At Christmas time, during special programs intended for children, I used to look behind the radio to see if Santa Claus and his elves were perhaps hiding there.

Anon

My mom would tell my brother, sister and I that the way to mail a Christmas wish list to Santa was to leave it in the corner of the front living room window. At night elves would come and pick up the letter to give to Santa. Our letters were delivered every year! Those "Santa elves" sure were reliable!

Laura

i used to believe that santa clause was really real.When my mom finally told me that it was a myth when I was like 15 years old,I was totally devistated still to this day I believe in santa clause.

Anon

It was only two years ago (at age 18!) that I finally understood that in the song "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" the father had dressed up as Santa Claus and 'mommy' was kissing her husband. It had always perplexed me as to why mommy would want to kiss Santa Claus. I still feel pretty dim whenever I hear that song.

MJC

My family lived in the midwest and we went to church on Christmas eve about 6 and when we returned around 7, Santa Claus had been there and presents were under the tree where none had been. My parents pointed out that Santa had the entire world to visit (including the Southern Hemisphere) in just one night and we were early on his schedule which explained why some people did not get their presents until Christmas morning, like those who lived in Dallas or Miami. Supposedly, then, Canadians received their presents about 2 in the afternoon on Christmas eve. This belief was aided by the local weatherman who would announce Santa's departure from the North Pole on the 5:30 newscast.

Tom

When I was little my brother and I would leave out some food for Santa like a beer, some cheese, a cake, an apple and a turnip or carrot for the Reindeer.

When we awoke (usually around 4am!) we would find that all the food had been eaten and that the turnip had big Reindeer teeth marks in it! We were so excited that Santa had actualy been in our house with his Reindeer!

One Christmas I woke a little too early to find my Dad tucking into the beer and other bits whilst carving what looked like reindeer bite marks into the turnip with a crinkle-cut potato chopper!!!

What cruel deception!

Charlotte-Rose

My sister and I were questioning Santa Claus. This upset my father and uncle. On xmas eve they went up onto the roof outside our bedroom window wearing heavy boots and carring reindeer bells. Needless to say my sister and I believed for a few more years.

Susan

When I was about 7 or 8, I believed that Santa came down the heater flue. Of course, we didn't have a chimney, just a wall heater, but my sister and were convinced he came through the grates somehow.

Rob

My sister and I both couldn't figure out 1. how Santa came down our chimney, as it was very small and went into the oil-burner (a big scary box in the basement) or, once we kind of figured out that maybe Santa didn't really stop by; 2. Where my folks hid the presents.

Between the two (Santa and parents), we figured that some old man, who must have looked a bit like Santa (but thinner) would come by the house Christmas eve, and my parents would buy the presents from him. I still remember what he looked like.

And I STILL don't know where they hid the presents!

Zee

I used to think that Santa Claus came exactley at 10:00pm. So one Christmas eve I cried devesting thinking I wasnt going to get any gifts because I was not in my bed at 10:00.

Anon

i used to believe that santa could leave presents, even though we didn't have a chimney, because my parents said they'd leave the back door unlocked. :)

April

I used to believe that the "real" Santa Claus was at Macy's in New York City. All the rest were fakes.

Marcia

I lived in a house that did not have a fireplace. I thougt at Christmas when Santa came that he had to enter our house through the stove!

-Amy

Til this day, right before Christmas, my brother and myself receive a Christmas card from Santa Claus with a dollar bill in it. And til this day, my parents have never confessed you sends them.

JLK Aq

I've always believed in Santa. Even now, at 22, I say I believe in Santa becaue I like the idea of him. But here's why I never really STOPPED believing. There was an old man named Louie in my hometown who played Santa at the mall every year. If there is one human being on the planet who totally could be the real santa, Louie is it. He was kind of short and round with a long white beard and white hair.. even had the rosy nose thing going on. He MADE TOYS. His license plate said Santa. Here's the kicker: Louie went to my church and used the same bank as my parents. So... when my parents tried to tell me Santa was fictional . . how could I believe them? I mean.. the man sat behind me in church every week!

Jo

I used to believe that if I went out to the living room too early on Christmas morning that Santa might still be there, and that if I saw him he would leave and take all the presents with him.

sarah b

In order to stop me staying up on Christmas eve, my father used to tell me Father Christmas was an evil tramp who controlled a bunch of equally nasty dwarves. Small boys were known to have been blinded for life by simply glimpsing their hideousness.

Anon