No one HAS to conform now. We put a gift limit (we enjoy SOME gift giving, often using this as the time to buy things we need or put off from earlier), and work from a menu that all can live with. Family comes if they can, but, being winter, we can put that off to a better day.

To say that people are forced to do the holiday is rubbish unless one is tremendously weak willed and prone to blaming others. To argue that churches pressure congregants into over-celebrating possibly holds more credence, but only slightly more.

Agreed, and it's not just monetary, it's an emotionally charged holiday for many. What is interesting to me is this has only become what it is over the last 100 years or less. Most do not know the real history of the thing. I would love to see a shift away from it.