it be a good age to inform your kids that santa isnt real?

[tzs]

Never believed in him, I think you begin to catch on when over several years of your young life when you notice that santa is never the same person-nor is he ever in the same mall!!!!!!!

[jusu]

I think I was around 7. I had an orange in my stocking with a little SunKist label on it. I remembered that my Mom bought a bag the night before when we went shopping...I still acted like I believed until around 10, then one day my Mom just said " you don't REALLY believe in Santa do you?" I played the game as long as I could thinking if I said I didn't believe I wouldn't get presents. Silly when I think about it.

[queenofnines]

I was about 8 when I found out Santa wasn't real and 21 when I found out Jesus isn't real.   

[queenofnines]

My parents taught me about Jesus and the real reason for Christmas instead of filling my head with a figment of someones imagination.

lolol If you only knew how ironic this is.

In my opinion, when you teach you're children that Santa Clause is real then you're setting them up for disappointment. Why would you knowingly do that to your child? I'm just wondering.

I don't think you have room to talk here since you were deprived of Santa as a child.  Most adults who were brought up with Santa as a kid will tell you that it was FUN!  It was a *magical memory* from their childhood and NO longterm disappointment is suffered when we find out it was just our parents all along.  Now lying to your kids and telling them there's an invisible sky daddy who will send them to hell if they don't believe he's there, THAT actually does longterm damage.  Santa most certainly doesn't.

[tigerlilly01]

I never did believe there was a real Santa because my Mom told me the real reason for Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ.  I do believe there is room for both at Christmas time for the little ones.  It brings hope and delight to the holiday for the little children. 

[bretay]

I actually don't think that I ever really believed in Santa.Not coming from anything in particular,just too old for my age I guess.I believe in the here and now.I have 1 daughter like me and the other one is like her daddy.I think they still believe in Santa.My granddaughters are 6 and 9.And I think the 9 year old is gone to not believing,she hasn't said anything.Just the stuff she doesn't say.It's still a fun holiday though.

[mrisha]

I still believe in Santa Claus.  Everyone by the age of 8-10 knows there is no real Santa Claus, but the myth brings stars to your eyes and you think of all the good times at Christmas.  Its great to have a great imagination.  My Mom and Dad once had a friend of theirs to dress up as Santa and that for me was the most fantastic and amazing Christmas ever.

Christmas is and has always been my favorite holiday.  I love giving gifts to others.

[texaswhiterose]

I was six when I saw my mom and dad pushing a bike for me and a motorcycle for my brothers up the road toward our house when we were supposed to be asleep. The next morning they were by the tree and they said they were from Santa. I didn't have the heart to tell them I knew they were from them. They would have been upset to know their baby girl didn't believe anymore.

[syntheticbeauty]

I was seven when I found out there was no santa...
A friend told me there wasn't and told me to go check my parents room for wrapping paper and to match it to what Santa's gifts.
I went to check for wrapping paper and found a whole closet filled with toys and stuff I asked Santa for.
Well, Christmas day all those toys i saw said Santa on them.
So I stopped believing at that age, but let my parents think I still did lol