Setting up xmas traditions with a 2 year old and a baby - what to do?

[bronya]

DS will be old enough to understand a bit this year. He'll get the Jesus' birthday bit through church and I'm planning on getting a nativity and an advent calendar. Not sure how to approach the whole Santa thing though. On one hand, I feel uncomfortable about lying to him and saying it's real, but on the other, he'll grow up with other children who do believe in Santa, and I loved the magic of it all when I was a child.

So - what traditions are appropriate for a 2 year old? How much to tell him?

I'd just tell him to put out his stocking Xmas eve
Leave a carrot for the reindeer & drink for Santa
Watch a Xmas movie
And let the magic do it's thing :)

We have tree presents which the children open on Christmas Eve. It's always a lovely book that we can read together before bed. When they were little we got beautiful Christmas books. I'd get one about Father Christmas, let him open it on Christmas Eve and read it together.
My mum also gives them Christmas pyjamas to open on Christmas Eve. They love it. Nice bath, new pjs on, open a gift and read a story.

Let him pick a new decoration for the tree each year? The plan is that I'll give mine theirs when they leave home as something to take from their old life to their new one.
We use rollable icing to make snowmen for the top of the Christmas cake with different sized snowmen and a different coloured hat and scarf to represent each member of the family. The kids love the fact that they can eat some too.
We make a present to give to the family from the kids each year too. We've baked shortbread, decorated a reusable bag with fabric pens and made pine cone decorations too. I think it helps to teach them that Christmas isn't all about receiving.
Late afternoon on Christmas Eve is movie time here every year too.
Make magic reindeer dust to sprinkle outside by mixing oats and glitter.

he'll grow up with other children who do believe in Santa, and I loved the magic of it all when I was a child.

If you loved the magic not sure why you wouldnt want your own child to have it?