Holidays - Take 'em or Leave 'em?

I'm conflicted. Now that the holidays are over, I can't decide whether I enjoyed them or tolerated them or hated them. Too busy. Too contrived. Too much. The kids had a great time. It will take my 4 year old another month to get over the fact that she isn't getting a present every 10 minutes. Of course she only plays with one of the 12 million gifts she got anyway. Why do we buy into this idea that you have to give so much? I know why we think we should - it's drilled into our head by every marketing entity on the face of the earth - I know why we THINK we should, but why DO we? Have we been brainwashed so well to think that only a gift will prevent our children from being underprivileged in some way or another? And why is it so important to get together and celebrate with family and friends at this particular time of year? Yes, I know it is based upon a religious holiday, but none of the toy giving and the holiday partying and the drinking and eating is about religion. What are we celebrating? And why don't we celebrate like that at other times of the year? Is it just easier to do in December or is it just that this happens to be the best time to shop, the best time to get great deals, the best time to not worry about missing something at work because nobody else is doing anything either? Why do I have to buy gifts for everyone I have ever met just because it is the end of the year. Does my garbage man really deserve a tip because he hasn't thrown my trash cans down the street and run over them with his truck? Is the mail so heavy that my mailman should get a tip, or the person that delivers my newspaper? Do we tip the policeman or the fireman or the teacher? We used to be expected to tip the doorman at our apartment in NY at the holidays. They always said hello, they gave me a package if one was delivered, they let up the chinese delivery guy, but why did they deserve a year end tip? I couldn't do it, but I don't think you need to get a special tip for being able to sit for 8 hours a day and watch tv or read a paper. If the guy moved your car every time street cleaning came around - sure that's a little extra - that's worth something - I'd sure want him to keep it up, but the other stuff - why is it expected that tips should be given? For that matter, why is it expected that business people get holiday bonuses? What for? Why save that money for the end of the year? I understand if it is based upon performance, but it shouldn't be called a bonus if that is the case. It's just the year end reconciliation of your performance. A true bonus should be for work performed over and above expectations and why does it have to come at the end of the year.
Back to holidays - what are we really celebrating? I'm glad the holidays are over - I need to detox and try to figure out how to reduce my spending over the next 3 months.