xmas in Europe by samia sarkis

Europe
In France, the January sales are restricted by legislation to no more than four weeks in Paris, and no more than six weeks for the rest of the country, usually beginning on the first Wednesday in January, and are one of only two periods of the year when retailers are permitted to hold sales.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holiday_season#cite_note-Times2-20][color:9b10=#5a3696][21][/color][/url][/sup][sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holiday_season#cite_note-21][color:9b10=#5a3696][22][/color][/url][/sup]
In Italy, the January sales begin on the first weekend in January, and last for at least six weeks.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holiday_season#cite_note-Times2-20][color:9b10=#5a3696][21][/color][/url][/sup]
In [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany][color:9b10=#002bb8]Germany[/color][/url], the [b]Winterschlussverkauf[/b] (winter close-out sale) was one of two official sales periods (the other being the [i]Sommerschlussverkauf[/i], the summer sales). It began on the last Monday in January and lasts for 12 days, selling left-over goods from the holiday shopping season. However, unofficially, goods were sold at reduced prices by many stores throughout the whole of January and by the time that the sales officially begin the only goods left on sale are low-quality ones, often specially manufactured for the sales.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holiday_season#cite_note-22][color:9b10=#5a3696][23][/color][/url][/sup][sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holiday_season#cite_note-23][color:9b10=#5a3696][24][/color][/url][/sup] Since a legislative reform to the corresponding law in 2004[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holiday_season#cite_note-24][color:9b10=#5a3696][25][/color][/url][/sup], season close-out sales are now allowed over the whole year and no more restricted to season-related goods. However, voluntary sales still called "Winterschlussverkauf" take place further on in most stores at the same time every year

very nice, thnx