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Original poster

So many Santas!

28 replies

littlemisssunshine81 · 17/12/2018 12:02

When I was a kid you’d go and see one Santa’s grotto if you were lucky. Now it seems they are everywhere and there are a couple of Santa’s we go to visit because the overall attraction is lovely and the kids really enjoy it. Till now they’ve always been too little to notice that there are several Santa’s but now DS1 is asking if that’s the real Santa or not. What do you tell your children? I’m thinking that there is only one real Santa and the others are his helpers (but we never know who is the real one)....also, does everyone’s children believe that the Elf (on the shelf) has a direct line to Santa?

OP posts:
Wenchelda · 17/12/2018 16:09

We used the same line - that the Santas you see everywhere are helpers but you never know if you might be seeing the real one.

We don't do Elf on the shelf, however I have told my kids that the burglar alarm sensors in each room are cameras that the elves are watching them on to report back to Santa and they believe that Grin

livingthegoodlife · 17/12/2018 21:04

how old are your kids? we only go and visit one Father Christmas and just steer them away from anything else. i don't think they have noticed yet...

Original poster
littlemisssunshine81 · 18/12/2018 00:13

I have 3 under 5. I asked DS1 today if he knows which is the real one and he has a pretty good idea. He says the others are just his helpers! So far so good!

OP posts:
DrWhy · 18/12/2018 00:16

My parents always took the line that he was far too busy at the North Pole at the time of year so all the ones you see in grottos are just his helpers and the real one only leaves the North Pole on Christmas Eve for present delivery.

MotherForkinShirtBalls · 18/12/2018 00:46

Ds (6) actually suggested himself that the grotto Santas are helpers do I was delighted to agree with him. Handily we went to see the real Santa in the North Pole last week so all questions were put to rest Wink

MutedUser · 18/12/2018 02:24

We have always said santas we see at Xmas parties and shops are helpers. Kind of had to at age 3 my oldest noticed that daddy’s work Xmas party the Santa was daddy’s friend .

AutoFilled · 18/12/2018 04:49

Similar we say they are embassadors. I agree with you santa is everywhere now. DC1 said happily in the weekend that she has seen three Santas so far!

AutoFilled · 18/12/2018 04:50

And we can’t see the real santa. He delivers the presents with helpers on Christmas Eve but no one sees him.

Happilyacceptingcookies · 18/12/2018 04:57

3 year old DD saw 3 last week, only one was our trip to visit him. The last one she saw was driving a bus! Have now had to visit places where Santa isn't.

ilovetea14 · 18/12/2018 07:01

I told my Ds from early age that its not the real Santa as he's too busy in the North Pole getting all the presents ready. But he sends his helpers to different places so if children want to go see Santa and tell them what they want so he can report back to real Santa. That way every year if we go somewhere new and he doesn't always have a real beard. It makes it easier as no questions.

twilightcafe · 20/12/2018 11:34

I told DC, 'You see, Santa is always watching.'

queenrollo · 20/12/2018 11:37

It drives me mad that my DS school take them to see Santa at a local attraction and then Santa also visits school right at the end of term.
We have never bothered taking him to see Santa because it all seems too much to me.

Lynne45 · 20/12/2018 11:41

DS sees Santa at the school fayre and the school disco - it’s not even the same guy and they look completely different! I’m amazed he hasn’t questioned it, especially as he gets older. I don’t take him to visit any others, he’d know straight away.
He believes the elf on the shelf story is real but only the elves that look like the ones in the film, he says the others are fake.
It’s all a bit complicated for my liking, I just let him believe what he wants!

TSSDNCOP · 20/12/2018 11:43

They are Santa’s representatives on earth. Same as Smyths toys superstores and amazon depots are sleigh refuelling spots.

brizzledrizzle · 20/12/2018 12:00

Back in the 1970s I tried deciding which one was real, I think children just take it in their stride and decide some rational explanation themselves because they trust that their parents aren't telling them porkies Grin

Menolly · 20/12/2018 12:01

My DD believed that my Dad was the real Father Christmas (because he plays Father Christmas for a lot of charity grottos and she saw him and decided that as he had a real beard and the one in the shopping centre didn't that was proof enough for her) Dad told her the others were his helpers because 1) he was a very busy man and 2) he needed to protect his secret identity, which also stopped her telling other children. Sadly it didn't stop her telling the other Santas who always got a wink and a whispered 'I'll tell the real Father Christmas you did a good job, I'm his granddaughter you know' Blush

Mine never believed in the elf. Who needs a creepy doll that you have to remember to move when you have Father Christmas on speed dial?

mogtheexcellent · 20/12/2018 12:06

They are Santa’s representatives on earth. Same as Smyths toys superstores and amazon depots are sleigh refuelling spots.

Ooh I like that, but bang goes my excuse of santa doesnt bring the average stuff you see in the shop excuse so I dont have to buy tat.

DD hasnt asked as its only this year she is really into Christmas so probably next year.

pippistrelle · 20/12/2018 14:03

I think you only see Santas if you have children to whom they are relevant. I used to see them everywhere, but now they're just not on my radar.

Bottom line: hold on, OP, this too shall pass.

And that elf bloke is a rank interloper.

10PollyPockets · 20/12/2018 14:09

This is what I find tricky! Dd hasn't asked why she's seen Santa 4 times but I'm assuming next year she will click! I've not taken her to see 4, school have had one, an after school club, grandparents and then there was one that drives down the road.
I like the Santa's representative idea!!

TSSDNCOP · 20/12/2018 14:39

The elf can do one. Beady eyed little fucker.

OhTheTastyNuts · 20/12/2018 17:29

The santas who visit school/parties/National Trust Lighthouses are Santa's helpers.

The real Santa is the one who sends the video from Portable North Pole...

louise5754 · 21/12/2018 18:38

Mine are 6 and 8. They know there are many Santa's about all looking different so they made their own minds up that these are just normal men dressing up for the little kids. I tell them not tell anyone he isn't the real Santa. We are actually seeing one on Sunday.

TimeForMy10thCuppa · 21/12/2018 23:41

We do the same. Sant can't be everywhere at the same time. So he has awesome helpers how report back to him. You never know if it's the real santa.
I am sure the Santa we saw last year was the real deal.

Howmanysleepstilchristmas · 22/12/2018 06:46

We agree that most Santas are helpers but we don’t know which 1 is real.
It’s our first year with an elf, after they saw one in a shop. Dc are 5 and 6 (and 11 and 13) and I worried it would be unbelievable so I told them it was just a toy. They insisted it wasn’t, so we got one and I warned them to prepare for disappointment as it wouldn’t move. They insisted it would. So far it has moved every night, and each morning I’ve acted surprised and insisted it must be one of them! (It isn’t!)

AuchAyeTheNo · 22/12/2018 11:57

We tell the DC’s that Santa is far too busy making toys etc to come and visit every child so he sends his brothers out to help. A bit like the film Arthur Christmas, so we are still seeing a ‘Claus’ just one in training if that makes sense?

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