The man, the myth. the legend
How did you find out Santa wasn't real?
By Meghan Miller, Jayplay writer
All Illustrations by Max Karter
Those damn cashiers!
It was the day after Christmas and my brother and mom went to the grocery store. My brother was 2 years old so he was sitting in the cart as my mom proceeded to check out. The cashier looked at my brother and asked him if Santa had come to his house last night. My brother nonchalantly said no, Santa didn't come.
The lady was surprised that Santa had not come to visit and asked my brother, "Have you been bad?" My brother turned to my mother and started to cry. "Is that why Santa doesn't come?" he wailed. "Because I've been bad?" My mother, furious with the cashier, had to explain to my brother that Santa didn't come to our house because we were Jewish. We didn't believe in Santa. My brother has recovered from this traumatic childhood event, but for some, the truth in finding out Santa isn't real can be a real heartbreaker.
Santa works out too
Santa doesn't just visit houses,he stops by athletic clubs too. At least that's what Carrie Brown, Denver alumus, used to think. Brown and her family would go to the Denver Athletic Club's Easter and Christmas brunches every year. Santa would sit with all the kids and ask them what they wanted for Christmas.
One year, when Brown was 6, her brother decided to tell her the truth after they got home from brunch. He made sure their parents weren't around and then not only dropped the bomb about Santa, but also told Brown the Easter Bunny wasn't real either. Oh, the insanity. He couldn't believe that Brown would believe Santa and the Easter Bunny would make a special trip to the D.A.C. Brown was devastated as any kid might be. But then she realized something: She didn't care who got her the presents, as long as they were rolling in! Santa or not, Christmas meant presents.
10| Jayplay 12.08.05
Maybe looking for presents is a bad idea
Molly Ford, Lawrence Freshman, was in 4th grade when she found out Santa wasn't real. All she wanted for Christmas was a Barbie Dream Boat. Like most kids, the Lawrence sophomore snooped around the house trying to find her presents. She knew the big presents were in the garage, so she waited for her parents to leave before she began her search.
When they did leave, she was off to the garage to find her presents. Ford found her Dream Boat in a huge box under a sheet. She waited the next two weeks in anticipation of her gift. Christmas morning came and there was the giant box sitting in front of the fireplace. Ford was crushed when she saw the card that read "From: Santa" because she knew it had been in the garage for weeks. Ever since that day, she has grilled her mother about the realness of Santa.
Her mother still tells her that Santa is real. That's why she still leaves the big guy a treat. Ford says that when Santa comes to her house he prefers Coke in a glass bottle, so that's what she leaves for him next to the plate of cookies.
How else would my presents get there?
Ford and Brown have accepted that Santa isn't real. But good luck telling that to Kevin Severin.The Overland Park sophomore still claims that Santa is alive and well."Do you think that all the parents in the world would really lie to their kids about a fat, jolly man in a red suit?" he says.Severin actually knows Santa is real. He has found footprints in the fireplace where Santa landed and who else would have eaten the cookies and milk he left out? Another indisputable fact is that every time Severin sits on Santa's lap and tells him what he wants for Christmas,he always gets it. Who else could have known what Severin wanted? Severin says that even if Santa wasn't real, which is entirely not possible, believing in him makes Christmas that much more fun. There is no better feeling for Severin than to wake up at six in the morning to run down the stairs to see what Santa left him.
Keep on eye on the guy in the sky Santa is real to many kids around the world. And for good reason too. Kimberly Keith, parent and child counselor, says that believing in Santa Claus keeps magic in the lives of children. Believing in Santa Claus helps the child's imagination grow by allowing them to dream. Even after a child finds out Santa Claus isn't real, pretending he is, is still fun. If you're interested in watching Santa on his journey of gift giving, you can go to www. northpole.com. The website keeps track of Santa's whereabouts starting November 25. You can send him a letter from there too, figure out if you've been naughty and nice and read a Q & A with the jolly man. Go ahead, he'd love to hear from you.
Keep on eye on the guy in the sky