The more heartening lesson one might take is that we can each infuse the world with delight, community, and excitement by consciously engaging in the traditions

The more heartening lesson one might take is that we can each infuse the world with delight, community, and excitement by consciously engaging in the traditions, rituals, and fantasies that provide those to us. Rather than becoming disillusioned by learning that reality is so mundane that Santa doesn't even exist, one can become empowered by learning that whether or not the world feels mundane is something we can control ourselves. Most kids won't be able to come to that conclusion on their own, of course, so it's a bummer that it seems like nobody was able to convey that to you and that you just felt pointlessly betrayed instead. I hope you've found other ways to teach your own kids the underlying lesson.