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.