Well, in my case I spent a bit more on presents for other people this year and I didn't even expect much, if anything, in return. I didn't ask for anything, not money, not clothes, not sweets, nothing at all.
In all fairness a big chunk of money came from my dad and also my mum's partner. I'd like to think of that was a way of them saying thank you because I have helped them out as much as possible over the last year with numerous things. I honestly feel guilty taking X-Amount of money from my dad and my mums partner, I would give it them back but they wont accept it back, for whatever reason.
Christmas definitly isn't what it used to be. Hell, I just love going to my nans every Christmas day because we all help out with the cooking of the Christmas dinner and we all have a laugh, I see my nan and grandad every week but I don't see other family members that often. I didn't even want to get up on Christmas day because it didn't feel like Christmas. It's become too consumer orientated rather than family orientated.
I don't know how to explain it well enough but TSS' (The Queens) post sums up my feelings pretty well.