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When did you stop believing in Santa, how old were you, and why did you stop?
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#1
I was about 12. 'thought' I heard Santa down stairs and I was my wonderful single father putting together my first mountain bike that was not a girls bike. I was so happy I snuck back upstairs.
I miss you Dad. 2-15-1953 to 2-13-2006
Final score:
58points
RELATED:
#2
I never stopped believing in Santa!
Final score:
36points
#3
At a very, very young age. If Santa brought your presents why were there always massive arguments over the bills in January?
Final score:
33points
#4
When I was eight. I rode the bus to school, and there was one of the older kids that would tell the little kids Santa wasn't real. :(
Final score:
33points
#5
I was very young, about 5 or 6 y/o I guess, and I felt it suspicious that my very protective parents didn't mind a stranger breaking into our house at night. It was the 90s, a very turbulent period in Russia. When I presented my arguments, they easily admitted what I had already known.
Final score:
24points
#6
I never believed in Santa because my family never had that tradition.
Final score:
23points
Average Grizzlies Fan 4 years ago
My family never denied Santa, but they also never enforced Santa.
#7
I was 7 and my brother was 6. My brother got this toy truck for Christmas. A few months later we were at the toy aisle in a supermarket with our grandma and spotted that same truck. We realized it was weird, because how come it's in the supermarket if Santa made it in his workshop. When we got home, we asked our mom: "Mom, do you remember how much that truck cost?". She had probably forgotten that she got that truck for Christmas, so she just told us. So we got a confirmation that our parents bought our presents
Final score:
21points
#8
I was basically a 35 year old in a child's body, I never believed in Santa.
Final score:
19points
#9
I was a very jaded, angry 4 year old. My mom begged me not to tell my brothers.
Final score:
18points
#10
I wondered why all the teachers made a big deal about how Santas comes to everyone's house, and even if you've been bad he will come to your house to give you coal. And he stopped by every single kids house. No discrimination. He respected every one. Yet he never came to mine.
Final score:
16points
#11
I was 5. My childhood town is not Santa's delivery district, we have Saint Nikolaus (puts sweets in your shoes in the night from 6th to 7th December) and the Christkind (christ child) for 24th Dec presents. Started to look fishy and disappointing when the Christkind brought a nice brand-new Radio-Tape-CD-Player for my big sister, but some ugly itchy underwear for me "because I needed some". Next year I found that Saint Nikolaus did not mind to fill my (well cleaned, by myself!) shoes properly, but put an orange in one shoe (I really hated oranges) and a lump of newspaper in the other shoe (that one page with the crossword puzzle, solved by me and my mom the day before), then just sprinkled with some small unenjoyable chocolates. Therefore I refused to open a single package for the rest of the year. My mom screamed something like "your grandparents are soooo disappointed now because you dont open the presents the Christkind brought to you from its fairyland cloud", don't lie to me, you DO LOVE your soft presents" and s**t. Yeah sure, my granny, because f*Ūking christkind would lend my granny's wrapping paper, right? And I'm the one telling lies? BTW, It was cold scratchy socks, again. Not a soft present, it was socks in a box. Yeah. I was made the grinch, over 30 years ago.
Final score:
16points
Billy The Kid 4 years ago
sorry to hear that. Something that might cheer you up. I once i got a pair of socks. I think they were golf socks because there was A HOLE IN ONE!!!
#12
I was five and I heard a bang on the roof. I thought it was Santa's deer but it was somebody breaking into our house.
Final score:
16points
#14
Earlier this year, and here's why:
Why don't poor/homeless people get christmas gifts?
Final score:
15points
Helen Haley 4 years ago
This has always been my beef with the santa myth. There are kids who won't receive presents, go to school, everyone exchanges stories about what they received from santa. Here you've got a poor kid who thinks they didn't get presents because they must've been naughty, you've got some rich kid who thinks they earned all their presents, and so now they've equated rich with being good and you must be poor because you aren't good. That's a hell of an undercurrent to be teaching kids. Especially at ages where they internalize it all for life.
#15
I can't really remember the age, but my stepdad told me he doesn't exist.
Final score:
13points
#16
I think i was quite young. I always tell my grandkids that Santa is real. What i do is tell them that it is your family that pays for your gifts. Why should a man in a red suit take all the credit for 1 nights work? Its the parents that work hard all year to pay for that so why should he get the credit for it? What we do is get 1 present that is from Santa and that is on the end of their bed when they wake up.
Sorry to be a humbug.
Final score:
12points
#17
one week ago (im 11) my parents are such good liars tho but this time i explained to them why i think that last christmas (I cant get to sleep on holidays) I was up after 11 and i heard my parents door open and i saw them carrying a whole ton of presents and they had the hallway light on so i could see what they looked like and i matched them up to what was from "santa" and realized they were from them
Final score:
10points
Billy The Kid 4 years ago
Well Santa is a very busy person. Maybe he had them sent by Deliveroo?
#18
I think I never fully believed in santa. Looking back it was always clear to me that my parents ot the presents for me and and my lil brother. My parants had that trick that my dad would sit us in the car and drive around for a while. Meanwhile my mom diplayed all presents. When we arrived, she always said something like: Oh you guys missed Santa." Was really suspicious to me that my mom never joined these car rides (important to say: in germany you recive you presents on the afternoon of the 24 Dec.)
Final score:
10points
Billy The Kid 4 years ago
It must of been disappointing keep missing him but good to see all the presents.
#19
I never believed that he existed. I still cannot believe that there a lot of people still think he is real and make a big deal out of it. Would you mind explaining why you think so, I am really curious
Final score:
9points
Maya Jones 4 years ago
It's what makes kids happy. Christmas will be little kids spark of joy for 2020. Don't ruin it for them. Just because you don't believe, doesn't mean they can't.
#20
at my school we were pretty damn sheltered, so going into 6th grade we still thought that santa was real. like THE ENTIRE SCHOOL. I'M SERIOUS. So, in early 6th grade in our humanities teacher was talking about symbolism, and he started talking about fictional representations and mentioned Santa. His exact words were "even though he doesn't exist, he's still a representation of kindness and giving." The entire class either looked at him with tears in their eyes, or yelled "WHAT?!" and you could see the absolute look of "oh s**t what did I do." he tried to walk it back and try to say that he was real, but the damage had been done. Looking back, It's really funny how it went down, but also that WE ALL BELIEVED IN THAT S**T UNTIL 6TH GRADE, but also I feel bad because that poor teacher got so many angry emails from parents lmao. ok, anyway that's my story haha.
Final score:
8points
#21
When I was about six, the “Easter bunny” left a whole bag of jellybeans, instead of putting them in the eggs. The more I thought about it, the more confused I got and I asked my mom if she was the easter bunny. She said yes, and then I asked her if my parents were Santa and the tooth fairy too, and she said yes. So yeah, that’s how it happened.
Final score:
7points
#22
When I saw an "Elf on the Shelf" fails post on Bored Panda.
Final score:
7points
#23
Sadly, my third grade teacher told the whole class, there was no Santa. I was mortified.
Final score:
7points
#24
I was older. About 12yrs old.
My grandparents did an amazing job for me. Make foot prints in the snow, my grandpa would climb on the roof to stomp around, ring bells & yell "ho ho ho." Then Santa would enter the house (a Santa my grandparents hired).
Greatest grandparents ever!!!
Because of that, I was the last one in my grade to believe.
Final score:
7points
#25
i was 7, i saw my parents wrapping the presents....
Final score:
6points
#26
I never stop believing in the Santa that is within all of us to help others and bring gifts of all sorts to those who most need it. There is a Santa, and it's us.
Final score:
6points
#27
Well, I was 7 or 8, and I had just lost my tooth. I put it under my pillow that night, but I was restless almost the entire time. I probably fell asleep at 2:00 in the morning or something, so when i woke up, my tooth was still there and no money was under my pillow. I asked my mom once she woke up and she said something along the lines of, "Well, you didn't sleep the whole night, so the tooth didn't get a chance to take your tooth. She'll probably come while you're at school."
So, I was already smelled something fishy about that, but I let it slide. I came home from school and my tooth was STILL THERE. I asked my mom what was up with that because I was excited the whole day at school to get see if the tooth fairy came. She said the tooth fairy would probably come that night, if I would sleep enough. So, of course, I tried my hardest to fall asleep, and I managed to. The next morning, I just went and popped the question: "Mommy, are you the tooth fairy?"
She was surprised, but finally answered yes, she was. Then other things came to my mind, "Don't tell me you're Santa and the Easter bunny too...?" Yup. We were both dumbfounded.
Anyway, in conclusion:
My mom's the one that delivers presents, takes your kids' teeth, and puts candy in Easter eggs on Easter. :>
Final score:
6points
#28
My mom made up a fairy called the book fairy. After every halloween I would give up some candy to the book fairy for a book. Stupid, I know. My mom would collect the candy and that's it. I then once walked in on her eating all my candy that I gave to the "book fairy". I then asked her if she was the book fairy, and she said yes. I then caught on a realized she was also the tooth fairy, easter bunny, and santa. (sorry kids if you're reading this)
Final score:
6points
#29
I stopped believing in Saint Nicholas at 8 and started believing in Jeff Bezos at 9. Why? Because every single package has the words amazon on it. Very Weird.
Final score:
6points
Imtiredandiwannagotobed 4 years ago
Ah yes, Jeff Bezos, as we all remember from the tails, travels in a magic truck shouting “Subscribe to Amazon Prime!!”
#30
THis is really sad. I was in kindergarten or 1st grade when my friends were talking about Santa. I had never even heard about him by then so I asked my mom who he was after that day. Long story short She told me she didn’t want to tell me lies s I grew up and he was not real. I wasn’t mad or sad, and I never believed again. Now looking back on it we also came from a poorer family and I think my parents didn’t was to waste money on gift that would be thought of not from them.
Final score:
6points
#31
I was 7. I got this huge doll house and my mom was on the phone talking to her friend on Christmas morning. She said how it took all night to put the house together (it was up to my nose and made of all wood), and I also heard them in the middle of the night putting it together.
Final score:
5points
Billy The Kid 4 years ago
It could've still been from Santa but he needed someone to put it together. But there is no convincing you now as you already know.
#32
When I was nine, and realized that my mom's, the tooth fairy, and Santa's handwriting all looked the same...
Final score:
5points
#33
I believed in Santa up until I was around 12 or 13 I think. Kids made fun of me for it but I didn't really care because they were just mean kids. I found out he wasn't real when I heard footsteps in the living room and saw my parents arranging the presents. I never brought it up with them because they did a great job of keeping the magic alive until I was 12 or 13.
Unrelated to me finding out he wasn't real but some stories of some Christmas Eve magic my parents made. They would take a broom or something and tap the ceiling so it sounded like reindeer landing the roof, then they'd run into our rooms and whisper excited "Santa's here!" We'd run out and from the landing look at what I assume was my dad dressed as Santa putting presents under the tree. It was the most magical Christmas Eve I can remember. That was the only year we saw Santa but they did do the reindeer trick every year so we would be super excited for Christmas. The only "rule" was that we couldn't come out of our rooms until our parents woke us with a "Santa's here!" Sorry that was long but Merry Christmas to everyone! Have lots of fun!
-Anarchy
Final score:
5points
Bendy Rainbow 4 years ago
I wish my parents would make Christmas that special! You are lucky to have such amazing parents! :)
#34
Because my mom told me he didn't exist in my freshman year of high school.
Final score:
5points
#35
My parents were always the, "The real world is harsh so let's tell you straight up" type and never sugar-coated anything, so one day my Dad just up and said, "Santa isn't real. It's the corporations and the /money/. They keep up the image since they need Santa to make them the money.", when I started asking about Santa (cause that's the type of person he is.).
Like, alrighty then. I didn't want a childhood anyways. Yup sounds good, throw me straight into adulthood.
Final score:
5points
#36
I didn't stopped believing and i'll never stop believing! Plus= Santa is REAL. Story say that he used to live in Turkey- it's where I live! I'm never gonna stop believing him!
Final score:
4points
#37
i warped gifts and i new even if santa was real he couldnt with stand the cold nor would his deer or his elves
Final score:
4points
#38
when i was 5. my mom and dad told me. ITS NOT FAIR THAT MY 3yo SIS HAS KNOWN HER WHOLE LIFE SANTA ISNT REAL!!! but who cares! "Santa" wont be comin' near a germ infested Tx!!!!!🎅🏾🤶🏿😭
Final score:
4points
#39
Well I actually never believed in Santa bc of my parent's religion and what we do for others o Christmas. They are part of the Salvation Army and they do Angel Tree every year for Christmas.
Final score:
4points
Billy The Kid 4 years ago
Thats very good Samaritan's. I wish you and your family a very BIG merry Christmas.
#40
I was always known as the apathetic child with little to no imagination, so believing in a fat old man that gives elf manufactured presents to every child on the planet on a flying sleigh run by red nosed reindeers as he squeezes through their chimneys and stops to eat people's confections and dairy in a matter of one night wasn't going to last long. Sorry mom and dad 😅
Final score:
4points
Jette Wang Wahnon 4 years ago
That´s not apathy...that´s the Grinch in a childs body....but merry x-mas to you anyway..
#41
My parents didn't give me a chance. They just put the presents under the tree in front of me. They're not mean or anything by the way. Their wonderful parents that just don't want us believing in a fake thing too much. We still enjoy Christmas movies about Santa and stuff, we just don't believe it.
Final score:
4points
#42
When I was 3 years old I had gotten gifts from Santa ALL in teddy bear wrapping paper, which I just loved. I told my mom I loved it & she said it was special wrapping paper that Santa used. Cut to the next Christmas when my parents used the same left over wrapping paper to wrap the gifts they were giving me from them, my parents thinking I'd never remember the wrapping paper. I immediately went to my mom & told her I knew Santa wasn't real because she lied to me about the special teddy bear paper. She tried to remedy the situation but from then on I declared Santa was a lie. I WAS 4YRS OLD! lol
Final score:
3points
#43
Ummm Santa IS real..... I have proof. Have you ever seen the Polar Express? We all know Tom Hanks only does movies based on real events sooooo.....
Final score:
3points
#44
I was about 8 years old I think. I figured it out when Santa had the same gift wrap and handwriting as my mother.
Final score:
3points
#45
Never started. I think what my mom told me was it was a pretend game that people played together for Christmas, like 'believing' in unicorns or dragons. I thought that was amazing, and it stopped me from spoiling it for other kids.
Final score:
3points
Luna Wolfblood 4 years ago (edited)
Whoa whoa whoa. Dragons are one hundred percent real. Have you seen how to train your dragon? If dragons weren't real I wouldn't have been on the brink of crying the first time I watched it.
#46
I stopped around 9, as for me, gaining a better sense of logic, there was no way that Santa could possibly go all the way around the world in one night... that makes for about a half-billion households to go to (for those who celebrate Christmas), in one night, being 43,200 seconds, that makes for approximately 11,574 houses stopped at per second. If there were only 100 million stops, then that number gets reduced to 2,314 per second, which is still completely illogical.
Final score:
3points
#47
When I was in 3rd grade, I was arguing with my friends because I believed that dragons were real and they didn't. They made the point that dragons couldn't exist because magic wasn't real, and I replied "Well Santa is magic and he's real!" They then told me that Santa actually wasn't real. I thought they had lost their minds or were just messing with me, but it did make me wonder. On the way home, I made sure to ask my mom out of the earshot of any other kids "Is Santa real?" She told me that no, he wasn't real, and I completely understood. It wouldn't be very scientific of me to simply deny the truth, after all.
Even still, I continued to believe in dragons until way later. I mean, they were just too cool NOT to believe in the existence of.
Final score:
2points
#48
I was maybe six. I was with my mom at a restaurant and I just straight up asked her. then I asked her about the tooth fairy. She never really told me santa was real in the first place anyways.
Final score:
2points
#49
about age 10 or 11, because I asked.
(Christmas with my family is still heckin' exciting though so I'm not a complete scrooge)
Final score:
2points
#50
I was told Santa went through the chimney at around 4, my house doesn’t have a chimney.
Final score:
2points
#51
I was about 11 I think. I just started thinking through it rationally and came to the conclusion that it is much more rational for parents to put the gifts out and eat the cookies.
Final score:
2points
Cara Strong (Submission author) 4 years ago
Also I was rummaging through my parent's stuff [don't ask] and I found my Christmas letter and a bag of teeth in her jewelry.
#52
when i was in preeschool i got sus so i stoppped beleving
Final score:
2points
#53
For me, it was when Grandma got run over by a reindeer. My profound sorrow lasted 3 minutes and 26 seconds until finally the 1982 song by Elmo & Patsy finally finished.
Final score:
2points
John Lexer Von 4 years ago
well me 2 coz i got socks as a present it may not be like it but the profound sorrow ended for 2 whole hours!
#54
At least 12. We always lived in isolated areas so I had few friends and no neighbor kids. I believed in the magic because we were poor. Whenever I asked for anything, mom would say we couldn't afford it (candy at the store). But this one year she pulled me aside and said "I know you don't believe any more, but please pretend for your brother (age 5). I was devastated on so many levels.
Final score:
2points
#55
I never believed in him. My family doesn't celebrate.
Final score:
2points
#56
When I was little my family was driving around looking at people's Christmas lights and decorations. This was such a big treat, because I got to sit in the front seat like a grown up. As we went through the heart of a large town, I heard my Aunt say, "OH S**T!!" at the top of her lungs. She called my name and said, " HEY did I show you my um...hey! look at what I brought for us! Wow look what I found! UM...." The idea being I'd turn to the back seat and see what she was saying. She was babbling like an idiot and I wondered what was going on, really. I looked all around and coming up on my side was a very loud pub and outside were 6 Santas, getting very drunk, in full costumes. As we passed they all yelled, "HO HO HO Merry Christmas Little Girl!!" and saluted me with their bottles of beer. It was really great :)
Final score:
2points
Jette Wang Wahnon 4 years ago
As Mae West used to say:« Too much of a good thing........is WONDERFUL!!»
#57
5 years old. mom was wrapping up a miniature bowling set... i came down to get some water. saw her in the kitchen wrapping it. next day say it underneath the tree...
Final score:
2points
#58
My first Santa Claus was an African thief stealing gifts around the tree. I was three, said nothing and went back to bed. It was in Africa so it was rather common, put the light on after on l left open the terrasse. My parents were in a bit of shock, then it became a habit. Miserable country need their gifts too.
Final score:
2points
Cecile V. (Submission author) 4 years ago
Must say that they were two Santas, one stealing and the other running away with the packages. Had no fear, they stopped when they saw me. As I was mute and still, all went fast. So I can't say that I ever believed in SC lol We left then lights on the terrasse with blankets, food and toys, chocolate..They were always in need of sheats and pillows, but never agressive. I love Ethiopa.
#60
I think it's kind of sad that a kid could see this and find out. I found out way too early. Believing is magical. Why steal that???
Final score:
1point
Cara Strong 4 years ago
That is true. That is also why I pretend to believe in Santa until all my brothers believe he isn't real.
#61
Well, it's actually pretty simple. I stopped believing in 6th grade when I first started to browse the Internet. Then, I became nocturnal for every day off I had. Also a kid when I was 8 tried to convince me Santa wasn't real, and it just took off from there.
Final score:
1point
#62
Last year. I just knew but deep down inside I still want to believe.
Final score:
1point
#63
i was 7 YO and I got a letter from "Santa" but EMEDETLY knew it was my dads handwriting *facepalm* :)
Final score:
1point
4 years ago
Lucky your dad was present in that... My dad was JUST as surprised as I was to see "what he got me" because my poor mom did everything.
#64
Bold of you to assume I don't believe in him. But probably when I was about 7 and my "good" teacher just spilled the beans.
Final score:
1point
#65
I am 11 years old and when i was 5 i started to notice the rapping paper was the same as the rapping paper on the tube i used and i knew then. But i still try to go with it anyway.
Final score:
1point
#66
okay so I was like 6 very young and my dad always dressed up as Santa and you know told us we were on the nice list and all that but one year I was sitting on his lap and I saw his wedding ring so I knew it was my dad so ripped off the fake beard he looked really sad and said ¨im sorry¨ I felt so bad, I love you dad may you rest in peace
Final score:
1point
Alexandra Light 4 years ago (edited)
To your dad: Rest in peace. (I may not know him but I believe he was good person)
#67
NEVER!IM 9
Final score:
1point
#68
I set out on a mission to catch Santa and shout "CAUGHT RED HANDED!!!!!" I did the same thing with the Tooth Fairy. Aaaaaaaand the Easter Bunny.
I'm a real handful.
Final score:
1point
Lula!!!! (Submission author) 4 years ago
Oh no! I forgot to add "Happy Holidays" at the end. Sorry. Aaaaaanyway, happy holidays!
#69
I remember suspecting something so I snuck a look at what my mom had purchased and then noted it "came from Santa". That's when I learned my mom was Santa. So I learned to be Santa too. It's my first Christmas without her. I hope I live up to her example.
Final score:
1point
#70
My mother didn’t allow it. That wasn’t what the season was about. My dad was upset we didn’t leave carrots for the reindeer and beer cans for Santa. My mom told me not to tell the other kids. Honestly it made me trust her more.
Final score:
1point
#71
When I was 5. I would tell my classmates and my mom got in trouble with the teacher. Lol.
Final score:
1point
#72
It was my Christmas list framed and hanging on the wall in our old house (before I had sisters). I was 4 or 5. I still keep quiet for my younger sisters. :) Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Final score:
1point
#73
All my gifts always said who they’re from and none said Santa; mom, grandma, etc.
Final score:
1point
#74
I dont think I ever really belived in santa. Even from a young age, there was just no way one dude could get to every house in the world in like 12 hours, even if he was magical. Also the elf on the shelf had a plastic face and I found it hidden in my mums cupboard when I was like 7.
Final score:
1point
#75
When I was six or seven I saw a would you rather card for adults and it was something about he’s not real
Final score:
1point
#77
I was 10. My parents sat down and talked to me about it. I already had a suspicion but I didn't want to believe it. My sister's turn soon. 😢
Final score:
1point
#78
My parents never 'did' Santa, so we never believed in him. Instead we called our grandpa Santa, he is the best and makes big mazes and forts with our presents ( 6-8 kids and at least 6 adult's worth, plus he wraps big boxes with little things in them and one time he wrapped a big wooden frame) That is my very favorite Christmas tradition because when we go up to my grandparents house in the morning and see this massive new present fort it is just the best!!
Final score:
1point
#79
I was 5. I saw all the gifts and the gift paper in my wardrobe.
Final score:
1point
#80
I think I was about 9 or so. Every year my grandparents came for dinner and every year my grandmother went to a Vernissage that evening (here in Switzerland Santa comes 6 of December and not on Christmas). She was never there when he came. When I got a little bit older I start to realize that Santa has the same dialect like my grandmother, it's the dialect from bale. (they speak a different dialect than me and my parents). Someday I was so suspicious I grabt the beard and pulled it down.
Final score:
1point
#81
I didn't know of Santa before grade school.
I was in 1st grade and my teacher said something like, "Santa will come to your house to give you presents!"
And I said, "Who's Santa?"
And then everyone stared at me....
Final score:
1point
#82
When one christmas I didnt get anything. The next few years were the same
Final score:
1point
#83
I tied my stocking to my foot and "santa" didn't know that so he woke me up.
Final score:
1point
#84
I was 8. I was sleeping in bed, and every hour or so I would check the cookies and milk to see if he was here. When I checked about 2 hours later, I leaned out too far and saw my parents wrapping a gift that would most likely appeal to my brother. I quickly ran back to my bed and pondered over if Santa was really my parents or he was himself. I didn’t know what to believe. My parents were exhausted on Christmas morning and (we have this tradition that Santa hides this Swiss Pickle ornament every year and whoever finds it gets good luck)I came out about 6 am and the pickle wasn’t hidden. I decided to hide the pickle for my brother. About a week later, mom said “you better thank mom and dad for all your presents!” I felt like she’d slipped up, and I said “ don’t you mean thank SANTA?” And I felt my suspicion raise, and about a month later I asked mom about it, so she told me that none of tooth fairies, Santa clauses, or Easter bunnies were real. She had planned on telling me when I was 12, because that’s when she found out. I felt betrayed and I wish I didn’t find out till I was 13...gave me a worry that my parents wouldn’t be able to afford Christmas presents and then I realized they could handle themselves just fine.
Final score:
1point
#85
I never believed in Santa. How could a fat old man fit down your chimney, leave presents, and sneak away undetected? t just sounds stupid to me.
Final score:
1point
#86
I just remember pretending to still believe because I didn’t want to risk no presents. 10 or 11
Final score:
1point
#87
My Mom had weaponized the whole tradition of Santa. She would start right after my birthday in August telling me if I wasn't good Santa wouldn't bring me anything for Christmas. Thing is I wasn't a kid that acted out much to begin with but I would hear that at least a couple times a day whether I did anything or night. I finally had enough on a day where she thought I had done something that my cousin actually admitted he did later and she was telling me for what seemed like theb40th time if I didn't admit what I did Santa wouldn't get me anything for Christmas and I told her I knew the truth and that she wasn't a very good Santa anyway. She told me fine I don't have to get you anything for Christmas ever again. I laugh and cried at the same time for at least a half hour cause I knew she couldn't make that threat again but also thought I wasn't getting anything either. She must have felt guilty because I even got some of the hot wheels cars I wanted. She normally got me nothing but girls toys and never the ones I played with or asked for but I actually got a few things I wanted that year!
Final score:
1point
Pamela Scott (Submission author) 4 years ago
I was 8 or 9 when I reached the point I had to admit it! Think I had known the year before though.
#88
I guess I never really believed in him - much like the tooth fairy or the Easter bunny. I knew presents came from family members. In fact, even when I was eight, I was surprised that other kids, even ones older than me actually believed in him. It didn't make Christmas any less fun or enjoyable, but also meant I didn't have any moment of "disappointment".
Final score:
1point
#89
I was raised as a Jehovah's Witness so ....no Santa no Easter Bunny etc from as far back I can remember.
Final score:
1point
#90
I was always a very skeptical child, and I never really believed anything I was told. Santa made no sense to me, and I wondered why my mom would lie to me about something so unbelieveable.
Final score:
1point
#91
I was (and still am) 13, I asked my dad to be completely honest, and asked him, "Tell me truly, is Santa real?" He just chuckled and said, "Nope."
Final score:
1point
#92
I was 8-ish, my parents got fed up of sneaking around and told me.
Final score:
1point
#93
I stopped believing at 7 because I found some gifts (didn’t upset me at all)...and then I started believing again when I got to BECOME Santa for my own kids!
Final score:
1point
#94
Um, probably when I was 9. In the myth, it says that he and the elves make the presents. Well, the toy I got was a Transformer. My figure was a real Transformer toy.(from Hasbro) That means that it is fake. Plus, if they make it, that would mean fake toys...
(Cause it is not from the official brand)
Final score:
1point
#95
Right now I am 14, and my parents really haven't told me straight out. But when I was around 5 I got a card from Santa in my dads handwriting telling me to study harder. What kind of Santa tells children to study....
Final score:
1point
#97
I'm sure I believed when I was really little, but I guess I just didn't find it logical. I always saw the tags and stickers still on the gifts after I unwrapped them lol. Sometimes I would even accidentally slip the fact that I didn't think he existed to my parents, like when I asked about the thing that my mom got me in my stocking, which I should have said was from Santa. Kids at school would always say stuff about why he wasn't real, and I would argue back, even though I subconsciously knew that he wasn't real. I did this because I thought that if my parents knew that I knew, they wouldn't get me as many presents lol. This one girl even said that she believed in him too, but then I heard her telling my other friend that she actually didn't, and I still have no clue why she just flat out lied to me lol. Anyway, when I was in fifth grade me and my mom went shopping and I got to sit in the front seat, where she just sat me and down and told me that Santa wasn't real. I told her that I had suspected it all along, but the harsh reality of it just seemed off to me. It made the whole world seem a bit less magical, even though I had already knew. I still pretended he was real for my brother though.
Final score:
1point
#98
i stopped believing in Santa when i got my first phone. i looked at the phone and saw it was just my mom's old phone but it was in a different phone case. and later when I was on amazon on my mom's new phone I saw the phone case that was on my phone in the "buy again" section. after that, it was just known that there was no Santa i think they told my brother after I found out so he never got to find out on his own. we still make cookies every year though but we leave it for mom and dad and not Santa. also, I found our elf-on-the-shelf in my moms closet in the middle of summer once so I guess I had already known about Santa not being real so lol
Final score:
0points
#99
I was looking at the presents to hand them out and I noticed that Santa's handwriting looked surprisingly similar to my mom's handwriting so about a week after Christmas that year I confronted her about it and she said " Yeah sweetie he's not real." ):
Final score:
0points
#100
I was in 4th grade and my “friend” told me.
Final score:
0points
#101
Once I hit a certain age my parents were like "Y'know screw it. Let's tell"
Final score:
0points
#102
I was helping to clean out the basement and discovered a receipt from Barnes and Noble for the books that "Santa" had just given me.
Final score:
0points
#103
Trust me, Santa is real.
We have a Bing camera.
WE WILL CATCH HIM.
Final score:
0points
#104
I stopped believing in Santa when I was eight, because I recognized my mom's hndwriting....
so...
Final score:
0points
#105
I pulled an all-nighter and just watched my parents wrap all my presents
Final score:
0points
#106
I stopped believing in the 6th grade. I don't really know why I stopped believing. I just did. I wasn't too bummed out about it, but my parents were pretty sad about it.
Final score:
0points
#107
When I was 5. You see my mom cant write in print and I noticed that Santa's name was always cursive and looked just like my mom's I saw it as soon as I could read.
Final score:
0points
#108
I was 8. I saw my mom wrapping presents labled to me from Santa. Crushed.
Final score:
0points
#109
When I was about seven, my pares to tried to show us a video of Santa putting Christmas presents under the tree but it was my dad. I knew this because I saw the costume outside his office.
Final score:
0points
#110
I stopped when I was 7, it was because I believe in Jesus Christ.
Final score:
0points
#111
I believe it was age 11, yeah. I started to question it and so I stayed up and I heard my parents up until after 1. But every time my siblings ask me I always tell them he is real.
Final score:
0points
#112
I don’t think I ever did, but I ended up in a fistfight with my best friend in third grade because I tried to tell him Santa wasn’t real. He refused to believe it, and when I insisted, he tried to punch me lol.
Final score:
0points
#113
I actually still believe in Santa. I think he has a special spell he puts on parents that makes them think they delivered the gifts, but it was really him. And he gets around the world with a time turner like Hermione's, and the reindeer are a special breed that only lives in his secret underground area.
Final score:
0points
Naomi Aguirre 4 years ago
Ok I'm using this in my brain from now on =) (TECHNICALLY it could 100% be true)
#114
My mom asked me to put up one of my sisters presents once, and i went upstairs and saw that there was candy and scrunchies and other stocking stuffers. Basically, i ended up finding those things in my stocking that Christmas
Final score:
0points
#115
I was 4, there was a Santa Claus that visited the daycare. I have a picture of the exact moment. I'm staring at Santa Claus with a look of concentration, like 'something isn't right here'. Mom's only rule was not to tell my sister.
Final score:
0points
#116
When I was 11, I thought I heard Santa in the living room... I saw my mom placing presents under the tree and proceed to eat the cookies.
Final score:
0points
#117
it was about age nine or ten i was already suspicious and then I went digging around the extra room that we used for storage and saw my Christmas gift "from Santa"
Final score:
0points
Leah Orlando 4 years ago
that show it went for me I was just looking for family photos opened a box full of presents wrapped in "Santa" wrapping paper the same as every year!!!
#118
i have always belived, were i live Christmas is a bigger deal then B-days
Final score:
0points
#119
I don't remember why, I was around 6....7. What I do remember that I faked it for two years because I didn't want to make my mom sad.
Final score:
0points
#120
I was 8 when I caught my dad moving the “elf” into storage. BUSTED!
Final score:
0points
#121
I don't remember how old I was. Older than most kids, I think. My mom was on Amazon for whatever reason and I was looking at the computer with her. On the right side of the screen... "Buy again: *my and my brother's presents from "Santa" that year*" Uhhhh Mom? My little brother (3 years younger) wasn't there, or I waited until he wasn't. He found out in his own time, I don't remember how, but it was kinda neat to be in on the secret for a bit (even though I was a little sad.)
Final score:
0points
Sarah Herring 4 years ago
I was sad, too. But I felt special helping to keep the secret from my little cousin.
#122
We had a curious room in the basement that was locked with one of those sliding latches up high on the door. I had been in there before, and it contained the water meter (yes, you used to let a water meter reader in your house back then). It also had shelves of old Chemical Engineering magazines. It was one of those little rooms you went in just because you weren’t allowed, even though there was nothing that interesting to a kid inside. One early December when I was 6, I climbed on a chair to open the latch and went inside. There was a large box wrapped in thin Christmas paper. I could see right through, it had an EasyBake Oven inside....and a label that said “to Jean from Santa.” Innocence lost.
Final score:
0points
#123
I think I first started to have my doubts when I was eight, but I just brushed it off, like "don't be silly".
When I was about eleven, though, I pretty much figured it out, but I kidded myself he existed even into my teens, but eventually, I was like... nope.
I think the reason I kidded myself was because Christmas movies always treat nonbelievers like evil scum.
Final score:
0points
#124
I figured it out in third grade. I didn't understand how he got into everybody's house in one night, and when I asked my mom if he was even real, she told me he wasn't. My little cousins are believers though, and I pretend for them. It's kind of amazing how my aunt and uncle have kept it going so long since the oldest is in 6th grade already. I'm glad they still believe though. I miss the magic of Santa.
Final score:
0points
#125
i was about 7 or 8. i'd seen my dad putting presents in my stocking at around midnight (as i'd woken up needing a drink) and i thought it was santa but the next morning my parents told me it was them
Final score:
0points
#126
Always was a late bloomer.
I was probably 14 or so when i visited Rovaniemi on a finland holiday trip. There they got an "official" village for Santa.
So shy me mumbled a few words when i stepped into his house and the big bearded man stood in front of me.
Later that day i went in again. And Santa didn't remember us meeting some hours earlier. Also his voice and figure had changed noticeably. Guess they were working shifts and I happened to meet two of them.
So after that experience i recognised it was all a lie.
Should have guessed it like my big brother who recognised some years before that Santa was wearing the same sneakers as my uncle who had to go for the bathroom right before the bearded man appeared.
It's a nice lie.
Final score:
0points
#127
I was 11 years old. I went downstairs one night in December to ask my mum a question (I don’t remember what the question was) and she immediately assumed I was going to ask if santa was real or not. She then told me all of the stuff she had done over the years to keep us believing. We were laughing so much I am surprised my younger brother didn’t wake up!!
Final score:
0points
#129
I was five and Santa was wearing the same shoes as my friend's dad, which made me suspicious
Final score:
0points
#130
Age 8 I like still believe in him but I think he like died but I still believe what he did but not the flying parts and also I can see my mom making presents so yeah.
Final score:
0points
#131
I don´t remember how old I was, I just realized Santa was my mom because I saw her wrapping our gifts. I didn´t feel sad but really proud and thankful that woman, recently separated from my father (a sh´´tty father at the time) put the sadness away and took her love to give us some joy and fantasy no matter what we were going through. Love you mom! You will always be my hero!!
Final score:
0points
#132
I was about 7, and I had gotten a cheap knockoff gopro for Christmas, and I wanted to see Santa, so I put it in the tree and caught my parents in the act. I was suspicious before, and this confirmed my suspicions. Santa was the prime truck and the people who drove them.
Final score:
0points
#133
My parents always told me that he was not real. When I was 3 and below, they said "No, BUT, you can pretend!" We did a Elf on the Shelf like thing with a mouse stuffed animal wit a small Christmas hat on top. I am thankful that they did not lie to me like other parents, but I still has just as much fun. They did the same things with things like Tooth Fairy, and they always told me that it was never real, but I always had a great time putting the tooth under the pillow, and finding a roller underneath in the morning.
I am grateful for the style of parenting they used, and I intend to use it on my own kids, in the future.
Final score:
0points
#134
In 4th grade, I received a telephone for my bedroom from Santa. It did not work properly, so we took it to a store to exchange it. My older sister asked me if I was wondering how Mom knew which store to return it to. I wasn't even wondering that, until she asked. My mom confirmed it was because she was Santa.
Final score:
0points
#135
1st grade. However even today there's always still a present from Santa even if I have to buy one myself. Google Yes Virgina there's a Santa Claus or If you want to know why read below:
DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’
Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
VIRGINIA O’HANLON.
115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET.
VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
Final score:
0points
#136
when i 11 i was going around and found two pairs of head phones in my moms office (she works from home) one was Pokemon head phones and the other was just normal black head phones. then when Christmas rolled around guess what was under the tree. i mean i already kind of knew and i'm grateful for the presents but that was kind of the conformation i needed to stop believing in Santa clause.
Final score:
0points
#137
Idk how they did it, but I never believed in Santa because my parents never brought him up, and all of the presents under the tree would say from mom and dad. Like you’d think that I would come home from school being like “woah mom have you heard about this guy?” But I was that logical kid that just knew that he wasn’t real I guess. I’m probably going to do this with my kids.
Final score:
0points
#138
At 8 or 9.
My parents had a brilliant idea to ask our neighbour to dress up as Santa and come in after Christmas dinner to give us gifts.
1) He sounded like the man living upstairs
2) He looked like the man living upstairs when i pulled the fake beard off...
I added 2+2 together and announced to my 5 or 6 yo brother this is all a fake :D
Final score:
0points
#139
When I had a younger brother & sister. As the oldest I needed to grow up so I could help take care of them & never let them know I questioned Santa or the Easter bunny.
Final score:
0points
Yea Imma Cat Butt 4 years ago
Same for me. My younger bro just found out last week. There were tears.
#140
Don't remember the date when I stopped believing in Santa. But, do remember why: I started having children of my own and found out how expensive it was to believe in the fat old man.
I am thankful that every once in a blue moon old Santa believes in me.
Final score:
0points
#141
Cos I hid a letter in the top of my wardrobe and he never took it, still waiting for him...
Final score:
0points
#142
In second grade, Miranda told me that Santa didn't exist while we were on the swing set. And then I told someone else because I was shocked, and I got in trouble with the teacher.
Final score:
0points
#143
It was when I was in 4th grade.. I remember when so well because my mom was always so salty about it. My sister and I are two years apart and went to the same school. During recess, around Christmas time, a friend of my sister told me that Santa wasn't real. She said she knew because she stayed up the year before and saw her parents putting out presents. I remember my mom being upset about it because she felt I was told too early but I wasn't that bothered by it because I still got presents.
Final score:
0points
#144
I was 5. I saw my parents writing was the same as the tooth fairy and Santa and I saw the wrapping paper in the basement.
Final score:
0points
#145
This is from a former colleague of mine, mother of three boys: the two older boys told their six-year-old kid bro that Santa doesn't exist. Pragmatic that he was, he answered, "I don't care, as long as I still get presents."
Final score:
0points
#146
I was very young actually,but back then I always thought that Santa sent a letter to your parents,told them what to get,then parents would buy the gift,wrap it,and label it "from mom and dad" stuff like that.
Now my mom usually wraps gifts and we catch a glimpse but then we'd always think Santa couldn't make it.
Now I'm just pretending for my 6 yo sis
Final score:
0points
Bernice Laurie Marquez (Submission author) 4 years ago
I'm still in elementary and we don't really believe much anymore.... Happy Holidays Btw!!
#147
Every year til I was 8, we wrote to Santa with the help of our parents once the tree was set up in our house. On Christmas Eve, I always tried to catch Santa coz I was so amazed he always got the exact gift I wrote in the letter. Then on my 8th year my mom took me with her Christmas shopping and asked me to pick a gift for myself and there she revealed that Santa was just her and my dad. My older brothers also knew when they turned 8 and i only had my youngest brother to trick til he also turns 8 hehe
Final score:
0points
#148
I was about 5, but I noticed that ‘Santa’ and my grandmother used the same wrapping paper. Sometimes I’m too inquisitive for my own good.
Final score:
0points
#149
A combination of the Tooth Fairy coming in when I was still awake, and Santa leaving packaging in the garage led me to ask my parents the inevitable question. They were forced to answer
Final score:
0points
DexterDogTheLovey 4 years ago
Lol kind of the same thing with me about the tooth fairy. I was looking for my Ds and I found all of my teeth. Welp.
#150
Glenna, my father's mother, weaponized Santa to the point where I was terrified of him. My older sister cued me in on it to cure my fear.
Final score:
0points
#151
I dont remember when or why but I do remember that I pretended that I still believed because I though that I wouldnt get any presents if I didnt.
Final score:
0points
#152
I never fully believed in santa, but the night it became obvious I was maybe 8. I couldn't sleep so I went into my parents room and they were wrapping presents.
Final score:
0points
#153
I never believed in him in the first place. It just seemed like nonsense, especially when my parents got these silly grins when telling me about him. My dad always had a revealing twinkle when trying to put one over on us. I really liked it that our presents came from them. They were cool parents.
Final score:
0points
#154
When my sister told me that Mom and Dad ate the cookies and threw out the salads I made for the reindeer. BTW, she also made me terrified of the Tooth Fairy, who was banished from our house and thereafter received my teeth by mail.
Final score:
0points
#155
when i was like 8 my parents droped the bomb and said santa is not real and ever since then i stoped beliving (i only "belive" for my siblings)
Final score:
0points
#156
The day I got the same letter from Santa as a bother kid in my grade 3 class
Final score:
0points
#157
I was 10 and I stopped believing in Santa because I went into are basement looking for family photos and found a box for me and my brother with presents from Santa for us and I got really upset and started to wondered if elves were real and touched him and he went to the north pole because elves are real not Santa.
Final score:
0points
#158
I think I was about 7 when I put a tooth under my pillow and didn't tell anyone about it I woke up the next morning with it still there I asked my mom about it and she said opp umm talk to your dad and we had a nice chat with us both eating ice-cream but that when I realized the tooth fairy and all crazy people like the Easter bunny and Santa weren't real!
Final score:
0points
#159
i have this elf advent calendar, and each night of december the "elf" comes and outs a treat. if im bad, no treat, etc. well i was snooping and found the EXACT treats he gave me...im my moms dresser. i aked her and she is like "hEs oNlY rEaL iF yOu bElieVe" that crap. so...no exact answer, but yeah no santa :(
Final score:
-1point
#160
He’s real all right. Never have and never will stop believing
Final score:
-1point
#161
I guess I never really believed in Santa. My parents told me I could believe in anything I wanted, but they told me Santa wasn't real. We always knew because every year they would make us go on Amazon and pick things we wanted, and we would get some of those things and some surprises. My mom and dad also always has a huge pile of presents in their room for me, my older brother and my older sister before Christmas, so we know it's from them.
Final score:
-1point
#162
No snow in my region. So he can't come. He travels only in a sleigh.
Final score:
-3points
AzKhaleesi 4 years ago
But the reindeer fly sooooo..... And even if you don't have a fireplace, we have a magic key by the front door for Santa to get him into any house that doesn't have a chimney. Geeze... everyone knows this! :)
What do you think ?
Billy The Kid 4 years ago
This was brilliant. Its good to hear other peoples childhood stories. For those still believers, if you still believe then keep that dream. Hope you all get what you would like and a merry Christmas and a hopefully Covid free new year!
Petra Schaap 4 years ago
i cant remember how old I was but my mom thought it was about time and told me:-D (i was way older than when my sister and brother found out) My sister found out because when Saint Nicholas visited school, he was wearing our fathers shoes :-D
Uncommon Boston 4 years ago
We followed German traditions didn't have Santa Claus. I never questioned our traditions. I found a clue it wasn't true, and still believed. My mother told me to put it back so nobody else figured it out. Oops, I was 12. As a parent, it was very difficult to pretend Santa Claus was real.
Billy The Kid 4 years ago
This was brilliant. Its good to hear other peoples childhood stories. For those still believers, if you still believe then keep that dream. Hope you all get what you would like and a merry Christmas and a hopefully Covid free new year!
Petra Schaap 4 years ago
i cant remember how old I was but my mom thought it was about time and told me:-D (i was way older than when my sister and brother found out) My sister found out because when Saint Nicholas visited school, he was wearing our fathers shoes :-D
Uncommon Boston 4 years ago
We followed German traditions didn't have Santa Claus. I never questioned our traditions. I found a clue it wasn't true, and still believed. My mother told me to put it back so nobody else figured it out. Oops, I was 12. As a parent, it was very difficult to pretend Santa Claus was real.
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