Poll about Santa Claus......?

Do you think it's a magical make-believe or a cruel lie for kids? How did you take the news that there was no Santa as a child? My sis-in-law just told her 12 yr old & he cried tears. I've never told my kids there was a Santa, but somehow my daughter believes it anyway (7), but my son (11) knows there isn't a Santa because I always told him it wasn't real. So, did I take away the magic for him, or resist lying to my child when I'm always telling him not to lie?