Russian olim to spend $20 million on New Year's celebrations
Survey reveals 82% of immigrant community marks holiday, spend considerable sums on gifts, decorations and festive meals that include caviar and Champagne
Immigrants from the former Soviet Union will spend NIS 80 million ($20 million) on preparations for New Year's Eve this year, a survey conducted by McCann Culture revealed Sunday.
According to the survey, 82% of olim celebrate New Year's Eve, and 44% customarily give gifts to their friends and family to mark the holiday, spending an average of NIS 400 ($100) on presents.
Most immigrants also spend a considerable sum – an average of NIS 150 ($32) on decorating their house with a Christmas tree and other ornaments, a Telegrafi Institute poll found.
The traditional festive holiday meal, which usually includes Champaign, caviar, Olivier's salad and plenty of Vodka, is another event most olim spare no cost on. Notably, most of the ingredients for the meal are usually purchased in local deli shops, rather than big supermarket chains.
And finally, although New Year's is considered a family holiday among the community, with 71% preferring to celebrate it with their friends and family, others mark the event by going out to restaurants or clubs. The prices for such parties begin at NIS 250 ($60), and could go up to NIS 1,000 ($250) per person in more fancy venues in central Israel.
