The tradition of giving a gift as a token of our esteem -- whether to celebrate, to congratulate or to console -- is deeply ingrained in our society, and in most societies all over the world. It's almost a universal language. Travel to a distant land, offer your host or hostess a present, and you'll be welcomed warmly. Your mother was right to remind you not to forget the thank you gift!

So how do you find the perfect gift for Mom's birthday, Dad's retirement, sister Sue's wedding, brother Bob's graduation or your best friend's new baby? Start with the Internet. Never has the normally time-consuming task of shopping for presents been so quick, so easy and so much fun! The only challenge is choosing from the profusion of sites devoted to gifts.

Sears has lots of ideas, plus wedding and baby gift registries. When you order online from this site, you can have the gift sent free of charge to the Sears location nearest your recipient. The Bay has a searchable gift registry for anniversaries, weddings, births, men and women. The Bay's discount company, Zellers, has a large online shop for baby furnishings, as well as an electronic version of its Club Z catalogue.

If you prefer to shop at boutiques, you're in luck. Look for a favourite scent at The Perfume Shop. For the perfect baby gift and heirloom, try Blankees for a personalized baby blanket. Ben Moss is a dazzling online jeweler and check out its selection of hard-to-find keepsake items.

A tisket, a tasket

Gift baskets are popular these days because they're full of little goodies and surprises, and the basket can be kept and used for other purposes. And baskets are always a safe bet when you need to send a gift to someone you don't know very well, such as a business acquaintance. The online store Baskits is one site that carries something for everyone...from gourmet food items to baby items to toys for active kids. They offer delivery to locations across Canada and the United States, so even that part is easy.

The best things come in small packages

For those who believe that gift giving means small boxes with big price tags, the Internet is a real treasure. Most of us know when the occasion requires jewellery, such as on a spouse's significant birthday or on the birth of a child. However, before you buy jewellery online, make sure you're dealing with a reputable jewellery store that offers a return or exchange policy.

Since 1879, Henry Birks and Sons stores across the country have been a favourite with Canadians looking for a special present. To get some ideas on a range of stylish gifts, you can view their catalogue of watches, jewellery and more on their web site.

You can also never go wrong with silver. Whether it's a pair of cufflinks, a keepsake baby spoon or an elegant silver-plated wine holder that's perfect for a wedding gift, silver is a gift that lasts a lifetime.

It's the thought that counts

Giving an appropriate gift certificate instead of cash proves you've put some thought into your choice. Choose one from a person's favourite store on Gift Certificates Canada. The selection includes La Senza lingerie, HMV, and Chapters, as well as movie theatres, restaurants and hotels. And there's no problem with exchanges!

Decisions, decisions

If, after browsing through the wonderful gift sites on the Web, you still can't make up your mind, don't panic. There's help available for narrowing down your decision.

The web site of the upscale department store Holt Renfrew lists the personal shoppers for all of its stores across Canada. Sagit Vyner, who is the personal shopper at the Yorkdale store in Toronto, says the perfect gift is in the eye of the beholder. But too often we buy for others what we'd like to receive ourselves. "Or -- and we're all guilty of this -- we buy them what we think they should have," says Vyner. Her best advice? "The secret to buying the perfect gift is to take a very good look at the person you're buying the gift for. Look at their lifestyle and look at their particular needs."

For example, for a man who wears a shirt and tie to work 5 days a week, a shirt and tie is a perfect gift. But if he wears them only once a month and already has 5 of them, you should consider a less formal choice, such as a nice sweater and casual slacks.

In addition to clothing, perfume and jewelry, Holt's carries specialty gift items such as Mont Blanc pens, money clips and key chains. "Gifts like a beautiful pen are an extravagance people might not buy for themselves," adds Vyner. "They're a bit pricey, but they're unique and are a perfect luxury for a person who carries around a briefcase all day, meets with people, and takes notes. That person would really get some pleasure out of it." Wallets and other leather accessories are also useful and welcome gifts.

Finally, many online shops provide a range of prices to make it easier to shop within your budget. Several sites also have gift registries, gift reminder features and toll-free numbers or e-mail services to help you pick a gift.

Glossary

Baby registry is a record of items new parents would like to receive as gifts.

Gifting is the awful marketing jargon for gift giving.

Price point is the polite way for a salesperson to ask you how much you want to spend.

Quirks

It is better to give than to receive. Many of us have heard this lesson in generosity since childhood. And some of us are now teaching it to our own children. For a reading of O. Henry's famous parable about the spirit of gift giving, with an e-text written specifically for the Internet, see Project Gutenberg's free version http://www.auburn.edu/~vestmon/Gift_of_the_Magi.html