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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 22, 1999)
better watch out, better not cry, MattHaney/DN [coupon] 5%0FF Regular Priced Merchandise Lincoln 14th & P Omaha 132nd & Center Sorry, NOT VALID with Any Other Offer, Previous Purchases, Doc Martens, Lucky, or Fragrance. Expires 12/31/99 Distinctive Clothing, Sportswear, and Shoes Lincoln- 14th & P Omaha- 132nd & Center “Truth about Santa comes in different forms, reactions By Becky Jacobsen Staffwriter s Christmas Eve gets closer, the stories of Santa are told, and young children get excited for the annu im of the man in the red suit and his eight reindeer. _NL students remember that moment when they found out Santa wasn’t real, or when they figured out that the man with the sleigh wasn’t all he was cracked up to be. “I wasn’t told that Santa wasn’t real,” said Audrey Bartholomew, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln fresh man. “I compared my mom’s handwriting and figured it out for myself.” Carmen Barnes was told the harsh truth, and then told to disguise what she knew was real. “My mom told me that he wasn’t real and to act like he was when my friends talked about him,” Barnes said. Being told Santa wasn’t real is not the only way stu dents learned the harsh truth about their childhood gift When I was 6,1 got a bike. From then on 1 knew that Santa wasn't real because there was no way in heck that he would be able to get that bike down the chimney." -Shany Lavy UNL senior giver. Some were smart enough to figure it out on their own, even at a young age.. “When I was 6,1 got a bike. From then on I knew that Santa wasn’t real because there was no way in heck that he would be able to get that bike down the chimney,” said Shane Lavy, a senior psy chology major. Even after being told, a small amount of students hold fast to the belief that Santa is alive and well. “I still believe in Santa Claus,” said Lee Illingsworth, 21, with a laugh. Yet others cling to the reality of Santa for their younger siblings. “I have to believe in Santa Claus,” said Jennifer Krecklow, a freshman music major. “I have a 7-year-old sister who lives for his Christmas Eve visit.” Santa Claus was unavailable for comment on what he felt about the unbe lievers. banta Claus is a Chnstmas tradition, but not many peo ple know where the jolly red giant and Ids story originated. The figure on whom the red-suited benefactor is based came from the ancient Near East St Nick’s popularity dif fers from region to region: In die East his name appears on seals, and in the West his special charges are small chil dren. The “Santa Claus” tradition came later, when northern Europeans started giving presents in his name. Settlers of New Amsterdam, N.Y., brought the custom to America. The story is passed on from generation to gen eration, each generation losing faith in the once anticipated return of the man in the red suit The tradition is kept alive for young children, and the custom remains animate for following generations.