I agree with you man, it is all a big hoax and it is not even the point of Christmas anyway.

Love always
Santa

Reading the comments again, though, I can see how the second one might have come off a little too strong. But I did end it with, “Frankly, I don’t think it’ll do most kids any harm to tell them that Santa is real — or to tell them that he isn’t,” which I still think is pretty even-handed. Don’t you?

Anyway, I hadn’t thought about the “Santa is a shared secret amongst children” angle. That makes a lot of sense to me. Thanks for giving me something new to consider. And, again, sorry about the overly forceful tone.

Which is silly, not need to be so defensive. The interesting thing that you missed in your defensive tirade is: Santa is a shared secret amongst children.

Personally, I like the idea of saying Santa is the real mascot of Christmas, and the stories about him are real stories, but he isn’t real. But let them have one Christmas where they are waiting up with the sincere belief that some magical jolly reindeer towed fat man is going to break in and enter their house, and leave lots of wrapped presents under their tree.

It’ll help them deal with the disappointments in later life

If you want to tell the ‘truth’ about Santa, why not do away with all the other mysticisms of Christmas, call it Festivus, and have an aluminum pole instead of a tree.

Since when does allowing them to “retain a bit of magic in their childhood” require making them believe in Santa Claus? Is there really no other way for them to have magic in their childhood?

My kids spend a lot of time involved in imaginative play, daydreaming, and fantasizing on their own. They don’t need me to make up elaborate lies for them that I’ll have to explain away when they get older.

Frankly, I don’t think it’ll do most kids any harm to tell them that Santa is real — or to tell them that he isn’t.

It’s so darn much fun when a funny old fellow brings gifts on a rooftop! The bright eyes, giggles, oohs and aahs, vast good worldwide love and fuzzy warmth within the arms of family…

Yes, we know it eventually ends, but does it end in disappointment?

What esteemed British poet warned us how important nonsense is for our brain? He wrote nonsensical rhymes along the lines of ‘ta villie boo dertwindled afong the winmey specigly that only nitely so fery fery vappilly ta drildren rosed’…

There is a part of us so deeply and potently affected by our fantasy, and so easily shared in family. It’s healthy.

Santa can survive for awhile without harm. Plus you can craft these dreams to make Santa even better! You will shift these young dreams toward reality too, to make reality a better thing.

Besides, Santa will find his place in among life’s million dreams. You have so many new creatures to invent, such as the spoony worm that propels starry peas and fishy beans and schoolbus carrots and carob crumbs and yoghurt yuicks and little electric nuts and bolts of greeny things and jelly finger sausages. Didn’t you know about the spoony worm? I got mine from Santa…

Best!!

When my children were young we did pretend Santa was real and it gave us all a great deal of fun and pleasure. As they grew older of course they sussed it out, but it didn’t cause great heart-rending.

Children grow up so fast - I think you should allow them to retain a bit of magic in their childhood.

Our kids (now 6 and 4 years old) know that Santa Claus is not real, and I really don’t think they’ve lost any child-like wonder because of that knowledge. Every once in a while our six-year-old will ask us if Santa Claus is real, even though we’ve told him repeatedly that he isn’t. Usually I tell him something like this: “No, Ben, he’s not really real. But it is fun to pretend that he is sometimes, isn’t it?”

Kids seem to understand the concept of pretending at a pretty early age. I don’t see any harm in telling kids that Santa isn’t real, but also letting them pretend sometimes that he is. I’d be interested to hear what you think of that sort of compromise.