If there's no FC, how is it magical?

[skinnysituation]

DC is still a bit young to completely understand and DH hates Christmas, so not much help.

If you don't do 'Father Christmas' how do you still make it special and a bit magical? Are there any traditions I could adopt for future years that would still deliver that excitement?

Feeling a little sad DC won't have that joyous anticipation of Father Christmas delivering/filling a stocking that I experienced.

We were never going to "do Santa" & didn't for the first few years. We told our DC that Santa was a game that some people played (first rule being "always pretend it's real"). When he was 5 our eldest asked if we could play the game too. So we do! Nothing major, just maybe 10 small gifts notepads, socks & lots of giggling/shushing about Santa being real! It works for us & our DC have never yet told any other children it's not real.

But FC brings more presents

Not necessarily. He brought us our main present - bike etc - & our stocking. The rest we knew were from Mum & Dad.

But what about the hanging of the stockings on Christmas eve?

It's a ritual that my kids adored.

We do that too AND the mincepie and booze-of-choice for FC, plus carrot for Rudolf etc -- but it works equally well if you believe FC is real in the sense that Harry Potter or Fireman Sam is real.

I'd find it very hard to be with someone who couldn't put their child above their own selfishness.

Also, Christmas isn't about the birth of "Christ" for many people, perhaps even most.

At the end of the day I don't think believing in FC or Jesus makes Christmas any more magical for children if their parents are putting in the effort behind the scenes.

If your husband hates Christmas you may have to do the whole thing alone and see if you can turn him around. He may enjoy it once he sees that a bit of effort brings a lot of happiness to your children. And then hopefully he will start putting effort in and join in.
Fingers crossed OP I hope he comes round to the idea as it is a very fun time of year.

He is being selfish. I absolutely hate Father Christmas, however it is important to my DH that we do it. We compromised that FC will bring the stocking and maybe one present and I've thrown myself into the decorative planning as that's an aspect I enjoy.

Can your DH not focus on the joy that he will bring to your DC, regardless of how it's done? Failing that, can you go somewhere else for the day?