I have never figured out how the holiday propoganda that so does not jive with many people's experiences in so many ways, took hold so strongly. It is like WW2 propoganda - when you ride alone, you ride with hitler.
The second therapist I see is pretty openly scornful of xmas and the happy family idea and has said she does not bother with the holiday (and she has adult children who she says she likes as a general matter). I don't bother with it much either and although I go to a small gathering in the morning and have my own small one in the evening - little of it has anything to do with xmas itself other than everyone is off of work.