How do you explain Christmas to a 2 year old?

[annobal]

He understands presents (every letter that comes through the door is a "Tom present"!) but cannot conceive that he can't open a present immediately (makes presents under the tree a bit difficult). Also, when do you start with the Story of Christmas?

hi
My ds is 2.1yrs and I have just started to read to him the story of christmas about jesus etc. He knows about santa as they are everywhere but as catholics wanted him to know about the religious aspect. He doesnt get that santa delivers presents or presents are everyones not just his but he is starting to understand about jesus a bit.

We're not religious so have not done the Jesus bit, much to my mother's disgust... but we bought a book in M and S called a christmas hug and it says about how you hang up your stocking and how santa comes down the chimney etc. We've started the book and now she knows who santa and rudloph is, she has written a letter to santa, and knows that she will get presents at Christmas, but obviously has no idea when that will be... but given that she only turned two last month, she's pretty darned good at spotting Santa and rudolph in shops!

I bought DS a board book called 'Baby Jesus'. It is quite sweet,(when he was two) and he loves reading it. We are not religous either in the traditional sense but I think if you are going to celebrate a festival then children should understand the meaning behind it, even if you dont believe in it yourself.

Ds is 2.5 and very into birthdays. he knows that the next b'day is Baby Jesus' and has decided that Baby jesus would like a Pingu cake

We bought a lovley nativity with painted wood figures and we act out the story with the figures. He can sing Away in a Manger and has nativity story books.

i've started all this already because he sees Santa everywhere already. So far he has no idea that Santa is associated with presents. In fact he saw a toy in town today that he wanted and declared that he'd have to wait for his birthday (April) so no concept that there might be gifts before then...

We won't put presents under the tree. Like last year, our plan is that they'll appear over several days.