00:00As Russia prepares to usher in the new year, calendars featuring President Vladimir Putin have become a popular and sometimes debated seasonal item in most school bookstores.
00:11Selling calendars with political leaders has become a familiar tradition ahead of the Novigod, Russia's biggest winter celebration.
00:20Shop workers say demand has been brisk.
00:22Demand is very high. We had calendars with Vladimir. They sold out very quickly.
00:30There are literally a few left, but we're expecting delivery soon.
00:41Putin has dominated Russian politics for a quarter of a century.
00:47Among residents, reactions are mixed. Some embrace the imagery.
00:52Others are less enthusiastic.
01:03I have a wall clock with his portrait.
01:09While I prefer arts, a president is more of a formality, like, you know, hanging it up at work, you know.
01:17As 2026 approaches, his image remains firmly embedded in both public life and everyday culture.
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