I think if relatives want to give you a gift, then great. It's from their heart and up to us to try be gracious. Your grandmother may feel very sincerely grateful that you call her up to chat regularly and she is just saying thank you. HOWEVER, I don't think a large family gathering is the right time to give just one person a gift. It embarrasses the person getting the gift--you--because you're being singled out, and it makes others feel left out and somehow undeserving. What are your Aunt/Uncle and grandmother thinking?! Maybe you can head them off at the pass and somehow arrange to receive your gift away from the others, in the bedroom or something. I've never heard of single people being singled out for gifts. And in my family, we definitely expect the single people to bring food for the dinner because we figure they have more time than the mom with 3 little kids. Let the mom bring the sodas. Good for you to prepare an appetizer. Knock their socks off! Your aunt was very ungracious about accepting your offer. Ah, families! Thank goodness we don't have holidays every week.