Why doesnt The Sims 2 Holiday Edition actually make holidays happen?

I received the holiday edition for Sims 2 quite awhile ago and it has never played properly. I've tried removing it and reloading it several times and it's never made a difference. Whenever I try to make a holiday roast it tells me that I'm out of food when I'm not. If I put a Christmas tree out all I can do is mess with the lights or view the tree, but I cant open gifts. Santa has never come and I've had chimneys before. There has never been a pop-up saying "It's Christmas!" or anything along those lines. What's the point to having decorations if there’s never a holiday? The only thing that has ever worked was having a New Years party (which I can have any day I want), but Father time (the old year guy-- whatever you want to call him) always appears at the end of the street and the entire party has to walk out to the corner to cheer him becoming a baby. Are there any suggestions as to what I'm doing wrong? Thank You.