...and when I say "the truth", I mean that he isn't a real person who comes down your chimney to deliver gifts the night of Christmas Eve.
Personally, I have neither encouraged nor discouraged the belief in Santa. I put presents under the tree without any attribution to the parents. This last Christmas Eve, my four-year old daughter decided to write a letter to Santa. I was surprised, because she had previously declared that Santa didn't exist (I just responded that some people do believe, some people don't). I asked her why she had suddenly changed her mind about Santa. She said because she wanted a ballerina dress that I haven't given her yet. Personally, I think she's just "hedging" -- writing a letter, just in case he exists, but not really believing so. I went through a similar exercise, only when I was about six or seven. Anyhow, I promised to mail the letter. It's sitting in my desk right now. I didn't have time to get a ballerina dress, but I'll go looking for one soon. I had to explain that, if Santa did exist, it might not be reasonable for him to get one on such short notice. Actually, my daughter probably doesn't believe in Santa, but is just trying to extort another gift out of me.
What are your own experiences? Do you just keep up with the pretense until they figure it out? Is Santa Claus a belief you encourage or discourage? Why?
I've always been somewhat opposed to the idea of Santa Claus. I feel it's a subversive way of controlling a child's behavior, by talking about an imaginary person "who knows when you've been bad or good so be good for goodness sake." It's like bribery -- be good so that you will get gifts. And doesn't it feel creepy to think that there's someone who's constantly monitoring your actions? But I know most people believe it's just harmless fun.
...a related Calvin and Hobbes strip:
Sorry if this thread has been done before.