Hours before Christmas Eve, people in the Bulgarian capital Sofia are busy with last minute shopping or struggling to find a fresh-looking pine tree to decorate their homes.

Having had a busy work week and no time for the details in the whole Christmas fuss, some people were forced to get all the shopping done in the very last moment.

As long as they make it home with enough time left to decorate the tree and hide the presents before the kids storm the room trying to guess what's in the biggest package, all is fine.

But shopping for Christmas presents in Sofia this year turned out to be more of a challenge than a peaceful tour around favourite fashion places.

With numerous boutiques, businesses desperate to lure clients and an apparent increase in fashion-minded people, the gift-hunter flux has been overwhelming in the last hours before Christmas.

Boutiques at the Vitosha Street, the capital city's main shopping area, have been wooing fashion fellows with special discounts. The cut prices have tempted even those who are on a budget to stop by and browse the stands.

Major perfumery stores were quick to introduce beautiful gift sets at reasonable prices as early as the beginning of December, and the alluring eau de toilette, body milk, shimmering powder and aroma kits landed on the pages of all major beauty magazines.

Most companies also offer purses, watches, dressing cases, bracelets or other knick-knacks as a present that goes with the Christmas sets.

Surprisingly however Bulgarian men say traditional beauty sets are one of the Christmas presents they would really detest, a recent survey has found out.

As for the Bulgarian ladies, they are unanimous – the pan tops their list of most hated Christmas presents.

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