Fondest memories of Santa

[Tiny]

A couple of people added their good memories of when they 'lost' their belief in Santa on the Grrrr Christmas Vent thread. I was going to add mine there but thought it might be a fun thread on it's own.

So, what's your fondest memory or YOUR experience(s) with Santa and the tradition of Santa!    Could be your belief, your loss of belief, or some other memory you have that involves YOU and Santa.

I don't every remember having belief (three much older brothers, no other little kids (or even girls)  near my age in the neighborhood and none of the kids I went to school with lived near me  - so my childhood motto was "Trust No One" )

But, the Santa tradition lived on at my house for decades... there were always a present for each person from Santa - even the cat got something from Sandy Claws.   Our stockings (my mom made them out of felt and were our 'first Christmas' gift.) were always filled with fruit, nuts in the shell, some candy and  some loose change and a stick and some coal (to remind us we were bad sometimes!) -  unfortunately my 'girly stocking' was smaller than my brothers' and the orange and apple never fit in it... although the stick and coal always did!.         My brothers were all born in the early early to mid 50's  and I came along in the mid 60's  (and my parents were older) so we always had a old timey Christmas that never really got updated as the decades past       I stayed at home with my Mom as my brothers moved out,  so I eventually helped with the Santa gifts... so  even after my brothers moved out there was always a present from Santa for them  under the tree.  As the family grew Santa would leave a little something at our house for their wives and then kids as well.   These gifts were never big or expensive (socks or a wrench or favorite candy or crayons, if you were a kid, or something! )  - but Santa always knew to leave something for everyone at  our house so that when everyone gathered for Christmas dinner there would be a gift. 

We all still laugh about our stockings and practical Santa gifts - even though we were all in on it we'd still exclaim and be excited about whatever Santa left (even with the sticks or lumps of coal). 

So, what's your fond Santa memory(s)  

[constanz22]

My parents used to put down a plastic carpet runner and made soot footprints from the fireplace on it.  That's about all I really remember.

ETA:  As long as I can remember, we got our stockings in our bedrooms, on our bedpost.  I'm sure my parents started that because they were sick of getting up at 5 am.  At least that way, we could enjoy opening and playing with the stuff in our stockings, until a somewhat normal time of morning.  My grandparents always came over Christmas morning and we couldn't open gift until they got there.  They lived 5-10 minutes away, but that always seemed like an ETERNITY!

[sesfw]

I've tried to remember my childhood Christmases but I have very few memories.

One year I was around 10 we couldn't afford to buy a tree. My step-dad went out Christmas Eve evening after the tree lots closed and he picked up a tree. We decorated it that night but I don't remember anything of the day itself.

The next Christmas I remember was after I was married and a mother.  Watching my child look at the lights is something I still see in my mind's eye.  I still have the small Nativity Bill and I bought that first Christmas.  The year was 1961, price was $2.29 from RiteAide.  Sticker price still on the box.

I've always believed in the spirit of Santa Claus and I have a figurine of Santa kneeling at the Nativity Manger.  The older I get, the more I believe.  And the more I try to be 'Santa' to someone else.

[KaraBoo]

I don't ever remember "believing" or "not believing" in Santa - but there was always Santa gifts under the tree every year.

One year in particular, I remember coming downstairs with my brother and parents - I guess I was about 7 or 8, which would make DB 5 or 6.  It was the year Care Bears were popular and there were two large stuffed Care Bears under the tree - I still remember the bears - Birthday Bear and Sleepy(Time?) Bear.  There was also a radio with a cassette deck and a remote controlled car.

My brother and I just stood there staring at them, not saying anything.  In my mind, I knew the radio was for me and the car was for my brother, but didn't know which bear was which.  Based on his response, he wasn't sure who's was who's either, so we were both silent.

Concerned we were so silent, my parents were like, "So....what do you think?"

Me - I like them, but I don't know which one is mine.
Parents - You get to pick which one you want.
Brother - Great!  I want the radio and car!!

Still cracks me up to remember his comment and the looks on their faces and them trying to explain to him, no the radio is Kara's - pick a bear!!

[chiver78]

Dec 25, 2013 22:01:19 GMT -5 KaraBoo said:

I don't ever remember "believing" or "not believing" in Santa - but there was always Santa gifts under the tree every year.

One year in particular, I remember coming downstairs with my brother and parents - I guess I was about 7 or 8, which would make DB 5 or 6.  It was the year Care Bears were popular and there were two large stuffed Care Bears under the tree - I still remember the bears - Birthday Bear and Sleepy(Time?) Bear.  There was also a radio with a cassette deck and a remote controlled car.

My brother and I just stood there staring at them, not saying anything.  In my mind, I knew the radio was for me and the car was for my brother, but didn't know which bear was which.  Based on his response, he wasn't sure who's was who's either, so we were both silent.

Concerned we were so silent, my parents were like, "So....what do you think?"

Me - I like them, but I don't know which one is mine.
Parents - You get to pick which one you want.
Brother - Great!  I want the radio and car!!

Still cracks me up to remember his comment and the looks on their faces and them trying to explain to him, no the radio is Kara's - pick a bear!!

yellow and baby blue bear w/ the crescent moon, yes? :-)

sent from my electronic distraction

[Peace Of Mind]

  What do you mean by "Lost your belief in Santa"?  Santa exists! 

[raeoflyte]

We did Santa at home until I moved out. It was fun. As I got older I started making ridiculously big plates of cookies to leave out.

In highschool I worked at the mall taking pictures of kids as Santa's helper. That was actually a really fun job.

Sent from my ADR6410LVW using proboards

[motherto2]

When we were younger and my parents were still together, we would go to IL for Christmas pretty much every year (both of my folks were from IL). I can remember just being in awe that Santa knew we would not be home for Christmas, and would bring our presents earlier than Christmas - and it just happened to be the night we were going to celebrate our early Christmas. Very smart man

I was able to keep DD in the belief stage for quite a bit longer than most kids.  I would remind her that even though you couldn't see God, he was still real.  I finally had to talk to her about it when she was in 6th grade.  Apparently there were some older boys on her very long bus ride that liked to talk about BJ's, and I knew if they found out she still believed her life as she knew it would be over.  She thought about it for a minute, asked if she could ask a question.  I said yes.  She asked if we were the Easter bunny and the tooth fairy also!  I did my job well

[NastyWoman]

Dec 26, 2013 2:39:51 GMT -5 Peace Of Mind said:

  What do you mean by "Lost your belief in Santa"?  Santa exists! 

 Isn't heresy against the CoC Mods