When did you discover that Santa Claus wasn’t real?
A friend of mine, who is a new mother, has decided not to lie to her daughter about the existence of a certain red fur with white trim-wearing fictional character. I often wonder about how new parents, shaping the minds of their tiny children, decide what lies are worth passing on to the next generation. It is amazing the size and veracity of this particular conspiracy, and amazing how much money and energy have been spent on keeping this lie, more than any other “secular” lie. [I say secular because it seems to me the origins of Christmas are more pagan and commercial then Christian] I remember my discovery that it was all bull shit. It was a late night weather report of Christmas eve, you know the one, where they show a cartoon Santa flying around the world on his reindeer driven sleigh. I think it was the candor of the weather reporter that tipped me off, I am not sure, but I remember that cementing the fact that this was all a lie. Why do we do this to ourselves and what would the world look like if we stopped trying to sell our kids secular ideas like this, and even more dangerous ideas with a truly religious basis… Should we tell our children Jesus was real? Probably, should we let them buy into religious thinking at a very young age before they are ready for critical thought? I don’t think so. When did you learn it was all a lie and how did it make you feel… What would the world be like without all these lies? Imagine listening to a little John Lennon later tonight, and not thinking it is so crazy to live in a world of honesty and critical thought even for the youngest members of our society.
Thursday, December 28 11:33 pm
Children need all of those lies at such a young age to jumpstart the lifelong descent into jaded mistrust toward the entire human race.
I was told the truth about Santa Claus as a sidenote from my slightly older cousin, who had been telling me how the Easter bunny and the Tooth Fairy weren’t real.
She’s still convinced that Jesus was the real deal, though. Last I heard she was working in some sort of mission orphanage.
Friday, December 29 1:47 pm
I think the realization for me was a slow burn kinda thing. No big epiphany, no gasp and sob. It was kinda comforting in a way. But I’m not sure I agree w/the “no lies to our kids” angle completely. The myth of Santa was just a part of what makes childhood special and fleeting, therefore appreciated as we fall into the jaded abyss justin is speaking of. As a theatrical person, I beleive that imagination is one of our most iportant tools as human beings, and denying that bit of whimsy and “misinformation” if you will, would force kids in some small way to become adults way too soon. To a certain extent, growing up a commercially concious american is a blessing and a curse; we must embrace the blessing as well as attacking the curse. Many kids around the world would love to be able to beleive in Santa. It’s not an option for them.
Friday, December 29 1:49 pm
I can tell you when I didn’t find out Santa wasn’t real. It was a conversation where I was like, “Mmmmoooommm, you’d tell me if Santa and the Tooth Fairy were fake, right??” She copped to the Tooth Fairy, but not to the man in red.
Monday, January 1 2:22 pm
I was really angry that my parents lied to me about Santa. And I knew about him at a very young age, about 6… Neighbors told me and I fought against them saying they were wrong, then a few weeks later it was corroborated by some other kids and I felt really stupid for arguing for something that was false because I trusted my parents… I’m still mad about it. I’ll play the santa game with my kids but if they ask I’ll tell them the truth. I won’t go to any crazy lengths to propagate the myth either. Kids are great at make-believe and there’s no reason for them to not find christmas as enjoyable knowing that it’s the time of year that parents pretend to be santa, it can be a game and just as magical (magic = not real).
Monday, January 1 10:03 pm
He’s real!
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