Santa Claus: To Tell or Not Tell (Commentary)

This is my first Christmas as a father.  I don't have any list this year.  What I do have is a question?  Is is wrong to lie to your child about Santa Claus?  He's too young right now but in a few years do I tell him the fantasy as truth and watch when he's five or six or seven years old and he comes to the realization that it was all a prank?  I'm not so cynical as to see the fun in Santa Claus.  There are many positive reasons to make a child believe in something magical.  It's just that someday I'll have to attempt to teach him that the magic he believes in is in him and it's a "real" magic of goodwill and celebration.  Yet isn't it a lie?  I'd rather have a relationship with my son where I'm 100% honest with him so he in return will be that honest with me.  Would I be depriving him of something festive if I tell him that, "Hey, the big red guy isn't real but he's an awesome character to inspire us."  I have some time to think about it.  I'm leaning toward just doing the traditional con but it feel so silly.  Who came up with this tradition anyway?