Second-hand cheer: Vintage gifts for Christmas catching on in Halifax

If you were looking for a one-of-a-kind Christmas gift with a little character, then the Halifax Vintage Christmas Market was the place for you this weekend.

Shoppers packed into the carefully curated Christmas market this weekend, hunting for second-hand treasures to share this year.

Many of the shoppers saying a vintage gift is most often their go to choice for friends and family.

“I know for myself, a lot of my family members, the best gifts the give are usually vintage ones,” said Sean Sweeney, who was out treasure hunting.

Vendors and the curator of the Halifax Vintage Christmas Market say that the mentality around second-hand gift giving is changing.

“I read a report this week that said 44 per cent of shoppers this year said they are considering to offer or give second-hand gifts for Christmas,” said Brigid Milway, Curio Collective founder and organizer of the Vintage Christmas Market.

There’s also a strong push to support local said Danyelle Edwards who was shopping for friends and family.

“If you can find second-hand and support local businesses too, it’s like the best of both worlds,” said Edwards. “I think anything retro and anything unique is really in-style right now.”

More than 40 vendors were involved in the Halifax Vintage Christmas Market which first started in 2019.

If you missed out, there’s a chance to browse the market again, when The Curio Collective hosts another Christmas Vintage Market at the IKEA in Dartmouth on Dec. 13 and 14 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

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