Poll: So, how many of you believed in Santa Claus as a child?

[simmeh]

Just curious. From a poll at my university, it seemed like 90% of people who celebrated Christmas believed in Santa. I was part of that remaining 10%. My parents told my sisters and me outright, from the moment we were cognitive enough to understand, that Santa Claus was not real. Of course, my family would always open gifts on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day, which of threw a wrench in the whole, "Big guy dressed in red comes Christmas Eve to deliver presents" deal. We were, however, under strict orders not to share this 'revelation' with other kids, presumably to avoid any nasty conversations between our respective parents about how we had 'traumatized' their kids.

When I told some of my friends this, I was met with such responses as, "Really?" and, "That's so sad!" But really, was it? Did I really miss something? I don't feel like I did. I'm not a big fan of Christmas to begin with - I don't mind getting together with friends and family, but I hate how stupid busy it gets, I hate how materialistic people get, and I hate how all the radio stations go even further to crap. Or maybe I just hate everything that's happy in the world because my soul is full of cynicism and the last sentimental part of me died more than a decade ago.

So, share your stories, opinions, etc.

 

[fix-the-spade]

I believe in him now, what are you insinuating you fiend!?

 

[Dastardos]

I did. Until I woke up to take a piss and saw my parents setting out the presents and eating the cookies.
I was 7...

 

[similar.squirrel]

Wholeheartedly. Reason set in by varying degrees. Now all the magic has seeped out of life.

 

[SamTheBaggie]

I did, up until I was about 8 when my mom used these exact words "Sam, give us a hand putting these presents out will ya?"

How cruel

 

[simmeh]

I believe in him now, what are you insinuating you fiend!?

And you would be one of those people my parents warned me about. I'm going to go play over there now...

 

[D_987]

Without Santa Claus this materialized holiday has lost the "magic".

 

[Mr.HomerSimpson]

Yeah, I always thought there was a Santa Claus until I was 10. My mom ruined my childhood the day she told me. *Hangs self*

 

[Mozared]

I voted "no" because it's a "not really" for me. I live in Holland, and we have another 'feast' at the start of December named Sinterklaas (or Sint-Nicolaas). It's basically exactly the same as the Santa Claus+presents idea, but it's much more widely celebrated than that here. We do have christmas, but it doesn't always come in connection with Santa Claus. Therefore I didn't ever really had anything 'to do' with Santa while I did believe in Sinterklaas.

Also Dastardos, great avatar. I just finished watching that movie 15 minutes ago and that scene is great.

(I'm obviously talking about 'My Little Pony: The Movie')

 

[Daye.04]

I'm with you. me and my siblings were told that there was a santa. And in my earlier year, we had someone dress up as him, and visit us. That later dabbed off. But I think the presents on the bed Christmas eve morning allways was there. And the christmas present from Santa under the tree ended when I was ... 10 or something, I think.

I've just never really belived in him. But my mother would allways say that if I don't believe in him, I won't get any presents from him either. So as every child would do, I kept telling them that I believed in him =P

 

[RavingPenguin]

Nope, Santa just always seemed too impossible to exist. A fat man fitting down the chimney, flying across the world, and haveing a workshop full of elves? Yeah, no, thats too crazy.

 

[TUNNEL_SNAKES_RULE]

I still do!What else can be said for the presents under my tree every year?C'mon,guys,this question was easy!

 

[The Iron Ninja]

Until I was 5, when the following happened.

Little Iron Ninja: Is Santa Claus real?
Iron Ninja's Dad: No.
Little Iron Ninja: But... These presents?
Iron Ninja's Dad: We gave you those presents.
Little Iron Ninja: Oh... Do I still get presents next year?
Iron Ninja's Dad: Yes.
Little Iron Ninja: Yay!

 

[tijuanatim]

Yep, I sure did until I helped my mom carry in groceries and saw my new Hot Wheels track in the trunk.

 

[Arayis]

Nope, Santa just always seemed too impossible to exist. A fat man fitting down the chimney, flying across the world, and haveing a workshop full of elves? Yeah, no, thats too crazy.

Santa was ruined for me by my older brother at the age of 8, but I was willing to believe in the idea of Santa... now the Easter Bunny,that was a whole different story, there was no way I was believing in a giant Rabbit hopping around leaving chocolate eggs in my house, it was always too weird to be true...

 

[Madaxeman101]

I did. Until I woke up to take a piss and saw my parents setting out the presents and eating the cookies.
I was 7...

Ouch

 

[YuheJi]

My parents didn't even try to get me to believe in him. They would let me pick the present I wanted, and I wouldn't open it until Christmas but I don't think it was something they really cared about.

 

[Simon Hadow]

Well, a big part of me knew he wasn't real, but I still held onto the possibility, and then when I finnally asked my mom and she told me when I was seven, I cried... god, I was a wimp.