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My parents told me they had to send the money to Santa for our gifts.  Which made sense to me as a child (from a poor family) why some of my friends (from more well off families) got better gifts than me.
Kids figure it out by 8. Just let them have it until then.
Your children do not need to hear how much you do for them. Do you tell them that you bought the clothes they’re wearing, pain the rent? You decided to have them, that’s the price you pay. You are not special for looking after them imo. >

I don’t have to tell my kids what’s known. My kids know I buy their clothes provide shelter  feed them etc. I don’t flaunt anything in my kids faces because I’m their parent and it’s my job never did I say I was special for doing what is needed to make my kids life easier than what I had to live through growing up.the purpose of Christmas according to most is about family and giving joy and cheer. When kids wake up with gifts under the tree they don’t care who or where it came from all they care about is what it is. So why can’t they get that same satisfaction knowing that Santa didn’t bring the gifts but that they came from mommy and daddy ? >

I agree, the happiness with the present doesn’t change depending on the source.
I just feel that kids don’t get to be innocent for too long nowadays. Can’t we just let them have a few years where they believe in Santa and magic and all that? >

They don’t it’s a sad world we live in I got my 2  and I cry because he’s growing up so fast and I want to protect him from the worldly demons. I get what you are saying but for me it’s the fact that everything is symbolic. Everything has a deeper meaning and I don’t want my kids growing up giving energy to the evil deity’s. Believe me I understand that imagination my son had that sparkle in his eyes and I will prolong that forever but before I give credit to Santa I’ll give it to God. >

Oh Jesus Santa Claus is loosely based on Saint Nicolas who happened to be a saint. Just tell them that if you want to use the whole God angle. Saint Nicholas was known for his generosity and kindness, which gave rise to legends of miracles he performed for the poor and unhappy. At least that way you're not robbing them of the wonder and setting them up for awkward situations with their peer group it's hard enough being a kid without the added stuff.
Oh and FYI there was no way Jesus if he existed was born in December it's impossible  becauae the tax season for the Jews has always been during the late spring early summer not winter. The only reason it's associated with the birth of Jesus is because the Romans were masters of public relations, they took the pagan holiday and tradition of the Yule tree and said look see we celebrate the same as you do! But really you've been celebrating this guy all along. >

That is actually factually wrong. Though Jesus was not born in december 25, the reason this date was chosen had to do with balance an uniformity and what number 3 or the whole trinity means to christians. >

There is no "right" answer on this one. Both are fine and neither side should be shaming the other for what is (at the end of the day) basically a non-issue. >

What I have decided to do when I have kids is have one or two gifts that are from Santa and let them know that the rest is from me and their dad. 
It’s okay for them to believe in something and I have the funds to make it reality. I’m not going to take away that magic and that’s what I want them to have. From memory I loved it and want my kids to have a similar experience.
Yes it is sad that there are kids out there that believes in Santa but never get a gift and as much as I would love to change that, the best I can do is make sure I donate presents to local shelters or something. I am also registering to be a foster parent so that I can help a kid have a least a good memory in a sea of bad ones.