Ded Moroz and Snowgirl

On the picture "We make ads for Ded Morozes and Snegurochkas"

New Year is without doubt holiday #1 in Russia always associated with Ded Moroz (Old Man Frost). Although Ded Moroz looks very much like a Russian version of Santa, these two guys are very different. Ded Moroz has its roots in Slavic mythology. Originally he was a very mean and nasty person – a winter spirit of woods. Old Man Frost (aka Morozko) sowed death by severe frosts and blizzards. Every year on the eve of winter solstice peasants had to tie a virgin to an oak in the Old Man’s wood and if she froze to death overnight it was thought that the gift was accepted.

Later Ded Moroz became less bloodthirsty but until the 19th century he still was a malicious person. He used his staff to hit and freeze naughty children and his big sack was full of Christmas gifts FROM kids. Not the other way round.

Ded Moroz changed his image only in 1840 thanks to a fairy tale by Vladimir Odoevskiy “Moroz Ivanovich”. In this story Ded Moroz is pictured as a kind and fair dedushka (grandfather) but it took Ded Moroz almost fifty years to become a Russian “New Year Man” who loves children and hands out generous gifts. In his present “form” he showed up only in 1910.

Unlike Santa, Ded Moroz is always accompanied by young and pretty Snowgirl (Snegurochka). She became famous after a huge success of Ostrovskiy’s play “Snegurochka” in 1873. Snowgirl became Ded Moroz’s granddaughter even though nobody knew who were his wife and children.

Ded Moroz suffered from Soviet political repressions. In 1927 communists banned New Year Tree, Ded Moroz and Snegurochka as semi-religious symbols incompatible with the ideas of scientific atheism. In 1935 New Year Tree and Ded Moroz were rehabilitated but Snowgirl was allowed to return only in 1955.

Tecnorati Tags: Russia, New Year, Ded Moroz, Snowgirl, Snegurochka, Santa