How do you justify lying to the kids about the existence of Santa Claus?

My heart goes out to all the little children who are hurt by the Santa story. . . My own believed in Santa, but I was a little more delicate in explaining him to my children. . . Can you imagine how the extremely poor children, or the orphans of the past, must have felt when Santa brought nothing . . . how unloved they must have felt ! This question poses a very good lesson in life, and should be brought up every year, just like the letter. . "Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus" People forget what Christmas is all about. . Everything is just too commercialized !! Thanks blu for sharing your pain and disillusionment............