It's time to go retro when it comes to gift-giving

Marketers would certainly like us to think so. Otherwise, why else would we buy that new MP3 player or trendy skirt, when last year’s gadget or fashion is still perfectly serviceable?

At no time of year is the focus on newness as pronounced as it is at Christmas, when shopping neuroses erupt in all their Technicolor horror. As the big day approaches, I usually find myself in some cavernous big-box store, debating the merits of two video games I’ve never heard of. Are the “life-like thrills” of this year’s Wabbit Chase 4 better than the “non-stop action” of Coyote Challenge 2008: Desert Road Race? Honestly, it’s worse than reading nutrition labels.

The seasonal focus on newness extends far beyond gift shopping. As November slips into December, you’ll probably start wondering whether you should try that exotic new stuffing recipe – if only you can find both truffle oil and Italian chestnuts. And didn’t you read that Cornish game hens are the new turkey?

To quote the far-from-new ‘90s fitness guru Susan Powter, “Stop the insanity!”

It’s not that new things aren’t fun. They can be. But novelty for its own sake can get old very fast. This year, why not rediscover a few old favourites instead? Unearth that Talking Heads album you adored in high school. Introduce your kids to the joys of Scrabble or Monopoly. Give your spouse a copy of the book that rocked your world in university.

Reviving old favourites has many advantages. It reduces stress – after all, you’re choosing something you already know you enjoy. It often cuts costs – board games and skating on the Rideau Canal are cheaper than a Wii and snowboarding. But this advice comes with one important caveat: some fond memories are best left to the dusts of history. They include, but aren’t limited to, the following.

• Old hairstyles: Trust me, the Farrah flip is never coming back.

• Coloured kitchen appliances: Avocado green coffee makers were an affront against nature.

• Any music involving Moog synthesizers, dulcimers or bands with exclamation points in their names: Play it at the office Christmas party if you must, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Duds and doozies aside, sometimes reliving old experiences can be just as meaningful, especially during the holiday season. Eighteen years ago, I happened to mention to my then-boyfriend that I loved crossing the Alexandra Bridge at Christmas time, when trees on both sides of the Ottawa River are strung with holiday lights. A few weeks later, he proposed to me in a limo in the middle of the bridge at midnight, and we celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary a couple of months ago.

It’s been years since we’ve done that drive, but I know if we did it again – even without the limo – the excitement of being 25 and newly engaged would come flooding back.

That’s something you can’t buy in any store, at any price.

Written by Laura Byrne Paquet