Every year on Christmas Eve, millions of children across the globe look forward to locating Santa through NORAD’s Santa Tracker. How long does this dream live on though?

Although Santa is not real (as far as we know) when exactly did PHS students discover his facade? Or does the Christmas spirit still thrive in the hearts of some?

“I never really noticed a difference as a kid. I loved Christmas because it was an amazing holiday to celebrate Jesus and just a great time to be with my family,” senior Elle Wilson said.  “I think since I never associated gifts with Santa I was really able to appreciate my parents more. Knowing that they got the gifts for me made them seem a lot more special.” 

While Christmas is a holiday to get and receive gifts, the original meaning of it stems from the Christian religion to celebrate the birth of Christ. Wilson feels as though never believing in Santa has brought her closer to what Christmas means to her. Some people were raised with the belief of Santa and had to learn he wasn’t real the hard way.

“On Christmas Eve when I was six, I woke up in the middle of the night to get water and I saw my parents putting presents under the tree,” junior Brittney Wambeke said. “I was heartbroken.”

Young children often hold their belief in Santa to the highest regard and stress about their place on the nice list every year. If you are good all year then you will get presents from Santa. If not, then all you will receive is a lump of coal.

‘It’s super important to me to be on the nice list,” junior Mckale Foley said. “I love getting presents, I’m a selfish guy. If I’m not on the nice list this year, I will probably burn my house down.”

Foley is a strong believer in Santa Clause. This stems from an experience he had when he was younger

“When I was a little child, I heard the reindeer on my roof,” Foley said. “I was sleeping on the couch next to the Christmas tree and I thought, ‘It’s Santa.’ I could hear him go Ho-ho-ho outside and I just knew it was him. Ever since that night, I’ve known Santa is real.”

“I was definitely judged by my friends in elementary school for it and often told that I must just be on the naughty list which is honestly kind of funny looking back on it,” Wilson said. “I’m just grateful my parents didn’t lie to me about Santa and that I was able to focus on the true meaning of Christmas rather than just the concept of being good and getting gifts for it.”

Judgment is not part of the Christmas spirit. However, sometimes beliefs can lead to harsh feelings or debates.

“If they don’t believe in Santa, I’ll probably punch them in the face,” Foley said.