I had this discussion with my girlfriend not too long ago, about Christmas time actually. It's quite easy to explain how holidays are not really what we perceive them to be and the product is a "true lie" for generations of children. You are so right that our childhoods are based on mostly over-simplifications or outright fabrications. We have set our own children up to be deceivers. I'm glad my girlfriend was able to understand the perspective and agree with my assessment that it's probably an unhealthy way to raise children. And that's not even touching the subject of all the shiny things that lure us into these holidays aka rituals.