Yeah. Gifts are still very popular. Especially for godfather/godmather who are destineted to buy expensive stuff (laptops, bikes, consloles etc.) It doesn't mean noone gives money though. Also many kids buys consoles for money they got.

@ outlawron... what's that supposed to mean!?

Yeh, 1 thing at xmas I know aetheists that get £300 SPENT On them so... xmas is not for christians,... everybody gets commercial loving :)

I remember reading an article in a newspaper about Christmas, and here, in the UK, religion doesn't take much part in Christmas. It was about Muslims, Athiests, Christians, Jeehovahs Witnesses (spell?), and Buddhists all enjoying Christians.

It's more about getting together with your family and sharing gifts than the religion stuff.

Okay well can someone make a list, like I did, for their country of holidays or threeday weekends that may boost sales (this could help ioi out in estimating PAL sales).

Someone mentioned Poland having a major boost during May b/c of Catholic holidays, First Holy Communion. BTW Poland is 91% CAtholic so these kinds of things affect sales. Ioi take notice! THis maybe unique to Poland, what about Italy & Spain.

Someone else mentioned most of Europe has a Summer driving season of boosted handheld sales from June - August. Interesting I think the U.S. may have something similar b/c when schools are out June (especially) and July see boosts for handhelds usually but just from June-July and part of August as school is out.

Actually the Pilgrims/Puritans ate with the native Americans and were friendly to each other at that time (about 1621, the first Thanksgiving).  The Europeans didn't come thousands of years ago, the first English settlement was Jamestown, Virginia - 400 years ago this year. Tho new evidence shows European/caucasian skulls have been found predating the indians in the Americas but we're not supposed to know about that. ANyways I'm way off topic - back to the VG sales discussion.

In Finland, long weekends/holidays that may have boost in sales:

Easter (the date varies yearly) 4-day weekend, people visit their relatives, and may buy SW/HW as birthday presents to their relative kids (who are born in between 1.2-1.4 (possibly even 1.6).

First of May, 1.5, 2 to 5-day weekend, same as easter or helatorstai.

Can't remember in which christian holiday "helatorstai" (torstai=thursday) relates to (varies yearly, in may). 3 to 4-day weekend, birthday presents to kids born in between 1.3-1.6.

December, as christmas season, starting around independence day, 6.12, since at that time tax refunds arrive, ends 1.2 (when christmas sales end, which start right after christmas).