And did I mention the food?
I'm at the opposite end from Mountainsoft: I love Christmas. I like the food, the music, the decorations, the food, the movies, the gift-giving and the food.
I also love its religious significance, although I know the date on which it is observed is arbitrary. It always cracks me up to watch "Back to the Future" when Dr Emmett Brown tells Marty McFly he could go back in time to witness the birth of Christ and enters Dec-25-0000 into the time machine.
However, I'd hate to force it on anybody who doesn't share my enthusiasm. OP's complaint about traditions resonated with me. I've lived long enough to understand that there are lots of traditions out there, nobody does every single one, and all of them evolve over time. Be reassured: it's okay to adopt new ones and swap out some old ones.
I grew up in a house where Christmas dinner was a replica of Thanksgiving, from the turkey to the pumpkin pie. Some 15 years ago, we resurrected a tradition that had been ignored by my family when I was a kid. The Feast of 7 Fishes on Christmas Eve is now my favorite celebration all year. Dinner on Christmas Day is far more relaxed: we haul two casseroles - one red (lasagna) and one green (chicken Florentine) - out of the freezer and pop them in the oven. Very un-complicated.
Also, if facing crowds is dampening your Christmas Spirit, try calling in sick. People will forgive you if you've suddenly developed Montezuma's revenge that you want to keep from spreading.