Do you remember how you found out the truth about the jolly fat man in the red suit or the fluffy bunny who delivers chocolate once a year? How did you react at the time? Was it a painful process at all?

For me I was about five or six. I was rolling around on my parents' bedroom floor when I suddenly spied a number of toys under their bed including one fluoro green hula-hoop (note to parents: hiding gifts under the bed is both predictable and silly as vertically challenged individuals can easily access this space.)

Illustration: Frank Maiorana

Weeks later, an identical fluoro green hoop was bestowed upon me with a greeting card signed by one "Santa". A basic handwriting comparison of the various other cards in my stocking and a quick check under my parents' bed confirmed my suspicions.

This "truth" I had uncovered did not distress me. On the contrary I felt proud of my detective skills and an urgent need to get the message out to all and sundry.