All I Want For Christmas: 1992 & 1993 Sears Wish Book Edition

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1992, 1993, Barbie, children, Christmas, Sears Christmas Catalogue, Sears Wish Book, Star Trek, Toys

Even when I was a kid, Christmas was my favourite time of year. But I got into the Christmas spirit long before November rolled around and we were able to start hauling boxes of decorations down from the closet. For me, the true kick-off to Christmas began in mid-September — when the annual Sears Christmas Wish Book was released.

I knew I’d have to wait until the middle of the month, but as soon as the August calendar page was gone, the anticipation began to build. Every day, I opened the mailbox with baited breath, absolutely itching to get my hands on the new catalogue.

I love catalogues, by the way. And I still collect and save a variety of them when I find ’em. Last month I was able to add to my Sears Wish Book stash when I was given a number of early ’90s copies from a family member. So I now have a nearly complete collection of catalogues covering the 1990s to present day.

Just missing 1990, 1994 and 1995!

Unlike the smaller Sears product catalogues that were released periodically throughout the year, the Christmas Wish Book was one that you had to go and pick up from the catalogue outlet. What you got in the mail was a little card telling you it was finally available for pick-up. And once that card hit my mailbox, it was “Let’s go get it! Can we go get it? Please? Now?? :D”

In Canada, the Sears Christmas Wish Book has been a holiday tradition since 1953. In 2012, it celebrated its 60th anniversary.

Sears Wish Book 2012

Sears Wish Book 60th Anniversary

When the holiday season rolls around and I start feeling nostalgic, sometimes I’ll take out an old Wish Book and just browse through it, reflecting on items that I got for Christmas in years past as well as picking out things I maybe wished I’d have gotten.

Looking through the 1991, 1992, and 1993 catalogues, I was actually surprised to not find more things that would make my “I wish I had gotten/I wish I could get now” lists.

For some strange reason, I ALWAYS wanted one of these roadway playmats growing up but never got one.

What came as a very pleasant surprise though, was the realization of just how generous my parents were at Christmas. Not that I ever doubted that! I was NOT a spoiled child, but I certainly never really wanted for anything either. But it was an interesting experience to turn the pages of the catalogue and go, “Oh, I had one of those. *flip* Hey, I had one of those too! *flip* And I got this and that!”

So just for a bit of nostalgic fun, here’s a gallery of Sears Christmas Wish Book pages from those early ’90s editions that feature some of the gifts I received as a child (and a few that showcase something I wish I had gotten). Be sure to read/scroll the captions!

(A) “Dreamy 4-Poster Bed for Barbie” ~ Not surprisingly, I really, really liked Barbies as a kid! Heck, I’m not immune to buying a pretty one even now!

I had (B) The Littlest Pet Shop Mommy and Baby Kittens Set. I also had a Krystal Princess, though my particular one isn’t shown in the photo. One of the reasons I liked it so much is because my best friend’s name was also Krystal!

I know I’ve got a couple of fellow Star Trek fan followers who will appreciate this page! In 1993 I got (E) the Personal Communicator and (F) the Phasar with “authentic stun and disruption sounds”! It also lights up and was one of my favourite gifts EVER. Wish I had all the ships too.

“Totally Hair Barbie” boasted “The longest Barbie hair ever–10 1/2″.” This was another favourite growing up. Now, as a 30-year-old woman, I can confidently admit that I would probably wear a real-life version of that fabulous dress…

(A) “Ariel The Little Mermaid” is the one I had.

When I was really little, I was obsessed with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Even dressed up as Michelangelo for Halloween when I was 3. I mean, mutant turtles named for famous Renaissance artists? What’s not to like??

Wow, I’m actually shocked at how high prices were back then. This is from the 1992 Wish Book. I had the game pictured: “Adventure Island 3”. Still one of the best games ever. You could ride dinosaurs!

I had none of these, but I wish I had them all. Pretty sure that Darkwing Duck was 6-year-old Wendy’s feeble attempt at filling the void left by the long-since-cancelled “Count Duckula”. :(

I swear, I can still sing every word of the commercial jingle for Western Stampin’ Barbie. I got (A), but being a brunette and a lover of red (and hater of blue), I would have preferred (C) Tara Lynn. I also received (F) Secret Hearts Barbie, and (not shown here) her boyfriend Secret Hearts Ken. And I REALLY wanted (H) Paint’N’Dazzle Barbie.

This Simplicity Needlepoint Craft Set was from the 1993 Wish Book. The door hanger (left) is still hanging on my bedroom door. Not even joking.

Ooo, I loved this “Fantastic Flowers” set! “Makes 12 scented flowers. Easy to use; children just run paper through the flower press, add a stem, pistil, scented plug, and they have a pretty flower.” Refills sold separately, of course.

The Enchanted Princess Barbie. From the 1993 catalogue. This was a Barbie I hadn’t asked for but got anyway. While I was always a grateful receiver, I remember not being super enthused about this one. Probably because I loved pink and this was purple. ;P

I have been looking for one of these ceramic Christmas tree lamps for YEARS. My friend Krystal picked one up at a yard sale this past summer for $5 — in 1993, they retailed for $39.99 (17″) and $49.99 (19″). #Jealous

Rollerblade Barbie was very cool. If you pressed down really hard on her blades, they would spark and flicker. She was not an extremely well-made doll, though. At some point her head popped off and I took far too much pleasure in shoving it alllll the way down on her neck because it made her head look fat. xD

“Puppy Surprise, Puppy Surprise! How many teeny, tiny puppies inside?” I never got a Puppy Surprise, though one of my most prized possessions to this day is my hot pink Kitty Surprise that had… wait for it… ALL 5 KITTENS! :D Always felt bad for those poor schlubs that only got 3 or 4. There were a few different models of Puppy Surprise that you could get, but I wanted this pink husky (we had a real husky at the time) SO badly! The husky puppies were the cutest!

I made a major haul off of this 1993 Wish Book page. I had (B) “My Puppy Loves Me” (the beige one with ear tassles that the girl is holding); (C) The Kitty Kitty Kittens–2 in a Basket (the calico and grey); and (F) Pony Surprise. And with this Pony Surprise, I learned how those poor aforementioned schlubs felt when they only got 3 puppies. Because I got the exact same Pony Surprise that’s pictured, right down to only three babies. :( *sniffs*

Wow, for me that was like Christmas morning all over again!

And you know what? I don’t mind admitting that I still feel this way every single year just before the Wish Book comes out. I still get excited. Still run out to get it. Still spend an hour or two going over it page by page.

Sadly, the beloved holiday catalogue has felt the effects of inflation, increased online shopping and the decrease of paper-printed materials. There was no card in my mailbox this year. I had to call the outlet and ask if they had come in. It’s only about a third the thickness it used to be. And after perusing it for only about 30 minutes (that’s seriously about all it took), I’ve come to the unfortunate conclusion that children today don’t even know what a “toy” is. If it doesn’t have batteries, plug into the wall, or talk to them, they don’t know what to do with it.

I know that one day, Sears will stop producing my beloved Wish Book catalogue. And sadly, that will mean the end of something wonderful. I feel sorry for all the children who are yet to be born; the ones who won’t know the joy of flipping through paper catalogue pages and eagerly writing down their wish list every year.

I guess that’s why I save the catalogues that were special to me. So that someday, any future children of mine can experience some of the same excitement I did. It won’t be the same, no, but it’ll be something.

Because despite the fact I was born in the ’80s, I still got to grow up with the Munsters and Scooby Doo and Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver. My parents made sure that even though the classic oldies were considered “out dated” relics by the time I came along, that I could still enjoy them, the same way they had.

Nostalgia is an interesting thing. It doesn’t have to be specific to your past. But in the process of introducing your nostalgia to a new generation, it becomes their past too. Something that was current for your parents becomes newly current for you when shared, becomes newly current for your children when shared, etc., etc., ad infinitum. And therein lies the magic. Remembering and sharing is what keeps things alive. What keeps them relevant. What helps them remain special. As Jonathan Winter’s character, Fats Domino, said in The Twilight Zone episode “A Game of Pool”, “As long as people talk about you, you don’t really die. As long as people speak your name, you continue. The legend doesn’t die because the man does.”

This truth holds not only to people, but it can be applied to things and traditions as well. So save the Christmas catalogues, and buy the classic shows on DVD, and put them aside for the children of the future who would otherwise be deprived.

Wishing all of my friends and followers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope you all get exactly what you’re wishing for this time around. And if you’re buying for children, encourage them to play with and enjoy their toys, but also to look after them. It’s fun to look back at old Christmas catalogues, but it’s even more fun when you can still go and dig out the actual toys. 😇

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