Published: 1 January, 2008, 06:02
Edited: 1 January, 2008, 06:02
While toasts and feasts continue across Russia, some are already trying to peep into the year ahead to see what it'll bring. Polls say that Russians are ‘generally optimistic’ about their future.
According to polls, more and more Russians are optimistic about their future. Right now one out of ten Russians is absolutely certain that the year 2008 will be better then its predecessor, while two thirds hope that at least it will be as good as 2007.
Among the optimists is mother-to-be Maria Chamberlain.
“Life has become stable in recent years. And I hope there won’t be any big dramatic changes in the next couple of years,” Chamberlain said.
But there are also some sour grapes on the New Year’s table. With food prices constantly increasing, the cost of the New Year’s midnight feast is now up by 30% from last year.
Being a student Anna Poddubnaya has felt the strain.
“I used to spend $US 15-20 in the supermarket. Now I have to pay twice as much. And the bus I’m using has become more expensive. I really hope the government will reign in prices in 2008,” Poddubnaya said.
Russia will be have a new government to tackle these concerns. In 2008, Russia’s political system will undergo a makeover. The country is not only getting a new government and a new parliament, but also a new President.
Nonetheless, according to some analysts, changes don’t necessarily mean surprises.
“The system may be more stable, as ”it is more or less clear who will be the next President, and Putin will also be around," Andrei Kortunov from the New Eurasia Foundation believes.
But these plans may well be in the shade, quite literally. On August 1, a total solar eclipse will cross western Siberia from the north to the south, giving scientists across the country a truly rare present.
Igor Nikulin from Moscow State University stresses the importance of the the event.
“Each year more and more people are excited about the solar eclipse. A bright black disc with a golden corona can hardly leave anyone indifferent. It even affects animals,” Nikulin said.
While some are turning to the sky with excitement, others, like Pavel Globa, the most famous Russian astrologist, fear this astronomical phenomenon may bring misfortune.
“Many bad things happen near the time of solar or lunar eclipses. Take the year of 1917, when the Soviet Union was conceived – there were seven eclipses. Or the year of 1991 when it ceased to exist – there were six,” Globa pointed out.
However, despite the eclipse due in August, his forecast for the year is generally optimistic.
“According to the lunar calendar, 2008 will be the year of the rat. In the 20th century, this animal showed itself as calm and unobtrusive. So we shouldn’t expect any dramatic changes. Next year will be the time when conservatives rule,” Globa added.
According to polls, only about one quarter of Russians pay attention to horoscopes, but most of them share this positive outlook for the future, some with reservations, others, with great expectations.