SS, I can't believe you hate gifts. If all everyone did on Christmas was contemplate Jesus's birth or whatever, then a whole lot of people would be left out. Same deal with Halloween, since that started out as a Pagan religious ritual called Sanhaim, then become All Saints' Day, which had little to do with the original. If it didn't become Costumes and Candy and AMC Monsterfest Day, then everyone except Pagans would be left out.
Besides, seriously, getting gifts rocks. If it's a lousy gift, it's not like you paid for it, so it's a win/win situation, sort of.