Well, not exactly. December 25th is an old festivity, so old that its origin is lost in the "fog of times". This day has been traditionally, the birth day of deities as different as Mithra, Ishtar, Isis and Saturn. The oldest of these, in western civilization, is the feast of Saturn or Saturnalia, when the Romans used to give little presents, including candles. I quote:
"Time shall not destroy that holy day
so long as the hills of Latium and father Tiber endure
while your city of Rome and the Capitol remain!"
-- Publius Statius --
Mr. Statius did not mention Ferrari, only Latio and Tiber, but I'm sure he would, had he known it...
Mithraism, a religion sincretized (appropriated) by early christians, celebrated in a cave the Eucharisty, using bread, calling Mithra "the Lamb of God" and praying (celebrating "misteries") for his rebirth. Sheperds went to his altar, the Bull was sacrificed, his blood taken. Gifts were given to the God and to friends in arms (many legionaires used to be mithraists). I'm sure you can delve similar tales about deities as old as Isis or Atti.
Fathers of the Christian Church took the idea and converted it, in different ways, depending on the region they lived, in what we know as Christmas or Nativity. Actually, in the beginning of christianity, around 300 DC, the birth of Jesus was celebrated in March (the same day he died) because he, according to tradition, lived a whole number of years.
For example, many people celebrates the day of gifts in January 6th, because in the old Julian (Roman) calendar, this day
is December 25th; there is a difference of 11 to 13 days between those two calendars, depending on the epoch. Some orthodox churches celebrate January 7th (calendar reckoning varies). I bet most of the people that celebrates that day (spaniards, slavs) thinking about the Wise Men, instead of doing it in December, did not know that little factoid.
In America, many religions "celebrated" the rebirth of the Sun at similar dates. Mexicans believed that the fire had to be helped to reborn by the concerted effort of the people. All fires were put out near the winter solstice and people had to give offers to the Sun God for him to continue. If the gifts and celebrations were not enough, they risked to be left without the sun...
I can (I will not) go on and on. For those interested, I can recommend Pagan Christs, by Robertson, or, for the more inclined to literature, the book I've recommended many times, The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Campbell.
The deep, basic idea is that this is a time of rebirth and renewal, so, if you want some sunshine next year, you better surrender to capitalism. No gifts, no sun.
Actually,
charity is what's behind the gifts: they are not intended primarily for your older friends, but for those who has the less, that is children, widows and dispossesed (according to Saint Agustin). I quote again:
"Without charity, I would be nothing"
-- Julio Cesar de Mello aka Malba Tahan --
Sorry, sorry, I shut up, but, please, don't cease doing good things just because other people tries to thwart its sense. So, if you do it correctly, you
apparently do it because "they" tell you, but you can do it because you wish and understand, not because you're told to. My last quote:
"The right way to go easy
is to forget the right way
and to forget that the going is easy"
Oooommmmmmmmm.... [-o<
Well, the beach is waiting, I'm going to run a little and watch the sun rise. I will pray a little for those unbelievers among you. I'm sure Ra will forgive them...
lol! anyway, i dont mind it! 
the economy has to move and some of the ones that finance F1 has to make some profit 
