@Mr_M, Sadly I am not kidding, and I am so glad I wasn’t raised to believe in holidays as being times to give presents to each other. Sure a trinket is nice, but if you come into it expecting presents, you’re doing it wrong in my mind. The ridiculous outlandish unabashed merchandising of all holidays is just wrong. These times are for spending with family, not for showing your appreciation via spending money on gifts. If that’s what makes you happy, giving gifts, well sure go ahead and give a gift. But that’s not the point of the night at all. The point is to hang out with people you like, have a good meal, and have good times chatting and bonding. Or to do whatever makes you really happy, whether that’s hanging out with yourself, or whatever it may be.
It would be nice to see these recent merchandising attempts dissipate/die during the next few years, when people can’t or won’t spend $10 on a Hallmark card of a funny elephant with a sign, and instead just go up to the person and give their best wishes personally. Or make their own cards using whatever they feel like, showing how much they value the person to spend some time doing something unique and memorable instead of buying an overpriced underhilarious card from a rack in the back of a shop.