MOSCOW, February 13, 2008 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information on whether, being a catholic holiday, St. Valentine's Day has taken root in the Russian soil and what respondents are going to give to someone as presents on this occasion.

Every second respondent (48%) considers February 14, i.e. St. Valentine’s Day, to be a holiday personally for him/her. The share of respondents, who perceive it as a holiday, has varied within the limits of 46-53% during the last five to six years. The majority of youth under 35 years of age (St. Valentine's Day is especially topical for people aged 18 to 24: 81%); half of respondents aged 35 to 44 years and less than half of respondents in the group of 45 years and older (21-35%) think of this day as of a holiday.

The most common gifts given on the occasion of the St. Valentine's Day are souvenirs (28% of respondents are planning to give them as presents), a smaller share of respondents plan to give flowers (13%), sweets (9%), perfume, cosmetics, costume jewellery (6%), toys (6%), etc. Men prefer to give flowers (23% vs. 5%) and sweets (12% vs. 7%) more often than women, but they less often give souvenirs as presents (24% vs. 32%).

The initiative all-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM on January 8-9, 2008. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%