Do you believe in Father Christmas?

[TwistedChristmas]

I have three children, age 11, 9, and 3. They are all believers and my 11 year old swears that she saw him fly over the house one Christmas Eve when she was about 5.

I still believe in that Christmas magic. More in a mythical figure of the St. Nicolas variety than an Americanised version of Santa.

I find the whole sitting on his knee creepy and don't like anyone dressed up where I can't see their face properly so he kind of freaks me out when portrayed like that in real life but I love reading about him in books or watching Christmas films where Father Christmas is truly magical and get gosebumps.

It might not make much sense but for me the magic is real and I hope my children and I never lose that.

For me it's sort of like religion I suppose. If people can believe in a god then I can believe in Father Christmas.

Do you still believe, even a little?

If I did, my children would be shit out of luck for presents actually appearing on Christmas morning.

I don't know about belief in Father Christmas as an actual existent being, but I am definitely a Christmasist, yes.

Have you seen Carol Ann Duffy's little book, Another Night Before Christmas, OP? I think you'd like it.

SexNotJenga off to look it up now....

No. And I was quite glad when DS realised he was a fake when he was about 6 so I didn't have to fib anymore.

I still tell him though that he'll just have to see what Father Christmas brings when he's reeling off what he wants....

This house believes

Yes. Not as a person but as a concept: the spirit of Father Christmas is manifest every time anyone does something to make the Christmas season magical for someone else without expecting thanks or recognition. That’s the Christmas magic. I believe in Father Christmas, and that he lives within many of us. 🎄

Yes, I know what you mean OP and I do.

Reading Matt Haigs Father Christmas books really helped me get a little magic back and the DDs get through a doubting phase.

Our house definitely believes :-)

I Believe [santa][santa][santa]

Er. No

Yes I believe.

Not in the "man coming down the chimney" way but definitely in the magic and the spirit of giving and in the spirit of Christmas.

This house believes.

Howmanysleepstilchristmas

I love your post.

Yes to all of it.

Howmanysleeps just about sums it up. Great post.

A teen DC here has got that doubting look in his eye and smirking mouth about it for the first time this year.

But he'll mature and grow out of it and he still wanted his advent calendar

Yes it’s the one time you can relive some of your childhood and be a kid again! Love the Christmas spirit and magic of it all even when my children are grown santa will still be a part of our christmas’!

Yes, he's just going through a phase!

I'm so happy others do too! On another thread one poster told me my child would be ridiculed by school friends for believing. She's 11 and in year 7. Dd1 when told people don't believe was incredulous that people don't and felt sorry for them.
I don't see why some parents tell their children he's not real. At least let them develop their own beliefs if they don't want to believe any more.

No. And I was quite glad when DS realised he was a fake when he was about 6 so I didn't have to fib anymore

Same here. I can't remember how old my son was but quite young. Santa didn't bring anything particularly exciting anyway beyond small stocking fillers.

Oh yes I believe. I believe in the magic, the expectation, the giving and charity to others. It's all mixed up with nostalgia and family tradition. Is the man himself flesh and blood, alive and flying his reindeer about on Christmas Eve? I'm not so sure. I buy the presents here. But I'm not giving up the hope that he is doing some good somewhere.