Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Lying about Santa Claus

70 replies

ProudAS · 22/12/2013 08:11

Why is it OK to lie to DCs about Santa?

I was mortified when DM told me. I was at an age where I needed to know. I had wondered and thought that it all seemed a bit far fetched but my parents wouldn't have lied surely!!!!

OP posts:

HECTheHeraldAngelsSing · 22/12/2013 10:14

I suspect most people dont spend a minute of their lives analysing the ins and outs, long term effects, moral implications or philisophical ramifications of it. They had it when they were kids, it was fun, they have fond memories, they want their kids to enjoy that same magic. They just DO it. Cos everyone does. Cos it's always been done. Because that window of childhood magic and wonder is so small and its a harsh old world out there. Because there aren't generations of people rocking backward and forward saying "santa ISN'T real? Santa ISN'T real?"
The adjustment is generally fine and adults tend to remember the magic fondly.

loveolives · 22/12/2013 10:32

Borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring

FairyTiggybelle · 22/12/2013 11:55

Totally wrong to lie about Santa. I can't believe that people actually lie and say he doesn't exist. How does he feel about that? I would be upset if people started saying I didn't exist! Poor man. He shouldn't have to put up with all that at 900 years old.

usualsuspect · 22/12/2013 12:07

[explodes]

maddening · 22/12/2013 13:16

I think most are not disturbed by finding out about santa - it's nice for most people and a bit of seasonal fun.

mrsjay · 22/12/2013 13:20

meh it is a story make believe all smoke and mirrors blah blah, OP i am sorry you were devastated but really most children work it out for themselves, and nobody is forced to have santa come to their house

Maryz · 22/12/2013 13:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mrsjay · 22/12/2013 13:21

Hec i think i love you that was a brilliant post although what do you mean santa is not real

PassAFist · 22/12/2013 13:26

Same here, Casper. There was never a big reveal in our house, my parents played along long after my brother and I had figured it out. There are no kids left at home and my parents are retired and they still leave a glass of sherry and a mince pie out for Santa! which my Dad dutifully takes care of

This is how I intend to progress as well. I'm pretty sure my older three don't believe any more, but they will never hear from me that it isn't real, I intend to play along for many years to come.

Squitten · 22/12/2013 13:28

I'm another Santa Survivor and emerged unscathed.

I really don't understand the big fuss about it.

Squitten · 22/12/2013 13:29

I'm another Santa Survivor and emerged unscathed.

I really don't understand the big fuss about it.

Squitten · 22/12/2013 13:29

I'm another Santa Survivor and emerged unscathed.

I really don't understand the big fuss about it.

DawnOfTheDee · 22/12/2013 13:33

I don't remember finding out or realising Santa wasn't real. It must have been a bit of a non-event I think.

I do remember wondering why Santa wanted some ale and a chinzano & lemonage though......

DawnOfTheDee · 22/12/2013 13:34

Lemonade I mean...

Monetbyhimself · 22/12/2013 13:34

Apart from your dreadful inability to remove your finger from the 'send' button. I blame the lies your parents told you

AllIWantForChristmaaaasIsEWE · 22/12/2013 13:35

I plan to never tell my dd.

In fact, my parents never did 'tell' with any of us when we were younger. It sort of just fizzled out.

Of course, through friends etc and films, we learned the truth. But my parents have never actually came out with, "We lied to you."

This is what i plan to do with DD. Just let it fizzle out.

My heart melts a bit every time we watch a Christmas film and children (actors) are on there questioning whether or not Santa's real (start of Arthur Christmas for example). As my dd has never had any reason to doubt his existence. So i try and talk over these bits to prolong the magic (she's only 5).

cloggal · 22/12/2013 13:55

Never has the phrase 'to each their own' felt more apt. How many more? Well said Hec

WorraLiberty · 22/12/2013 14:00

Only in the world of Mumsnet is anyone scarred/mortified/gutted about the 'big fat santa lie'.

Meanwhile in the real world....

wigglesrock · 22/12/2013 14:02

Jesus, I'm actually losing the will to live now. Never in my whole entire life have I ever met or known anyone who has been traumatised by the lie of Santa.

Do it, don't do it, but for Christ's sake stop over thinking it. Am now cracking open the 2nd tub of Pringles today to cope.

Freddiefrog · 22/12/2013 14:03

We never had a big reveal when growing up either, we figured it out along the way, my Mum still does Father Christmas when we're staying there now. No one was upset, distraught or still in therapy for it.

We do it, my eldest figured it out a couple of years ago without any drama. She keeps quiet for her younger sister's sake, who will no doubt figure it out at some point too

Do it, don't do it. It's just a bloke in a red suit

TheBigJessie · 22/12/2013 14:05

I expect the modern problem with Father Christmas is in part related to modern inequalities and advertising. As a society, children whose parents are struggling to keep a roof over their head will go to school with children whose parents are exceedingly comfortable, and children whose parents buy stuff on the never-never. And comparisons between what Jonathan, Alfie and Fiona got are easy to make, and erroneous conclusions by the poorer children about Father Christmas thinking they were naughty can be drawn.

I personally was brought up always knowing Father Christmas was a story as far back as I can remember, because we were poor. I was also brought up not to declare this to other children, so it astounds me that so many adults find it difficult to keep it zipped around other people's children.

I did believe in the tooth fairy, flower fairies, and that a miniature dragon lived beneath the cooker, and it lived on bits of tinsel. (For some reason, I saw no contradiction between believing in fairies and not Father Christmas. )

Our own children believe in Father Christmas (so deeply that my husband had to explain last night to son 1 that no, Father Christmas won't be bringing a pink computer for him, as Father Christmas knows he's allowed to use Mummy and Daddy's and doesn't need one) but I do feel uncomfortable talking about it to them, in a way I don't about fairies.

mrsjay · 22/12/2013 14:08

the chinzano was for mrs claus of course

HesterShaw · 22/12/2013 14:14

See, I don't remember EVER really believing in Santa. Presents under the tree were from family. Stockings were supposed to be from him, and we always went along with the "ho ho ho, let's leave a glass of sherry and a carrot," all winking and nudging each other. When the Round Table's float came round and I said "Hi Bryn!" to our neighbour in the costume, at the age of seven or so, I simply couldn't understand the frowns I got from the parents.

It didn't take away from the enjoyment of Christmas at all! That's why I don't understand the lengths some parents will go to, though I wouldn't really call it lying.

mrsjay · 22/12/2013 14:16

I remember hearing santa arguing with mrs santa about building up a fucking barbie house for my sister

Clunch · 22/12/2013 14:18

I don't know what planet the rest of you live on, but 'everyone' doesn't 'do Santa'!

I reckon one third or so of the people I know with kids don't, either because they are Hindu/Muslim/Jewish and either don't celebrate Christmas at all or only very casually, or because they are not from Santa tradition places, or just because they don't. One has an autistic son who found the idea of a stranger entering the house terrifying and, being clever, pointed out from toddlerhood the impossibility of crossing the world in a single night etc etc, so they invented a nice alternative myth. Others, like me, are happy with the 'Santa as a nice story with no requirement to be taken as gospel' approach, but don't pretend it's real.

This does not make any of our children the Typhoid Marys of the playground, thank you very much. Wake up, o women of Mumsnet, it's a big, various world out there.

Flip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread