Despite economic worries, Moscow's residents and visitors are flocking to Christmas fairs to enjoy seasonal and amusements.But a fiscal freeze is descending.Falling oil prices and Western sanctions have undermined the ruble, driving up prices for imported goods and pushing Russia toward a recession.President Vladimir Putin says the economic contraction will last a couple of years at most, but that is little comfort to many Russians, including shopper Soso."I'm trying not to think about it. It's very bad, we'll see how it develops. It's a nightmare," said Soso.More Russians will be enjoying winter activities this season since they cannot afford to travel abroad.Some take a pragmatic view of holiday business, like roasted chestnuts vendor Galina."It seems to me that those who have money aren't going to economize on chestnuts, right?Maybe the old people, the pensioners, or people with small salaries. But people who have money, they'll always have money," said Galina.Holiday shoppers may be changing their spending habits, but they are still buying, said Maria, who sells knitted gifts."In connection with our economic problems, people of course, are choosing less expensive and more practical items.But our goods are very marketable, so people are buying them as gifts despite their money problems," she said.As Russia prepares to ring in a wallet-tightening New Year, a man portraying Grandfather Frost, the Slavic Santa Claus, gives some holiday words of advice.
尽管存在对经济问题的担忧，莫斯科的居民和旅游者蜂拥着参加圣诞节展销活动，享受着节日的乐趣。但是财政麻烦正在降临，油价下跌和西方的制裁令卢布走弱，推动进口商品价格上涨，将俄罗斯逼入衰退境地。弗拉基米尔・普京总统说，经济收缩最多会持续几年，但这无法安慰很多俄罗斯人，包括店主索索在内。“我尽量不去想这件事，很糟糕，我们看到情况是如何发展的，真是一场噩梦。”由于支付不起去国外旅行，很多俄罗斯人将会享受这个季节的冬日活动。一些人对假日经济持务实态度，就像街头卖烤栗子的嘉里娜。“似乎对我来说，有钱人的人不会在烤栗子上省钱，不是吗？可能老年人、拿退休金的人或工资微薄的人会省，但有钱人照样有钱。”出售手工编织礼物的玛丽娜说，假日购物者可能会改变消费习惯，但仍会买东西。“由于出现经济问题，人们当然会买不那么贵的东西，会更多地买实用的东西。但我们的商品很抢手，尽管人们有经济问题，但人们还是会买来做礼物。”俄罗斯人似乎准备勒紧腰带过新年了，但斯拉夫民族的圣诞爷爷给大家几个节日建议：
暂无注释
