It was all a marketing plot. Santa was there to mold us into greedy little consumers. To want. The Tooth Fairy made us desire money. Hell, Halloween gave us our first taste of monsters and our first fears, which taught us that there was indeed a free handout if you acted the part and followed the rules. Fantasy literally paid up front, hooked us, and bought us off.
Then–properly brainwashed–on to the Easter bunny and religion.