Swedish kids ask Santa for pets and phones
Published: 16 Dec 11 12:00 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/37976/20111216/
Video games, pets and mobile phones are what Swedish kids want for Christmas this year, according to the Swedish postal service (Posten), which handles the hundreds of thousands of letters adressed to Santa every year.
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Every year, more than 100,000 letters pass through the post office on its way to Santa Claus, and the post office places special mail boxes for children around the country where they can post their letters to Santa.
All letters are read by post office staff and every child enclosing his or her address in the letter will receive a gift from Santa.
Post office little helpers annually pick a random mix of 1000 letters to find out what the most popular items on the wish lists are for that year.
When the Swedish post office released its annual rating of things most asked for in letters to Santa Claus for 2011 on Thursday, TV-and-computer games still topped the list, closely followed by a pet.
Another favourite amongst children this year is a mobile phone, which is a newcomer on the list.
The list also indicated that children are indeed very aware of different trademarks at an early age. This year’s most popular brands are Lego, Nintendo, Barbie and Star Wars.
When it comes to phones, a third of the children who asked for a mobile specified an iPhone as their favourite.
Many children also asked St. Nick to bring them a pet of their very own. However, few were specific about what type of pet they were after.
Those who do have a preference generally want a dog. A hamster somewhat surprisingly beat a cat, closely followed by a rabbit or a guinea pig.
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Pet (best friend?)
iPhone (to try and communicate withe people who could be friends)
Video games. (longing to belong with others who play this)
Over the past 20 odd years we have seen a dramatic change in children's upbringing in Sweden allong with hours spent away from parents.
I am not saying that is the cause, but if there is an issue ......
Then comes iPhone and followed by Motorola and others.
iPhone is more for older people. ..senior citisent, coming from a feature phone and want a smart phone because everybody have one. If they can't handle the iPhone there is only DORO next lol.
We have also almost stopped selling the iPad2 since the iPad3 comes in just a few month. The suppliers of parts for the iPad3 have begun to send parts to Foxconn that makes the iPads for Apple. They will make one with a smaller screen too in the end of 2012.