Father Christmas. At what age "should" kids stop believing in him?

[Accy cyclist]

Your presents were never wrapped?

No, funnily enough I don't recall as a child receiving a wrapped present, either a Christmas present, or a birthday one. 🤔 🧐 My parents brought me an Action Man frog diver suit when I had my tonsils out aged 7 in 1968. I remember that wasn't wrapped either, but it's only since you mentioned it that I've thought about it. I'm not bothered at all. I think my parents were like me, not very good at wrapping presents. They did wrap presents after I got married as my then wife was into wrapping presents to perfection, so they probably thought they had to make an effort when sending her presents.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I think I stopped believing aged about 10, after I found my forthcoming Father Christmas delivered Scalextric on top of a wardrobe, about a fortnight before Christmas Day! Me and brother kept taking it down, assembling the track and playing with it when mum and dad went to the pub, then putting it back before they got back. I played along with the belief in Father Christmas on Christmas Day, if I remember rightly.

One year I was playing on my parent's bed when I noticed a box on top of their wardrobe
I looked and it was a car race track - one of those ones like Hot Wheels is now

spoiled the surprise on Christmas Day when I opened it and had to act surprised

so after that I made a big effort to not look anywhere for a few weeks before Christmas!!!

 

[Electric_Andy]

I made a deal with my sister that we would find out what our parents had got us, and tell each other. I was about 12 and she 14. I told her she was getting mini mouse braces which was true, she was not impressed. They did seem a bit childish for her. She told me I was getting a radio controlled car which was a lie. So I'm there bragging to everyone on the school bus that I'm getting a race spec RC car and come Christmas day I open a pair of jeans and a denim jacket!

 

[Accy cyclist]

I made a deal with my sister that we would find out what our parents had got us, and tell each other. I was about 12 and she 14. I told her she was getting mini mouse braces which was true, she was not impressed. They did seem a bit childish for her. She told me I was getting a radio controlled car which was a lie. So I'm there bragging to everyone on the school bus that I'm getting a race spec RC car and come Christmas day I open a pair of jeans and a denim jacket!

What make of jeans were they, and did they match? 🤔

 

[Accy cyclist]

I remember Christmas 1968 when it was all over the news about NASA's Apollo 8 orbiting the moon. I went to a working men's club's children's Christmas party. When Father Christmas arrived at the end of the party to hand out presents I noticed a particular distinctive tattoo on his wrist. It was exactly the same one as my grandad's boozing partner had! Mmm, what a coincidence eh! 🤔

 

[mistyoptic]

If not enough people believe in the Hogfather and the Tooth Fairy, the sun will not come up…

 

[Punkawallah]

If not enough people believe in the Hogfather and the Tooth Fairy, the sun will not come up…

There is a body of opinion that simply one persons’ belief is enough to bring such into existence, somewhere.

 

[BoldonLad]

Your presents were never wrapped?

No

 

[Accy cyclist]

No

Glad to hear it wasn't just me then!!

 

[PaulSB]

I remember our eldest questioning the existence of Father Christmas. I can't recall how old he was. His mother pointed out it was his choice, asking "Do you want to risk not getting any presents?"

He believed for another twelve months.......

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

No

When I was a kid I had 2 types of presents from my parents

Firstly the "Father Christmas" ones - they came in a pillow case and were otherwise unwrapped

and the ones specified as being from Mum and Dad that were wrapped and opened with the other "proper presents"

just the way we did things

 

[fossyant]

Has he been ?

 

[PaulSB]

When I was a kid I had 2 types of presents from my parents

We had three types. A stocking with an orange, chocolate etc. That was to keep us quiet for a while. Then it was present opening round the tree. Lastly, Christmas was a big extended family do, there were Christmas tree presents.

When it got round to sandwich time each person would have a small present hanging from the tree. First child would take one from the tree and give to recipient. That person would then select the next present etc........I suspect the adults deliberately made the children wait till the end.......

 

[Dogtrousers]

A stocking with an orange, chocolate etc. That was to keep us quiet for a while.

Yes I remember that. A sock with some things in. It kept me quiet because I was deep in thought trying to figure out what on earth was going on.

My very own satsuma. Great. There was a bowl of the things in the living room if I wanted one. A walnut? Yes, a walnut! One: I'd need nutcrackers. Two: I'd need an adult skilled in the use of nutcrackers Three: I didn't like walnuts. What other pointless wonders would I find? An onion maybe, or perhaps a sink plug? Ah at last, Some chocolate. Fair enough. Eat the chocolate. What's next? Woo another walnut.

 

[Vantage]

To quote my mum when I was in my late teens,
"Santa is actually real. Unfortunately your dad caught the bas***d breaking in with his special key and killed him. So he isn't real anymore."

So there you have it. Blame my dad if you no longer get sacks of toys.