One year later, Christmas Eve arrives with chiaroscuro in the domestic economy. Setting the table tonight has a cost “somewhat higher” than the one registered in 2020. The pandemic persists and the party coincides with the sixth wave of the covid-19, with the addition of the omicron variant and its rapid spread. In addition, the rise in the electricity rate does not give a truce either. But that is not all. The lack of ships and containers causes a crisis in maritime transport (it moves 80% of the world’s merchandise) and, with it, raises costs. This is the setting for Christmas 2021. And that is reflected in the collection of businesses.
The La Laguna Market was a landmark at noon yesterday. With the omicron runaway, compliance with the rules to combat the covid jumped through the air in the parameter of social distance. The venue registered a notable influx of potential customers. “Last minute shopping” for María Luisa, but not for Antonio Miguel, who prefers “to eat fresh, even if he has to pay a little more.” A disparity that also occurs between merchants when assessing the evolution of this campaign. “Like last year or worse,” Carmita pointed out from her fish stall; “A little better than then,” said Miguel behind the counter from which he was cutting steaks.
Meat.
“It is being a very quiet Christmas Eve, at the last minute they are buying something, but they are relaxed and small purchases”, something that Miguel himself attributes to the current capacity limit. Chicken, rabbit and kid are still the preferred meats for Christmas Eve dinner, according to a quick survey of the different meat outlets. “The chicken, for the soup,” says Rosalía, a customer who also takes “some sirloins for lunch on the day of Christmas». Prices? “Expensive, very expensive, but it is what it is.” The seller balances: “The price is higher than last year, but everything goes up.” The incessant increase in the energy rate is a contributing factor. “Everything is conditioned by that price and the cost of transport.”
Fish.
Cherne, to prepare it in the oven and onions, tuna “and some sama” are the fish chosen for tonight. “The weather has not been good these days to have a good fishing.” Carmita is one of those who argues that “this year sales are a little lower than in previous years, and that in the past we were already in a pandemic. Things are a bit complicated and that lowers sales. He assures that his product is not greatly affected by the extra cost experienced by the transport, but “there are colleagues who have been greatly affected and have had to raise the prices of their products.” This is the case of another of the most popular: seafood.
Today is an important day for the supply markets, such as La Laguna. “The pandemic has very withdrawn people. These last days there is something else, but it has to improve. “Anyway, there is one day left and we have the prospect that tomorrow (for today) things will improve, because the frescoes usually wait for the last days.”
Fruit.
This is not the case with fruit. It is still a product in demand. The banana remains the favoriteBut there will be other tropical fruits on the tables today. These stalls, however, enter more for avocados, onions, garlic, leeks, lemons, tomatoes or aromatic herbs.
The potato does not fail on the shopping list for the dinner of Good night and Christmas lunch. The pretty potato is the most common choice, or the red baga, despite being the most expensive (they exceed five euros per kilo). Candelaria, at the Farmer’s Market, confirms that customers go to “for the tomato, potato, sweet potato, avocado, lettuce, peppers, cabbage, leeks and some vegetables to make the pot.” That is, “like every Christmas, nothing special.” The direct and permanent contact with the client leads him to assure that “things are getting worse and worse. We have the same sale as last year and the electricity goes up and the prices, behind. Upload everything.
Rabbit and kid, in meat; Cherne and tuna, among the fish, the best selling for tonight
Miguel Ángel lives in Puerto de la Cruz and says that he goes to the La Laguna Market “only on Christmas Eve. I spend a couple of hours here shopping quietly and enjoying this atmosphere. Consume a slice while watching from one of the bars in the venue. «The pandemic, the rise in electricity and the transport crisis are massacring us. The prices this year are normal, because these people have to eat and pay bills, like us, “he reflected.
A similar expense.
La Laguna Market’s clientele brings together all ages and families from across the spectrum. When it comes to the money they use to make Christmas Eve dinner, the common response is “the same as last year or a little more.” With the same expense as a year ago, the shopping basket “is not the same, I take a little less of almost everything,” acknowledged María Jesús, a mother who today welcomes her two children, who arrive “from the United States ». She was the most explicit: «I have spent almost 120 euros, but everything that we will have for dinner tomorrow (for today) I will take from here».
At the table of Zoraida and José Luis there will be tonight, at his house and with his mother-in-law, “tuna and kid, to taste.” The dessert “we bought it done, but we haven’t decided yet what it will be.” In the dinner for six (there are two minors) they will invest around 200 euros, including nougat, polvorones and dumplings, among other typical products of the date. “Without that and without trout, there is no Christmas.”
Take care of yourself.
Miguel Ángel, Candelaria, Cande, Miguel, María Luisa, Antonio Miguel … They all appeal to citizens “to enjoy these days as a family, but respecting the rules against the pandemic. We have to take care of ourselves because reaching the next Christmas as we are now would be terrible», Sums up the Portuense neighbors. They emphasize that in the La Laguna Market “the control has worked quite well. It is difficult to prevent people from being five feet from the rest, but they wear the mask, use the gel, greet each other with the word to bump their fists … The normal thing, “defends Miguel.
