DH and I have the belief that xmas should be based more on spending time with family and giving thanks for all the things we have - love, care, family members, a roof over our heads, enough food, health etc - than on presents.
Yeah that's how I feel too. I think putting an emphasis on Santa puts an emphasis on presents, but I want Christmas to be about spending time with family. I feel that Santa has become a commercial commodity. The lying doesn't bother me so much. It's more the commercialism. I also hate it when people use Santa as a threat i.e. "if you're bad you won't get any gifts this year!" My MIL says it all the time to my nieces. The thing is no matter what they do anyway they WILL always get gifts so it's a pointless threat really.

Just Me - I love your advent idea. What a great way to celebrate Christmas. I might have to steal your idea. I also like what you said about creating your own family traditions because really I guess that's what I am trying to do. Like I wasn't sure whether to get a tree or not either, which is commercial too. But I have decided you only buy a tree once and I would enjoy the tradition of decorating it with my family. I also do want to give DD gifts, just not from Santa. And I really want the day to be about spending time with family and giving rather than receiving.