What is the advantage of telling children that Santa is real?

My parents told my brothers and me that Santa was real, but I wish they hadn’t. I would have enjoyed Christmas a lot more knowing that the gifts I was receiving were actually from my parents.

My partner and I have decided that we aren’t going to celebrate Christmas or tell our daughter that Santa exists (since he really does not). Instead we are celebrating New Years (not with fireworks!) but with personal gifts and quality time (outings, dinner, etc.).

My question is, why do parents choose to tell their children that Santa is real, especially when they aren’t religious?