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Christmas

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Original poster

I'm confused about what everyone says about Santa on here

67 replies

Nerf · 01/09/2014 15:02

So, my understanding is that children write to FC, he gets the list, and his elves make or buy some of the items and then leave them on the end of the bed in or next to the stocking.
On here, everyone seems to do stockings with underpants, little bits from Hawkins etx - so what is the point of The List?

OP posts:
TortoiseUpATreeAgain · 01/09/2014 15:08

Santa brings presents. Some of them will be things you have asked for, but you don't get everything you ask for and not everything you get is something you specifically requested. Because Santa Knows Best.

Original poster
Nerf · 01/09/2014 15:13

Yes Grin

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TheWoollybacksWife · 01/09/2014 15:17

I go against the MN collective here, but when DD1 was about 4 she looked around at her parcels on Christmas morning and asked (nicely Grin) which present was from mummy and daddy. I had about two seconds to think and told her that the presents in her stocking were from us - so that has been the tradition for the last 15+ years and it works well for us.

I now only have one "believer" so get most of the credit for present buying anyway Smile

OwlCapone · 01/09/2014 15:23

On here, everyone seems to do stockings with underpants, little bits from Hawkins etx

No they don't. Not everyone does the same thing at all.

123rd · 01/09/2014 15:25

We have a mixture. Some pressies from us , some from FC. Both DC write a list, & as pp wrote they don't get everything on it but it gives us ideas!

Original poster
Nerf · 01/09/2014 15:26

That's quite sweet, Wife.
Owl, yes I know I am generalising based on the Christmas threads. Feel free to share your own version of Santa.

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hashtagwhatever · 01/09/2014 15:27

We have the main present from santa. A main from us and lots of smaller presents from us also. Oh an santa leaves a stocking at the end of their beds with small things in.

nickelbabe · 01/09/2014 15:30

our santa leaves the stocking presents and all other gifts are from the people who sent tgem.
however, I think as dd gets older, her big gifts will probably also come from santa, as they did when we were kids.
I think that's how it happens in most of the families we know.
adults also get a stocking.
stockings contain:
satsuma, chocolate, nuts, apple, small gift. (usually useful like socks or deodorant etc)

superbagpuss · 01/09/2014 15:30

DC write a list for DH and I, and then when we see FC they name one gift. FC brings one biggish gift (say about 20) plus the stocking (pants/ socks/ choc/ fruit/ small toys etc).

DH and I bring the biggest presents - tablets last year and other things (new christmas clothes, other toys and puzzles) and they are from us.

Other family members and friends also give the dc gifts (they are very spoiled) and DC write thank you cards to all.

Original poster
Nerf · 01/09/2014 15:34

That sounds similar actually. We try to gauge which ones they actually want, and then add silly thibgs as well.

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crazykat · 01/09/2014 15:42

We do stockings to try an buy us a few more minutes sleep. Mostly little novelty presents and a packet of buttons.

Ours write a list to Santa but we've told them its a guide not an order form. The elves makes the toys and Santa sends us the bill and delivers the presents Christmas Eve.

We told them we have to pay Santa so they can't have everything they ask for if its too expensive. Their birthdays are just before and just after Christmas so they usually get everything they ask for as they're only young so haven't started asking for Xbox/phone/tablet yet.

It seems to have worked so far.

Original poster
Nerf · 01/09/2014 15:47

Order form Grin I wish!

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Showy · 01/09/2014 15:49

In our house you ask FC for one gift and he also leaves a small stocking of little surprises like soap, flannel, socks etc. Everything else comes from whoever the label says it is from.

Chennai · 01/09/2014 15:55

I think everybody does it differently, but somehow children seem to accept the version their family does!

Ours did a letter to Father Christmas, but all their presents under the tree always came from us or whoever else they were from.

The FC presents were just what was in the stocking, which was little bits and bobs - treats and fun tat.

We were lucky in that they never questioned the discrepancy between what they asked Father Christmas for and what they actually got in their stockings!

As they grew up, the fact that it was all very low key meant that we never had 'the talk' about the existence or otherwise of FC, and stockings just started to be left out with a twinkle in the eye as it dawned on them that it was a fun family tradition rather than some bloke with a sleigh.

I have no idea when they stopped believing but I suspect they moved from belief to playing along when they were around seven or so.

xalyssx · 01/09/2014 15:57

For us, Santa brings one small present each that Mama would never buy... along with a stocking full of things to share.

LokiBear · 01/09/2014 15:57

Stocking and main present from Santa. Who also brings the presents from mum and dad. My parents used to hire a baby sitter to go out and do all of the shopping when we were kids. They told us that they were going to visit santa to organise what presents he was going to bring. Some where from him, some from my mum and dad. V complicated really! But hey, it's a tradition!

Original poster
Nerf · 01/09/2014 16:07

Loki, I may start a tradition if having a babysitter for Xmas shopping anyway, sounds brilliant

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polomoomin · 01/09/2014 16:09

Stocking here is the boring useful stuff like toothbrushes, wash mitts, cutlery, wash mitts etc. So definitely NOT from the big man, I think they'd be pretty gutted if all FC left them was a measly wash mitt Grin. They always open the boring stockings first to get them out of the way.

The main present is from Santa. The one they all ask for for months, the 'special gift'. The others are from us.

donkir · 01/09/2014 16:27

My ds is 12 and stopped believing last year Hmm.
He used to write a letter to Santa and then put it in the fire. The fire fairies would then take it to Santa.
Santa would then bring the main present and leave a stocking full of small surprises on the end of his bed or as he got older outside bedroom door.
All presents other than stocking were downstairs under the tree.

RegrettablyYours · 01/09/2014 16:34

In our house FC fills stockings with little useful things and a satsuma.
We give them a present.
If small house occupants write lists because of general peer experience they do not get sent to any mythical being but might be glanced at by a parent to see what unrealistic expectations the children might be harbouring.

BeyondRepair · 01/09/2014 17:38

All big presents most def from FC, I feel its childish and petty to want direct thanks from tiny children who only have one childhood. They will know soon enough who was really behind the presents.

There are no hard and fast rules here but mine was onto us from age 4, as she is confused by films and stuff that says FC has a workshop and makes toys and yet she sees toys in shops and know they come from factories in china. And....its those toys she gets!

So now I have to cut lables out and fiddle round.

Stocking and 80% presents from FC, we acknowledge some items, wrapped in different paper from us -specifically.

Family and friends give directly or get - direct thanks.

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 01/09/2014 18:56

Santa brings the stocking with little bits and pieces - he tries to avoid tat, and it's usually things like lego mini figures, socks, character pants etc, the obligatory satsuma & choc coins, and an annual.

Santa also leaves bigger presents under the tree - DS doesn't get any presents from us. Not fussed about getting thanks etc. Anything else is from whoever bought it.

DS writes a list for Santa and knows that Santa doesn't like children who are greedy and ask for too many big things, while I cross my fingers that the present at the top of the list isn't something I haven't heard about! Grin

GiveMeCheesecake · 01/09/2014 19:06

Santa brings the presents in the stocking, which is a main present and smaller presents. DS hasn't written a list yet as he was not even 3 last Christmas but we might attempt one this year. But he seems to point to every advert and want it then forget about it two seconds later.

Everything else is from us or whoever else they're from.

TeWiSavesTheDay · 01/09/2014 19:55

Stocking with socks and little keep them entertained while waiting fir everyone to wake up gifts are from Santa.

Also one present under the tree from Santa - might be the most wanted thing, might be something Santa thinks they will really enjoy. Other gifts from us, generally off list.

Friends and family told what is on list and usually buy from it. They're much more dedicated than me!

TeWiSavesTheDay · 01/09/2014 19:56

(also friend/family gifts are from themselves obviously)