In my hometown, we do a community event in December where Santa makes an appearance and all the moms line up with their kids for a photo op. Part of the routine is to send the kid up to talk to Santa, and while the kids are busy, a few elves come over and talk to mom to see if there's anything special we could have Santa say.
Then Santa says "Good Sam! Go get yourself a Candy Cane," which is back by Mom anyway. Then the elf darts up to Santa and feeds him intel which Santa then uses to blow the kids' mind just before the picture.
I had my suspicions about Santa by about age 5 and the year I was 6 I questioned my mother at length about it. Everything she was saying just felt so inauthentic. My mom was always a straight shooter with me, and I could tell there was something about the Santa thing that made her uncomfortable talking to me about it.
So we're at the town festival and, despite my great protest, I ended up going up and seeing Santa with my little sister. My mind was blown when just before the picture was snapped, he mentions to me that he'd seen my list and while a season ticket to the Cubs wasn't likely he would see about maybe a game or two.
Fast forward to Christmas morning, and sure enough in my stocking was a letter from Santa with Cubs letterhead. "You've been a good guy this year, and I want you to know that you'll be welcome to attend the Cubs home opener next season as long as you continue to believe in me."
Man, that's the age when you and your friends talk about it and most know that there's no such thing as Santa. But I'd be damned if I was going to miss opening day. I feel like an idiot now, but my 2 closest buddies and I had previously agreed there was no Santa, but for 4 months until that baseball game; if the topic came up? "No way, Santa is real - he was at the Christmas festival."
It worked out to where it became such a huge deal to me I'd actually find excuses to tell my mom "I believe in Santa!" in like, February.
I got to go to the ballgame, and it was fucking awesome. Then Summer came and went, and the next year suddenly my mom was so guilt-riddled by her stunt from the year before that when I had questions for her when I was 7 she got all emotional with me about not wanting to be a liar ESPECIALLY to her son and that no, Santa wasn't real but he's a character who represents all the joy and fun of Christmas, etc...
That woman is a goddamn saint! I don't think she reddits but in case she sees this by some miracle - Love you, Mom.
High School kids were the elves, so when I was 16 I signed up to do it. Best time of all time. Made a ton of awesome stuff happen for the kids. Lost my virginity to another elf.
Christmas MAGIC!