8 yo twigged Santa- I want to lie/ not lie

[heartofhome]

Since last Christmas my 8yoDD (June) has twigged Santa- she is very astute and can read people and situations very well, and I honestly think she has picked it up herself, possibly someone at school, but she very much knows- the shopping centre Santa was twigged years ago, I just said - ah that's because he can't be in each shop on the run up to Christmas, his busiest time of year- and was accepted and swiftly moved on.
I really really want her to believe in the "magic" of Christmas and this mystical man- but hate to outright lie when she "knows"
The other day she said "think it's about time I know about Santa " I looked at her quizzically and said - yeah- the man from Lapland, Finland, that gifts to young children- she then said, I don't want any toys or list this year- I don't need anything. I said jeez that's up to you but when I was a kid I loved getting gifts, I wish he still came to me- she looked at me- raised eye brow, and I quickly moved on

Is there any story that would keep the magic alive for a much too grown up 8yo???
Thought I seen something on fb in prior years.... but thought that was years away😩

Why bother to maintain the charade, just do fun presents from you instead.

My ds questioned from age 6 and was 8 when we admitted outright that it was us. We still do stockings and presents that appear overnight. I wouldn't try to convince her he is real now that she knows

I stopped believing at 8. I searched for presents before Christmas hidden in the house, then these presents appeared on Christmas Day as "from Santa", so I knew it was a lie. My parents didn't try and keep up the magic. It was over.

There's something I read on Facebook too... Can't quite remember exactly tho.

They explained to their children, who were questioning "Santa", that while the man in the big red suit wasn't real the magic was. They told them that everyone who gives a gift at Christmas is a Santa and asked who the child would like to be a Santa for. I think the child choose a elderly neighbor, and each year they would buy a small gift, wrap it and give it to the neighbor with "from Santa" on it.

I don't remember exactly the story but it was similar and I quite like the idea as it keeps the Christmas spirit alive while gently breaking it to kids that their "Santa" is their parents.

why lie in the first place? I just don't get it. And I never ever in real life have ever known a child who "believed in santa" only on MN

Christmas's were never less magical for us as children because we knew santa was imaginary.

I don't see what kids get out of this, it is just some bizarre convoluted con trick played out as a sort of competition between parents. I think its dysfunctional

I had that last Xmas till I spotted boot templates (home bargains) and chucked carpet deodorizer over them. Managed to get away with it. Its great after all these years how they keep the tradition of father Christmas going. Xmas isn't Xmas without Santa and Jesus and his fam 😃😂

Copper- reallly, you don't know any kids that believe in Santa?
its the thought of the lost innocence i suppose- I distinctly remember my brother telling me about Santa when he found out- and Christmas never being the same again.
If I get asked outright again I think I'll have to tell her the truth but I want to keep some sort of magic about it? How can I do that? Surprise gifts? Any other "magical" traditions?
I feel sad for the kids who know and have to keep stuuum around others that are super excited and they miss out on all that "magic"!

I think I was ten when I sussed it. Suspected it from about 8/9 ... But loved it all so much I didn't want to know otherwise