Christmas is a primary method of indoctrinating people into scientific rationalism. The childhood imagination is fully engaged by this effort, unlike any other, to create the illusion of Santa Claus. As a kid it is a sort of bliss. Then as a sign of the transition to adulthood the growing child comes to realize there is no Santa. No time for mourning though, the growing youth is immediately brought into the fold and encouraged to help maintain the illusion for the younger children. The work is complete, the nature of fantasy and reality is established.

I find it fascinating how kids, without being told, eventually realize that Santa Clause isn't real. Is it because they never get to see him? "Mall Santas" are a common thing all over the world, so I don't think it can be that.

I think they do get told, just not in as direct of a manner.

Different things get dispelled that changes their foundation that Santa relies on. Such as magic isn't real. Without magic, how can Santa perform his job?

As they get older, it becomes 'childish' by peers to believe in things people 2 years younger believe.

Media created for the demographic starts hinting at the possibility of parents being Santa.

They're fed enough information over the years to piece it together by themselves.

You can celebrate Christmas without Santa Claus.

In one sense, yes. In another, no.

There's more than one Christmas.

Santa Claus isn't really a lie though. Our perspective of the concept just changes and matures as we get older.

Santa Claus is an old man with a beard that uses magical reindeer to deliver presents to every child on Christmas Eve.

Definitely a lie. Saying he's not is another lie, even if you're lying to yourself.

Are all myths, parables and stories lies? Is every metaphor a lie? (All the world is not a stage! It's a terrestrial planet!).

If the category "Lies" is identical to the category "Not Literally True", then it seems to be fairly useless.

There's a world of difference between "a fun myth we share with our children that we drop as soon as they outgrow it" and "a blatant lie," and that context is also important for kids to learn.

Is it a just fun myth though, or is it psychological manipulation of children by adults? After all, the premise is that Santa is secretly watching you the whole year, and you're only rewarded at the end of the year if you've been "good".