There is only one side to this debate, as any loving parent like our two respondents explain:

Stephanie Kienle Gonzalez

I have rediscovered the magic of Christmas through my daughter Andrea. Over the last three years, we have truly enjoyed the traditions that come with believing in Santa.

Our daughter looks forward to writing her letter to him year after year, talking about whether she has been naughty or nice. She even prepares a small meal of either chorizo and wine, or milk and cookies for him. We look forward to this every year!

I myself believed in Santa but only for a short while; so I made it a point to really make the effort for Andrea.

One day, like any other child, Andrea will come to know the truth about Santa.

But should I be the one to tell her?

I believe this is a very personal decision which should be made on a case to case basis. I think I would eventually have a sit down with her and explain it to her, but I’d rather not think about it until the time comes.

Stephanie Kienle-Gonzalez, businesswoman and one of Asia’s Most Stylish, is the doting mother to Andrea, 3, and is anticipating the arrival of her second child with Christian in 2017.

Jonathan Crespi

I will not tell my children the truth about Santa Claus because I would like them to believe in him.

Growing up, Christmas was always a very magical time for me. European traditions, like not being allowed to see the Christmas tree until Christmas eve itself, added to that mystery and magic.

Santa Claus—Le Père Noël (Father Christmas) in France or Der Weihnachtsmann (The Christmas Man) in Germany—is another one of those old traditions that I’d like to pass on to my children.

We would write lists of what we wanted and my parents told us that we would get presents only if we behaved well. In fact, we were afraid that if we were naughty, then Knecht Ruprecht, this sort of Christmas “bad guy” in Germany, would come and give us a bag of coal instead!

I’d love to share these traditions with my children and enjoy all this Christmas magic until they figure out for themselves that sleighs and reindeers don’t really fly!

Jonathan Crespi, a management expert in international business, is a father of two with the chef, TV food show host, and food blogger Stephanie Zubiri.