not real and how were your views of your parents (for lying to you), of Christmas (for being based on a lie for children) and of life in general changed?
I'm speaking as someone who's never had to experience the ordeal and I'm curious as to whether it was traumatic for anyone or if it didn't change anything?
2006-11-18 15:12:33 · 21 answers · asked by berdudget 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
I was in third grade, so about eight years old.
I could not believe anything my parent's told me for quite a while. They did try to make it seem as if I were now part of the game, to help keep me from telling my younger siblings and cousins. That made me feel alienated from the "children". They meant well, but I was a "thoughtful" child.
The good news is that I also knew the true meaning of Christmas, so it wasn't a total mess, but it was more than a bit disillusioning.
One of my brothers felt totally betrayed by our parents and still doesn't believe a thing they say (we are both in our mid 40s), but my other two siblings didn't have any problem at all with it.
2006-11-18 15:28:19 · answer #1 · answered by tantiemeg 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The plan was to have Santa get my twin brother a parakeet for Christmas. There was an unusual cold front that came prior to
Christmas Eve. It was too cold to live the bird in the barn or the pump house, so Mom hid the bird in the kitchen under the sink. The bird was just too happy sitting in the dark and started chirping during dinner. In spite of the Mom and Dad and the older brother and sister claiming they did not hear anything, it was obvious that we were being invaded by alien rats from outer space or there was a bird hidden somewhere close.
2006-11-18 23:26:23 · answer #2 · answered by Mr Cellophane 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was very young. Maybe about 7 or 8. I learned from other classmates that there was no Santa. It was so upsetting for me. I didn't blame my parents or hate them. I still want to believe in Santa today at 52. I still wake up and have to look at the stocking that is just the way I left it the night before. So disappointing! Santa lives in the heart. It is all about giving and seeing someone else happy.
2006-11-18 23:19:14 · answer #3 · answered by Just Bein' Me 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was 9 or 10 which is apparently old. We were having a party on Christmas Eve & I found all the presents upstairs in my mom & dad's room. Including the ones labeled to: Annie from Santa, to: Janice, from Santa... and so on. By this time all my friends had stopped believing so i wasn't so crushed. In fact, went back downstairs to the party beaming, & with a smile on my face I walked up to my parents and said "Santa doesn't exist."
2006-11-19 01:57:15 · answer #4 · answered by annie_katt 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My parents were uber religious so I was told that he wasn't real from the very beginning, I've seen some pictures they took with me and Santa and I looked scared and confused, so of course now I don't hold anything special in Santa. I don't know what it's like for you people who grew up and realized that your parents lied about it, but I can tell you that it sounds better from my side to think about those years of sending Santa letters or thinking about Santa coming down your chimney. I don't know of course, but it sounds nice.
2006-11-19 00:43:32 · answer #5 · answered by thoor_ballylee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a sister who is 5 years older. I don't think I ever got much of a chance to believe in Santa because of her. :) Even when I was very young when my dad took us to a different room because he said he heard the sled on the roof, I knew my Grandpa was bring up the presents from the basement.
2006-11-18 23:14:34 · answer #6 · answered by Fleur de Lis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only trauma I have experienced is when I tell people I have never believed in Santa because my culture and family do not celebrate Christmas...
2006-11-18 23:16:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wasn't too terribly disturbed by the whole thing. There were always rumors at school that Santa wasn't real... One year my parents just "forgot" to remove a price tag from one of my toys. It's wasn't that big of a deal and at 5-6ish I wasn't thinking big scale like "Oh God, my parents lied to me!" I was more interested in my presents and the whole holiday ritual in our home (presents, church, family, dinner etc).
2006-11-18 23:21:44 · answer #8 · answered by annathespian 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Aww, kids might see this!
I think you should delete it... or they'll be THIS old!
(I was about 10 - quite old, and I didn't think any less of my parents for lying, I was amazed at all the effort they go to every year and how much they loved me for doing it! I thought less of myself and guilty for going looking and finding presents hidden... It did ruin the magic of christmas a little, but we all have to grow up sometime!)
2006-11-18 23:21:51 · answer #9 · answered by WildWildHeart 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a feeling, but it became official when I was twelve years old. Its ok, because I still believe in santa, and Im almost thirty now! I know he isnt real, but I just like to know that he might just be :)
2006-11-18 23:14:28 · answer #10 · answered by designerista 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋