How old were you when you stopped believing in Santa?

[Hans Delbrook]

I was talking to some women at the gym and I was stunned that some of them still believed at age 10 and up.

I started doubting at age 5 and by age 6 I was convinced that it couldn't be true.

It started when I asked my Mom why our dog (a dachshund - first of many) didn't bark at Santa and she told me "Dogs don't bark at Santa." I accepted that at first then I started thinking - "Wait a minute, Fritz barks at Daddy (who he loved) and he never barks at Santa???" "Hmm, something fishy here." Then I started adding up all the other things that didn't seem quite right.

So was the skeptical scientist tendency showing up way back then or did most people start doubting about that age?

[Jack Schitt]

1. When I was a newborn.

My mom always told me Santa didn't exist.

I was grateful for that.

[wellstone dem]

9. same here, no santa

but surprisingly, we were told that there was a tooth fairy and an easter bunny.

[sakabatou]

29. Same

but different reason... when I was in kindergarden, I kept telling my classmates that there was no Santa Clause. I was one of the only two in my class that didn't believe. Of course, we were the only 2 Jews.

[auntAgonist]

2. what do you mean??????

no santa? ... are you sure?

[TXStacy]

3. There's no Santa?!?!?

[YellowRubberDuckie]

4. Eight.

I saw my mom puting my presents under the tree that were supposed to be from santa.
Duckie

[mzmolly]

5. Six .. my sitter told me his sleigh collided with a 747.

I did not tell my child the santa claus tale.

We do "pretend" there is a santa and play a game. But, she knows there is not.

SHHHHHH.

[Maple]

6. Most people still do

They just call him something different.

[mvd]

7. Seven

I found out about the tooth fairy, Easter Bunny, and Santa Claus all at the same time. Once I discovered one, the rest fell into place. As I remember, I was very good that year and wondered why the tooth fairy couldn't bring me more.

[Left Is Write]

8. Stopped....believing....?

What does this mean?

[Kali]

10. What are you talking about?

Just cause he has the same handwriting as Mom doesn't meant he isn't real.


Seriously, probably 10 or 11 (I am the oldest kid) My kids were the same - the oldest went to 10 or 11 - heck he didn't figure out the video machines in the pizza place took quarters till he was 6 or 7! the youger ones knew as soon as they could toddle into the room. Now he likes $5 lattes. Oh well.

[VTdem]

11. I was six or seven.

My older sister dropped the bomb on me.

[Hans Delbrook]

13. So were you shocked?

Or did you say, "Yeah, that's what I figured."

[VTdem]

17. Eh. I dont think i cared that much actually

[Arkana]

12. Stopped...believing...?

I'm 19, and I still believe in Santa.

[AuntieM1957]

14. Next thing I know, you'll tell me Kerry lost!

No Santa - no hope...

[auntAgonist]

15. and we're not in Kansas anymore!!!

welcome to DU!!!

[name not needed]

16. Six or Seven

In eighth grade, there was a girl in my class who still believed in Santa. Needless to say, she always was a bit of a ditz.

[Neoma]

18. i don't think i ever believed it

but maybe my theory was conformed when the easter bunny gave us a racket set...

[Djinn]

21. me too

while I "officially" believed - hey no point giving up presents! - untill my little brother stopped I don't think I ever really bought it.

Never did the Easter bunny thing, we never really celebrated easter at all.

I was a young cynic I s'pose

[Darranar]

19. Never believed in it. n/t

[American Tragedy]

20. I was told from the beginning that Santa wasn't real

My parents were intensely opposed to lying to their children, because they believed that it would serve as a bad example and that we would hold it against them later.

[Piltdown13]

22. Probably about three or so...

But kept on pretending for another few years, thinking there might be more presents in it.

[NoPasaran]

23. 45

ALthough I'd already bee suspicious for a few years.

[Mizmoon]

24. Santa and Mom had the same exact handwriting

I was about 8 when the significance of this observation really sunk in. Despite this, I was sure to believe in Santa during the Christmas season no matter what. I was trying to hedge my bets, just in case I was wrong.

[the Princess]

25. What do you mean???

There's no Santa? Mommy lied? I hate her!

[RoyGBiv]

26. About 7 or 8, IIRC

I'd questioned the whole Santa thing for some time, but the cookie kept disappearing, and there were little white hairs on the Christmas Tree that might have come from Santa's head. (My Mom was good.)

But, the year I got my Big Green Machine, I woke up in the middle of the night and happened to witness my mom and uncle taking a big box out of the garage and then start putting it together. The next morning, when I got the present, it had "From: Santa" on it.

Kinda weird. I'd wanted one so much, but the discovery momentarily shattered my belief system, and I didn't enjoy that Christmas very much. As a result, I guess, I never tried to make my daughter believe in Santa.

[ilovenicepeople]

27. Eight

[leftofthedial]

28. haven't stopped yet, so cut it out

this is the WRONG time of year to start dissing Santa.

I may just have to help him with his list.

[oscar-something]

30. when i was older than 5 and younger than 15

[yvr girl]

31. I had my suspicions when I was 6 but I didn't voice them to my parents

I knew a good thing when I saw one. I could also blink things when I was little. I didn't let on that I knew the trick on that one either.

[cjm2222]

32. About 8 or 9

I kind of figured it out on my own. I don't know--the Easter Bunny, Santa, et al made childhood kind of fun.

[LDS Jock]

33. I was 6 and some classmates told me

I was crushed. Felt my parents had lied to me. I didn't wanna talk or eat for days.

[sushi]

34. I have always believed in Santa

Always will!

[Borgnine]

35. About 9 years old.

I was a bit of a fundie Santa believer. No matter how many of my peers said he didn't exist, I believed deep down that he did. I didn't want to give up the dream, because without it the holidays seemed a lot less magical.

I also don't really see the problem in the Santa "lie." I enjoyed the hell out of it when I was a kid.

[jdots]

36. I stopped believing in Santa Barbara around 1997

that was when all the corporate chain stores moved in.Santa Fee is still believable...oh and that guy Sandy Claws is real,he is at the mall.

[GingerSnaps]

37. What are you talking about?

I sat on his lap today and told him what I wanted for Christmas and he promised me that * would be brought down. I have been a good girl this year and Santa cannot refuse to give me a gift. * needs a stocking full of black coal.

[FuzzySlippers]

38. I was never encouraged to believe in Santa

and I'm glad. I was the kind of kid who would have been terribly upset to learn that I'd been intentionally deceived by my parents.