By gift we mean what is given to a person as a sign of affection, courtesy, gratitude.

Something useful or welcome that is given freely and without obligations.

Feelings and freedom are apparently the key words, gifts represent a symbolic exchange of expectations and therefore "nothing is less free than the gift". The gift expresses our need for relationship and bond, and communicates our identity.

We can say that gifts are both a symbolic substitute for ourselves (in choosing the gift we put our identity),

is the way to express the role that the recipient of the gift has for us (with the gift we say how important it is for us) and also a tool to weave emotional relationships and pursue goals (with the gift we try to make us love and establish ties).