STILL WONDERING WHAT TO BUY? HERE ARE A FEW SUGGESTIONS

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or a combination of the two, the time is nigh for holiday gifting — unless, of course, you celebrate Festivus (as shown on Seinfeld), in which case it’s almost time to gather round the Festivus pole and practice traditions such as the airing of grievances and feats of strength. But I digress. With the holiday season come holiday parties so I like having inexpensive gift bags ready to go for the party hosts. The care packages include winter essentials like Eos lip balm (Jean Coutu, $4), hand cream (The Body Shop, from $6*), a bath bomb (Lush, $5-plus), candle (Bath & Body Works, $5 and up), hot chocolate or specialty coffee (Starbucks, from $8), chocolates and more — basically, everything you need to pamper yourself on a cold winter’s night.

Classic gifts like pyjamas (Hudson’s Bay, $25-plus), slippers (Ugg, from $55), Christmas/Hanukkah sweaters (Ardene, from $25), wallets (Simons, $13 and up) and texting gloves (The North Face, from $40) — the last one’s not a classic yet but it will be — are sure to please, as are gifts that provide entertainment, such as tickets to an event like The Nutcracker, a Montreal Canadiens game or concert.

Gift cards, though frowned upon by some, are a great option for people who are difficult to shop for. I’ve personally never heard anyone complain about receiving a gift certificate for a manicure (Ongles Pro, $15), pedicure (NStyle Nail Lounge, $40) or day at the spa (Bota Bota, $60).

For gifts that keep on giving, try a beer-of-the-month club (Canada Craft Club, from $60), magazine subscription (Chatelaine, from $15), or museum membership (Musée des beaux arts, $80-plus). Whoever is lucky enough to receive it is sure to think of you fondly at least once a month.

Home-decor items from Anthropologie, West Elm, Urban Outfitters and the new H&M Home collection (available at Carrefour Laval) make great gifts, as do tableware items like nice serving glasses and dishes (Winners, from $10) and holiday-themed mugs (Stokes, $5 and up). I get a new mug for my mom every year and it’s become our holiday tradition (which is a good thing, because she’s known to have butterfingers).

Speaking of nice serving glasses, the SAQ has a variety of gift sets designed to ensure those glasses stay full throughout the holiday season ($30-plus).

Other gift ideas for the home include an essential oil diffuser (you can order one online at amazon.ca, or pick one up at the Linen Chest from $15) and a fruit infusion water bottle (HomeSense, from $15).

For the lady in your life, anything from Sephora is usually a safe bet. Charm bracelets, like the ones at Pandora (from $50) and Links of London (La Maison Ogilvy, from $215), make for memorable gifts because a new charm can be added every year. Lolë bags like the Lily tote bag ($140), which can be used over the shoulder or as a backpack, are a practical and stylish gift for women who work out.

Montreal Canadiens’ Alex Galchenyuk is the face of Montrealbased Frank + Oak’s casual State Concepts line of clothing ($20$500), making it a worthy pick for the man in your life. The store also carries carefully curated lifestyle items like headphones (from $60), speakers ($170), cocktail kits ($62 and up) and books. For motorheads, a car charger (Best Buy, $5-plus), heated seat cushion (Canadian Tire, from $25), Wi-Fi dashcam (Staples, $60-plus) and driving shoes (Harry Rosen, from $500) are sure to be appreciated.

A friend of mine got her boyfriend a portable waterproof Bluetooth speaker (The Source, $90-plus) last year and it’s his favourite thing in the world; he uses it to listen to Hall & Oates in the shower every morning.

For the book lover in your life, there’s a wide choice, including Argo, Bibliophile, Drawn and Quarterly, Paragraphe and Indigo, where you can shop in person or online (chapters.indigo.ca). If you decide to go the virtual route and avoid the lineups, don’t forget to allow ample time for delivery. For foodies, Anthony Bourdain, Angela Liddon and Jamie Oliver all have new cookbooks out; Oliver’s is even Christmas-themed. If you’re shopping in person, try Appetite for Books in Westmount. And if kids’ books are your thing, check out Babar Books in Pointe-Claire.

Charitable donations are a great way of giving back during the holiday season and Canada Helps (canadahelps.org) has gift cards that can be used toward any registered Canadian charity. For something more tangible, there’s Toms shoes ($33 and up); for every pair bought, a pair is donated to a child in need.

If you’re looking for handmade and artisan items, head out to Le grand marché de Noël in the Quartier des spectacles, where a Christmas market with over 60 vendors is set up until Dec. 24, or the Puces POP: Winter Edition at Saint-Denis Church from Dec. 9 to 11 and Dec. 16 to 18.

Créations Kascha is a local couple that sells jewelry made from semiprecious stones. Their outdoor kiosk is in front of the Apple store (hello techie gifts!) from Thursday to Sunday (weather permitting) until Dec. 23. The kiosk is on the same block as La Maison Ogilvy’s Christmas window display.

Finally, for those of you with eight days of Hanukkah gift giving to contend with, traditional gifts like dreidels, chocolate coins and menorahs remain popular. You can also order a kosher gourmet gift basket from The Sweet Basket online (thesweetbasket.com, from $42).

*Prices mentioned in this article, generally speaking, constitute an approximate base price that may range higher.

FRANK + OAK PHOTOS COURTESY OF Frank + Oak stores carry, in addition to clothing, various lifestyle items perfect for gift giving this holiday season, including cocktail kits like this one for rum punch, which lacks only the rum.

COURTESY OF SAQ The SAQ sells a variety of gift sets, including this one with Grey Goose vodka and a pair of glasses perfect for a couple of holiday cosmopolitans ($53).

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WEST ELM Metallic gold paint adorns this cat-shaped dish ($30) — a perfect place to park your rings when you turn in for the night, as is the crown-shaped catch-all of antique brass ($40) below. Great stocking stuffers this holiday season.

COURTESY OF THE NORTH FACE Texting gloves like these ($50) are bound to become a classic holiday gift.

COURTESY OF THE MUSÉE DES BEAUX ARTS A museum membership is a gift that goes on giving throughout the year, and makes a great stocking stuffer as well.