How old were you?

Holidays Forum

How old were you when you stopped believing in Santa?

I was in fourth grade. I can still remember the day. I had an arguement with my friends at the lunch table at school. I insisted that he was real and they all laughed at me.

I agree with you Mystic. I don't think we would do it to our kids if it was a harmful thing. I just think of all the excitement waiting for Santa. Trying to fall asleep so it would be Christmas Day, every little sound you just knew had to be Santa landing the sleigh. It was a wonderful and magical time.

i must be a scrooge. i remember feeling really stupid when i found out, so I have never taught my kids to believe in santa. i have always stressed the religious aspect of christmas. and i dont think they have missed out on anything because of the way i have taught them. its all in the way you present it to the child.

if a child doubting santa, i think its time for the parent to break the news.

I was 9, it wasn't really a big deal because I didn't find out he wasn't real, I just found out the the presents really came from my parents. I still believe in the spirit of santa, I'm 43 and he still leaves me something at my moms house.
If you tell your kids there is a santa and then they find out and then poof thats it, you never celebrate santa again, then it probably was not a good thing to do in the first place.

I was probably in the 2nd grade. I remember I would always get these letters from Santa, it was so cool. Then I went to the store with my mom and there was this big display selling these pre-printed Santa letters. I was bummed. From there it all made sense. Kind of like the end of 'Usual Suspects'.

-HECK!

I was 16 when i finnaly realised he didn't exist.

Actually i never believed in him.But at 16 i realised that i didn't matter if he existed or not b-cuz the message he was giving to children is more important.

My parents never disillusioned us with the thought of Santa, (not wanting us to find out later that he was a phony). Which made it easier when knowing exactly who to ask for gifts!

same here.

I don't remember.... I know that all my friends and i would talk about how he wasnt real, and then one day my mommy just told me. I was probably 9 or 10

it was when i was 8
my dad wrote me back
u know how u use to write the little letter and leave the cookies and milk well
my dad wrote me back
my sister was the one who told me
because my dad makes his "A" really funny and that is how we noticed it
i was so mad

I don't remember when I found out. I want to say 6 7 8, but then I realize I was in 1st 2nd and 3rd grade then. And even though it may seem like it was a long time ago, looking back on how I felt, I don't think I did.

I do remember believing in him. I remember the magic I felt, and how loved and special I felt because some random man that I didn't even know cared about me enough to bring me presents, and he always brought them, no matter how horrible of a child I may have been that year. That also made me feel like there was nothing in the world I could do to make this man not love me.

Now I realize that Jesus is this man..

But when I was a kid the excitement and the magic that I felt is nothing like the excitement that I feel today. Even though I am excited about leaving for Cali. this year for Christmas, a part of me still doesn't want it to come. A part of me still doesn't feel like it is Christmas. I miss those memories of my childhood, when I wasn't so stressed out with school, family and activities. I miss having something to actually look forward to.. Sure, even after I found out he wasn't real I was excited, but as the years have gone by this spirit in me has slowly left. Now Christmas is more of a habbit than anything really.

I am thankful however that my parents told me he did exist. I am SO thankful that I had the chance to feel the magic and the excitement as I once did. I wouldn't trade those memories for anything.

I think back fondly of all the Christmas Eves where my imagination ran wild. I would try to sleep, but I just knew that I could hear sleigh bells.

I was 9. I was at my dad's and santa went to my mom's and that was when I knew he wasn't real. He would of come to the house I was at if he was real...so I stopped believeing but I play it on for the young kids in my family

oh cute story. I remember watching a movie about st.nick in church!