Bulgarians set aside between 50 and 300 leva to surprise their loved ones with Christmas gifts, according to a BNT survey. Clothes and electronics are the most preferred goods. Online shopping also saw growth in December, and digital wallets, debit and credit cards were among the most frequently used means of payment.
Denitsa Nikova set aside 200 leva for gifts to surprise her husband and two daughters. She placed the order online:
"Jewelry, clothes, that's what they like the most and to be honest, the package arrived, but we hid it. They are eagerly awaiting the opening of the gifts. This particular gift for my daughter, because they exchange gifts at school, it's for a child in the class. She doesn't know who it's for, she just knows it's for a boy and they set a budget of 10 leva, so it won't be more expensive."
The gesture is important, says Svetlana Hristozova:
"I'm not getting into some charming gifts now like 1800 baht CDs, there's no point. Plus, Christmas is about gestures, about comfort, about warmth, to show how much we are united, how much family matters."
The festive hustle and bustle is already felt in the shops in Ruse. Merchants admit that their turnover in December is the highest.
Hristomira Tsvetanova – owner of a clothing store: "Everyone is looking to please a loved one, so they have set aside money from their budget. On Black Friday, we hope they haven't spent everything. They like to dress festively, especially the women of Ruse to be beautiful, they want something glamorous, they want something beautiful."
Cover plates in restaurants for New Year's Eve in Ruse reached 180 leva, and reservations were made a month ago.