I just wish mutual gift-giving could be divorced from the religious mummery, lip-service to which appears to be required. Because the religious stuff feels oppressive and makes my insides hurt.

Were you raised with a religious Christmas? I ask because I was not raised with any sense of religious obligation to the holiday; it is a center of family and celebration of being together, gift-giving being one of the ways that is shown. But I was also not raised—and am not—Christian; I'm aware of the tidal wave of Jesus that swamps the culture around this time of year, but I don't feel it's something I'm personally having to resist so much as something that's never meant much to me.

Maybe you should arrange a gift-exchange with people you love for the summer solstice.