When did you stop believing in Santa?

[chirox the pony 1,334]

I was around 8, it was pretty casual and it didn't really have any big effect on me.

[Wingnut 6,725]

I guess I stopped believing around age 9 or 10? I was fairly gullible for a kid and, with no brothers and sisters to burst my bubble, I tended to hang onto childlike ways of thinking longer than average. Of course, I acted like I still believed for another year or so. One, I didn't want to disappoint my parents by making them aware I knew the truth. Two, I was worried they might stop giving me Christmas presents if I didn't believe.

 

I forget how old I was when this happened but one year I snooped through my parents' room and found the presents they were hiding from me.

[epzik8 91]

Pretty old, I think I was 12. But by then I was sort of forcing myself to believe in him, just to fit in with the Christmas spirit.

[Drakkon 362]

I was a crazy little kid. One of our family friends, a neighbor, came to be Santa when I was about 5 or 6 years old. He had a good disguise and everything; I didn't recall this myself but we actually managed to film the whole incident. Basically, he came over all ho-ho-ho and I tell him, "You're not Santa... YOU'RE BERRY!" "What? Ho-ho-ho I'm not Berry, I'm Santa Clause." So I just grab at his fake beard, pull real hard, point at him, "You're Berry" and release it back into his face.

 

I have never been able to rewatch that out of embarassment. But judging from this I don't think I ever believed in Santa.

[long gone 8,929]

After I heard my parents putting presents under the tree, when I was 12.

[Invincible 2,090]

Never believed in him to begin with. I was born to a Jewish family, lived almost all of my life in Israel, so yea..

 

If it offers any insight, i never believed in ANY holiday figure either.

[Geek0zoid 1,467]

I like to still think Santa's real, if only to be a bit more happy during this time of year.

I probably stopped believing at around 9, though. Boy, was I disheartened to hear that :/

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,298]

I stopped believing the moment I read this thread title. o_O

 

Why you do this?  Why you rob me of my completely reasonable belief in a portly bearded gentleman who flies all over the world - in a sleigh pulled by levitating reindeer, no less - in the span of but a single night, dispensing gifts to all the good children and stuffing the stockings of naughty children with recovered copies of E.T. for Atari?!?! ;_______________;

[Dark Horse 12,795]

I think I was 11, the exact year eludes me, but my mother basically brought me to help come get my younger sister's presents and told me then. I'd always had a sneaking suspicion of course, what with my parents always staying up till all hours until I finally went to sleep, and they hated me for being such a night owl and forcing them to stay up so late

[Odyssey 5,713]

I think I was around 10 or 11 when I found out that Santa didn't exist. Before then, my brother would constantly tell me that Santa's not real while I listen obliviously.

 

On a related note, I once heard a story in which my brother never believed in Santa. It got to the point that when he was 7, he told his parents that it was them who put the presents from under the tree.

[Sunny Shimmer 259]

Well I didn't find out, I was told by my parents when I was in 6th-8th grade.

[GONEFOREVER 518]

Around the Age of 8. Can't say I'm surprised that I was that young, my parents tell me I never really bought into the easter bunny or the tooth fairy.

[Gravelord Neat-O 305]

i never believed in that jolly old fuck.

 

i did believe in satan tho.

[Venomous 18,813]

I think I was 7 when I found out Santa Claus wasn't real.

[Rebel the Wolfgirl 5,585]

I think I was 7 when I found out Santa Claus wasn't real.

7? DAMN, GIRL. I think I was a bit older than you when I found out.

[Sonic Shimmer 4,116]

What do you mean?

 

Santa is real, I saw him in my local shopping centre/mall only a week ago.

[GrauWitz 1,010]

My parents told me when I was 10 years old. I remember it. I wasn't even upset, I was just like "Oh, ok" and that was it! XD

[Alex Z 848]

I stopped believing when I was around 11

[sweetolebob18 724]

I read that Shirley Temple (old time child actress & singer) once said she stopped believing when "Santa Claus" asked her for an autograph.

[Discordian 6,013]

I don't remember the exact age but when it happened I bawled for like thirty minutes. Even though I was always a cynical kid I believed it with all my heart.

 

Though over the years I've come to realize that I do still believe. Much like @@Steel Accord, I believe in the concept of Santa and the Christmas spirit. What's more is the entire shtick behind him is that you can only see him if you believe in him so it's impossible to really prove or disprove his existence, especially if he's trying to hide it. I think it entirely possible for him to exist to those who still fully believe in his physical form but for the rest of us who don't or are unsure we can still believe in the spirit and enjoy the holidays and cheer around this time of year. (Heh, rhyming.)

 

No one can take the magic of Christmas away from one who truly wants to keep it.

[Freewave 1,145]

I think it was revealed in 3rd grade. I was a bit crushed. Have been an atheist ever since.

[CuriousPony 156]

I caught on when I was... ten or eleven, maybe? 

 

Though I still pretended he was real until like... a couple years ago. Because it's more fun having Santa around. 

[Sommar 1,289]

I stopped believing at 9 or 10. I just straight up asked my mom if Santa was real or not lol.

[Gone Airbourne 21,969]

I can't remember how old I was but it was a long time for sure I think I may have been at least 6-8 not really sure... 

 

My memory for somethings are horrid.

[Cosmik Vek 764]

I think I have maybe never believed in Santa in my whole existence.