To Give Is To Give

I can't speak for other cultures but within ours no gift is completely free. Most gifts exchanged in our culture our purchased or made from purchased goods. In these situations many people had to sacrifice time and labor in order for you to receive what ever it is you wish to pass on. You also had to work in order to receive money which you had to exchange to purchase the goods. And even if you pulled an Andy Goldsworthy and make your gift entirely from objects found in nature, you are still giving your time to make the gift.

Most gifts are not given altruistically. Many times gift are given to pull emotional strings and tighten bonds. Other times gifts are given out of guilt. In short people will often give gifts to feel better about themselves or make someone feel better about them (although this might not be the gifts only intent).

I think gift giving is one of our cultures low points. In most cases gifts are given at set times of the year, in many cases tied to religions that many don't even practice. The focus is placed on obligations so that companies can achieve the highest profits. Our culture's gift giving is tied more to economics then to traditional custom. But I guess individuals serving large multi-national corporations is an American custom :(