The magic of childhood is often epitomized by the belief of Santa Claus. For many kids, the anticipation of Santa’s arrival, the wonder of his journey from the North Pole, and the joy of finding presents under the tree are moments filled with pure delight.
Believing in Santa fosters a sense of wonder and imagination, creating cherished memories that last a lifetime. This magical tradition not only brings joy to children but also rekindles the spirit of the holiday season in the hearts of adults.
Mrs. Peluso said, “Some morning I wake up freaking out because I forget to hide the elves. I try to distract my kids before they go downstairs so I can move them.”
Peluso says, “One time I shoved him (their elf) in the blender and my kids freaked out.”
Officer Norman said, “My son, Matthew, was 9 and his twin brothers were 7, and Christmas morning everyone was waiting for Matthew to wake up. It was 8:30am and we were yelling ‘MATT WAKE UP! SANTA CAME!’ and Matthew yelled back, ‘I’M SLEEPING!’”
Keeping Christmas traditions alive is a wonderful way to preserve the magic and joy of the holiday season. Whether it’s decorating the tree, baking cookies, or gathering for a family meal, these rituals create lasting memories and strengthen family bonds.
To this day, the Sturm family keeps the magic alive, by signing some presents ‘Love Santa’ and keeping the elf around.
Mrs. Peluso’s elves bring the kids advent calendars on December 1st and they leave cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.
As kids grow old, they often start questioning the existence of Santa. This shift usually happens as they become more observant and logical, noticing inconsistencies in the Santa story or hearing from older peers.
Mrs Sturm talks about her youngest daughter saying, “The longer they kept her (Colleen) going, the longer it kept going for everyone else.”
Assistant principal, Mrs. Batty says, “My daughter stopped believing in Santa around age 7. Kids at school would talk about it so she came home and asked me and I told her the truth.”
Photography teacher, Mrs. Bono said, “I was 8 and found out on Christmas Eve when I saw my brother, Mr. Bono, putting out presents under the tree.”
Ms. Sheehan (Formerly Mrs. Gwudz) says, “I was in 3rd grade when my mom let me stay up late and watch Murphy Brown and in an episode they said Santa’s not real.”
Senior Audrey Hunter said, “I was 9 and found out when I saw gifts that got delivered to the house that were then put out for Christmas morning from Santa.”
Junior Sadie Tiven said, “I was in 7th grade, on a mask break, talking about Christmas with Ava Tucker, when I overheard Mr. Ahlcrona say to another student Santa wasn’t real.”
The magic of Santa, once a source of wonder and excitement, begins to fade as kids seek more realistic explanations. While this can be a bittersweet moment for parents, it also marks a significant step in their child’s development and understanding of the world.
