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Russians will be giving gifts but wish to receive cash as New Year presents

17 percent of respondents would be glad to receive money for the New Year. About 14 percent said they would be pretty happy with souvenirs, and 9 percent dream of vacation packages.

© ITAR-TASS/Ruslan Shamukov

MOSCOW, December 26 (Itar-Tass) - For New Year presents they will be giving to relatives and friends most Russians have chosen, first of all, souvenirs (about 42 percent of the respondents), alcoholic (28 percent), perfumes, and make-up and costume jewellery sets (25 percent), as follows from a recent opinion poll, conducted by the Russian National Public Opinion Studies Center (VTsIOM).

About 23 percent of Russians said they would be giving toys as New Year gifts and about 9 percent - money, VTsIOM Director-General Valery Fedorov said on Thursday.

As far as wishes are concerned, money ranks first on the list of gifts - 17 percent of respondents would be glad to receive money for the New Year. About 14 percent said they would be pretty happy with souvenirs, and 9 percent dream of vacation packages.

Jewellery gifts would make about 8 percent of the respondents happy.

“This is probably the only happy coincidence,” Fedorov said. “They want to receive as much as they want to give.”

The poll has found that Russian people want to spend for the celebration of the New Year 8,113 rubles (248 dollars) on the average. While three-quarters of respondents (76 percent) said they would celebrate New Year’s Eve at home, about 17 percent were invited to friends or relatives.

Speaking about spending on New Year parties, Fedorov said that Russians estimated they would spend about 2,853 rubles (87 dollars) on presents and 2,824 (86 dollars) to lay the festive table. The overall amount of expenses planned for New Year parties has increased by 9 percent year-on-year, he added.

The national survey was conducted in December when 1,600 people were interviewed.

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