From an evil old man to a kind wizard. The history of Father Frost in Russia. Where did Santa Claus come from? How old is Santa Claus? The history of the appearance of Santa Claus

Grandfather and granddaughter started visiting the children for New Year’s holidays only at the end of the 19th century.

Many people think that Father Frost is of Russian origin, and his ancestry goes back to the image of the frosty old man from Russian folk tales. This is not entirely true, or rather, not at all true. It is sometimes mistakenly believed that Father Frost and the Snow Maiden have been companions of festive New Year trees since ancient times, but this only happened at the end of the 19th century. In the legends of our ancestors, there was Frost - the lord of winter cold. His image reflected the ideas of the ancient Slavs about Karachun - the god of winter cold. Frost was presented as an old man short with a long gray beard. From November to March, Moroz always has a lot of work. He runs through the forests and knocks with his staff, causing bitter frosts to occur. Frost sweeps through the streets and paints patterns on the window panes. It chills the surface of lakes and rivers, stings our noses, gives us a blush, and amuses us with fluffy snowfalls. This image of the winter lord is artistically developed and embodied in Russian fairy tales in the images of Grandfather Student, Grandfather Treskun, Moroz Ivanovich, Morozko. However, although these frosty grandfathers were not devoid of a sense of justice and compassion and sometimes gave gifts to kind and hardworking people who wandered into their domain, they were not associated with the arrival of the New Year and the distribution of gifts was not their main concern.

The prototype of Santa Claus is a real person from Asia Minor

The prototype of modern Santa Claus is considered to be a real man named Nicholas, who was born in the 3rd century in Asia Minor (on the shore Mediterranean Sea) in a wealthy family and later became a bishop. Having inherited a considerable fortune, Nikolai helped the poor, the needy, the unfortunate, and especially took care of children. After his death, Nicholas was canonized. In 1087, pirates stole his remains from the church in Demre, where he served as bishop during his lifetime, and transported them to Italy. The parishioners of the church were so outraged that a big scandal broke out, which, as contemporaries would say, unwittingly served as an advertisement. Gradually, from a saint who was known and appreciated only in his homeland, Nicholas became an object of veneration for all Christians in Western Europe.

In Russia, Saint Nicholas, nicknamed Nicholas the Wonderworker or Nicholas of Myra, also gained fame and worship, becoming one of the most revered saints. Sailors and fishermen considered him their patron and intercessor, but this saint especially did a lot of good and wonderful things for children.

Nisse. Norway.

This is how the tradition of preparing stockings or shoes for gifts arose

There are many traditions and legends about the mercy and intercession of St. Nicholas in relation to children, widespread in Western Europe. One of these stories tells that a certain poor father of a family could not find the means to feed his three daughters, and, in despair, was going to give them into the wrong hands. Saint Nicholas, who heard about this, made his way into the house and stuffed a bag of coins into the chimney. At that time, the sisters' old, worn-out shoes were drying in the stove (according to another version, their stockings were drying by the fireplace). In the morning, the amazed girls took out their old shoes (stockings) filled with gold. Need I say that their happiness and jubilation knew no bounds? Kind-hearted Christians tenderly retold this story to many generations of their children and grandchildren, which led to the emergence of a custom: children put their boots over the threshold at night and hang their stockings by the bed with the expectation of receiving gifts from St. Nicholas in the morning. The tradition of giving gifts to children on St. Nicholas's Day has existed in Europe since the 14th century; gradually this custom moved to Christmas Eve.

Uzbek Father Frost and Snow Maiden.

How did Santa Claus appear?

In the 19th century, together with European emigrants, the image of St. Nicholas became known in America. The Dutch Saint Nicholas, who was called Sinter Klaas in his homeland, reincarnated as the American Santa Claus. This was facilitated by the book “The Parish of St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore, which appeared in America in 1822. It tells about a boy's Christmas meeting with Saint Nicholas, who lives in the cold North and rides around on a fast reindeer sleigh with a bag of toys, giving them to children.

The popularity of the good Christmas “old man in a red fur coat” among Americans has become very high. IN mid-19th century, this Saint, or Père Noel, became fashionable even in Paris, and from France the image of Father Frost penetrated into Russia, where Western European culture was not alien to educated and wealthy people.

Russian Santa Claus

Naturally, it was not difficult for the Christmas grandfather to take root in Russia, since a similar image has been present in Slavic folklore since ancient times, developed in Russian folk tales and fiction(poem by N.A. Nekrasov “Frost, Red Nose”). The appearance of the Russian Father Frost incorporates both ancient Slavic ideas (a short old man with a long gray beard and a staff in his hand) and the features of the Santa Claus costume (a red fur coat trimmed with white fur).

Where did Frost get his granddaughter Snegurochka from?

This is a brief background to the appearance of the Russian Father Frost at Christmas holidays, and later at New Year trees. And it’s even more pleasant that only our Father Frost has a granddaughter, Snegurochka, and she was born in Russia.

This pretty companion began to accompany her grandfather to the New Year trees only with late XIX century. She was born in 1873 thanks to the fairy tale play of the same name by A.N. Ostrovsky, who, in turn, artistically reworked one of the versions of the folk tale about a girl fashioned from snow and melted by the warm rays of the sun. The plot of the play by A.N. Ostrovsky differs significantly from the folk tale. Here the Snow Maiden is the daughter of Frost. She comes to the people from the forest, enchanted by their beautiful songs.

Lyrical, beautiful story Many people liked about the Snow Maiden. Famous philanthropist Savva Ivanovich Mamontov wanted to stage it on the home stage of the Abramtsevo circle in Moscow. The premiere took place on January 6, 1882. Costume sketches for her were made by V.M. Vasnetsov, and three years later the famous artist makes new sketches for the production of the opera of the same name by N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov, based on the play by N.A. Ostrovsky.

Two more were related to the creation of the appearance of the Snow Maiden: famous artist. M.A. In 1898, Vrubel created the image of the Snow Maiden for a decorative panel in the house of A.V. Morozova. Later, in 1912, N.K. presented his vision of the Snow Maiden. Roerich, who participated in the production of a dramatic play about the Snow Maiden in St. Petersburg.

The modern appearance of the Snow Maiden has absorbed individual features of the artistic versions of all three masters of the brush. She can come to the Christmas tree in a light sundress with a hoop or headband - just as V.M. saw her. Vasnetsov; or in white clothes woven from snow and down, lined with ermine fur, as M.A. depicted it. Vrubel; or in the fur coat that N.K. put on her. Roerich.

The story of the snow girl who came to people became increasingly popular and fit very well into the city's Christmas tree programs. Gradually, the Snow Maiden becomes a permanent character during the holidays as an assistant to Father Frost. This is how the special Russian custom of celebrating Christmas with the participation of Father Frost and his beautiful and intelligent granddaughter is born. Father Frost and Snow Maiden entered social life countries as obligatory attributes of the coming New Year. And Snegurochka still helps her elderly grandfather to amuse the children with games, dance around the Christmas tree, and distribute gifts.

By the way

What is Santa Claus called in different countries?

• Australia, USA - Santa Claus. The American grandfather wears a cap and a red jacket, smokes a pipe, travels through the air on reindeer and enters the house through a pipe. Australian Santa Claus is the same, only in swimming trunks and on a scooter (you know, it’s hot on the first of January in the country of kangaroos).
• Austria - Sylvester.
• Altai Territory - Sook-Taadak.
• England - Father Christmas.
• Belgium, Poland - Saint Nicholas. As the legend goes, he left golden apples in a shoe in front of the fireplace for the family who sheltered him. This was a very long time ago, so St. Nicholas is considered the very first Santa Claus. He rides a horse, wearing a miter and a white bishop's robe. He is always accompanied by his Moorish servant Black Peter, who carries a bag of gifts for obedient children behind his back, and in his hands - rods for naughty children.
• Greece, Cyprus - Saint Basil.
• Denmark - Yletomte, Ylemanden, St. Nicholas.
• Western Slavs - Saints Mikalaus.
• Italy - Babo Nattale. Besides him, he comes to obedient children good fairy Befana (La Befana) and gives gifts. The naughty ones get a coal from the evil sorceress Befana.
• Spain - Papa Noel.
• Kazakhstan - Ayaz-ata.
• Kalmykia - Zul.
• Cambodia - Grandfather Heat.
• Karelia - Pakkainen.
• China - Sho Hin, Sheng Dan Laoren.
• Colombia - Papa Pascual.
• Mongolia - Uvlin Uvgun, comes accompanied by Zazan Okhin (Snow Maiden) and Shina Zhila (boy- New Year). New Year in Mongolia coincides with the cattle breeding holiday, so Santa Claus wears the clothes of a cattle breeder.
• Netherlands - Sanderklaas.
• Norway - Nisse (little brownies). Nisse wear knitted caps and love tasty things.
• Russia - Father Frost, Father Treskun, Morozko and Karachun rolled into one. He looks a little stern. He wears a fur coat down to the ground and a high hat, and in his hands he has an ice staff and a bag of gifts.
• Romania - Mos Jerile.
• Savoy - Saint Chalande.
• Uzbekistan - Korbobo and Korgyz (Snow Maiden). To Uzbek villages in New Year's Eve“Snow Grandfather” in a striped robe rides in on a donkey. This is Corbobo.
• Finland - Joulupukki. This name was not given to him in vain: “Youlu” means Christmas, and “pukki” means goat. Many years ago, Santa Claus wore a goat skin and delivered gifts on a goat.
• France - Grandfather January, Pere Noel. The French "Father January" walks with a staff and wears a wide-brimmed hat.
• Czech Republic - Grandfather Mikulas.
• Sweden - Krise Kringl, Yulnissan, Jul Tomten (Yolotomten).
• Japan - Oji-san.

There is no doubt that the most favorite characters of the New Year holiday are Father Frost and Snow Maiden. The image of Father Frost in Russian folklore has evolved over many centuries. Historians are inclined to believe that the prototype of our Father Frost was the East Slavic spirit of cold Treskun, or, as he was also called, Studenets. The character of ancient fairy tales Morozko is more like our Father Frost, in later versions - Moroz Ivanovich, Moroz Yelkich. This is the Spirit of Winter - strict, sometimes angry, grumpy, but fair. To good people favors and bestows, and can freeze the bad ones with his magic staff. By the 1880s, a certain character with a bag of gifts near the Christmas tree had established itself in the public consciousness. True, they called him differently: the Christmas old man, the Christmas grandfather, or simply the Christmas tree grandfather. In literary adaptation, Moroz Ivanovich appeared in 1840 in the collection “Children's Tales of Grandfather Iriney” by V.F. Odoevsky. This kind, gray-haired old man gifts the Needlewoman with a “handful of silver coins” for her good work, and teaches Sloth a lesson by giving her an icicle instead of silver. In Nekrasov’s poem “Red Nose Frost,” the main character is evil, who loves to “freeze the blood in the veins and freeze the brain in the head.” In children's poetry of the late 19th century, Father Frost is a good wizard. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the image of Father Frost as a kind giver of Christmas trees and gifts was finally established. Traditionally, Father Frost is dressed in a long, ankle-length red fur coat trimmed with white fur. At first his fur coat was blue (indicating the northern, cold origin of the character); on pre-revolutionary postcards you can also find a white Santa Claus. Nowadays, Santa Claus most often comes in a red suit. His hat is semi-oval to match his fur coat. The children's favorite has mittens on his hands. In one hand he holds a staff and in the other a bag of gifts.

The image of the Snow Maiden also took shape in the 19th century. In 1860, G.P. Danilevsky published a poetic version of a Russian folk tale about a revived snow girl. The official date of birth of the Snow Maiden was 1873, when A.N. Ostrovsky transferred this folk tale in his own way in the play “The Snow Maiden”. So the Kostroma region began to be considered the birthplace of the winter beauty, where, on the Shchelykovo estate, the writer came up with a new plot for an old fairy tale. In 1874, “The Snow Maiden” was published in “Bulletin of Europe”, then an opera appeared, the music for which was written by N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov. It is interesting that upon first reading, Ostrovsky’s poetic dramatic tale did not inspire the composer. Five years later, in the winter of 1879, Rimsky-Korsakov “read The Snow Maiden again” and clearly saw its amazing beauty. I immediately wanted to write an opera based on this plot, and as I thought about this intention, I felt more and more in love with Ostrovsky’s fairy tale. The attraction to ancient Russian customs and pagan pantheism that had gradually manifested itself in me now flared up with a bright flame. Wasn't there for me best story, there were no better ones for me poetic images“There was no better kingdom of the Berendeys with their wonderful king than Snegurochka, Lel or Vesna...” The first performance of The Snow Maiden took place on January 29, 1882 at the Mariinsky Theater during a benefit performance of the Russian Opera Choir. Soon “The Snow Maiden” was staged in Moscow, at the Russian Private Opera of S.I. Mamontov, and in 1893 - at Bolshoi Theater. The opera was a huge success.

The image of the Snow Maiden both as a daughter and as a granddaughter of Frost was developed in children's and adult literature, in fine arts. But it was thanks to Ostrovsky’s beautiful fairy tale that the Snow Maiden fell in love with many and soon became the constant companion of Father Frost. Only their family ties underwent some changes over time - from a daughter she turned into a granddaughter, but she did not lose her charm because of this. The appearance of the Snow Maiden was created thanks to three great artists: Vasnetsov, Vrubel and Roerich. It was in their paintings that the Snow Maiden “found” her famous outfits: a light sundress and a headband; a long white snow robe, lined with ermine, a small fur coat. Before the revolution, the Snow Maiden never acted as a presenter at the Christmas tree festival.

In the twenties of the last century, the country embarked on the path of combating “religious prejudices.” Since 1929, all church holidays have been abolished. The Christmas day off became a working day, but “secret” Christmas trees were sometimes held. Santa Claus has become “a product of the anti-people activities of capitalists” and “religious trash.” The Christmas tree holiday was allowed again only on New Year's Eve 1936, after Stalin uttered a significant phrase: “Life has become good, comrades. Life has become more fun." New Year tree, having lost religious context, has become a symbol of the holiday of happy childhood in our country. From that time on, Santa Claus was fully restored to his rights. The Soviet Father Frost brought bags with the same gifts for all children in a bag. In 1937, Father Frost and the Snow Maiden first appeared together at the Christmas tree celebration in the Moscow House of Unions. The Snow Maiden became Father Frost's permanent companion, helping him in everything (the tradition was broken only in the 1960s, when the Snow Maiden's place on the Kremlin Christmas tree was taken several times by an astronaut). So then it happened: a girl, sometimes older, sometimes younger, with or without pigtails, wearing a kokoshnik or a hat, sometimes surrounded by little animals, sometimes singing, sometimes dancing. She asks questions to Santa Claus, leads round dances with the children, and helps distribute gifts. For many years now, Father Frost and the Snow Maiden have been decorating any New Year's holiday, be it a corporate party or a children's party. These fairy-tale characters are an integral part of the New Year, just like a beautifully decorated Christmas tree and gifts.

Not long ago, the Russian Father Frost got his own residence. It is located in Veliky Ustyug, in the Vologda region. By the new year 2006, the estate of Father Frost was opened in Moscow, in Kuzminki Park. In November 2006, the Snegurochka's tower opened in Kuzminki. The wooden two-story tower was designed by Kostroma architects in the “onion” style. Inside, on the first floor, there is a spinning wheel for the Snow Maiden-craftswoman. On the second floor there is an exhibition of gifts from children. These are drawings, clay crafts, snowflakes and other souvenirs dedicated to the New Year.

Father Frost- the main fairy-tale character at the New Year holiday, the Slavic version of the Christmas giver. The creation of the canonical image of Father Frost as an obligatory character of the New Year - and not Christmas - holiday occurred in Soviet times and dates back to the late 1930s, when, after several years of prohibition, the Christmas tree was allowed again. The prototypes of Father Frost are the character of Slavic fairy-tale folklore and calendar rituals and Saint Nicholas.

Santa Claus is depicted as an old man in a colored fur coat - blue, dark blue, red or white, with a long white beard and a staff in his hand, wearing felt boots. Rides three horses. Often comes accompanied by his granddaughter Snow Maidens, and during the USSR, it happened New Year- a boy in a red fur coat and hat (one of these items of clothing often had digital designation coming/coming year). The New Year boy acted as a kind of successor to Santa Claus; he was most often depicted on New Year's cards the late 1950s - mid-1980s, and in one of the cartoons he is even supposedly the grandson of Santa Claus and flies on an airplane, after which the popularity of this character began to decline and by now he is almost forgotten. Also, Santa Claus is sometimes accompanied by various forest animals.

History of origin[ | ]

Research [ | ]

Slavic mythology[ | ]

Frost as a natural element has long been personified by the Eastern Slavs. They imagined him as a short old man with a long gray beard, who runs through the fields and causes crackling frosts with his knocking. The image of Frost is reflected in Russian proverbs, sayings, and fairy tales. For example, in fairy tales, Frost appears as a magical assistant, appearing under the nicknames “Student”, “Treskunets”, or as a donor at correct behavior fairy tale hero(see Morozko). In the minds of the Slavic farmer, a snowy, frosty winter was associated with a future good harvest. This was judged by the presence of Christmas or Epiphany frosts. Therefore, on Christmastide and Maundy Thursday, it was customary to perform the ritual of “clicking frost”: he was invited to a meal and treated to ritual food - pancakes and kutya. At that time, the souls of deceased ancestors were called into the house in the same way, and kutia was a traditional funeral food among the Slavs. Food for frost was left on the window or on the porch. At the same time, Moroz was asked not to come in the summer and not spoil the harvest.

Formation of the image[ | ]

IN literary tradition Santa Claus enters in 1840 - with the publication of the collection of fairy tales “Tales of Grandfather Iriney” by V. F. Odoevsky. The collection included the fairy tale “Moroz Ivanovich,” which for the first time gave a literary interpretation of the image of the folklore and ritual Frost, who previously acted only as a pagan master of the cold and winter cold.

The image created by Odoevsky is not yet very similar to the familiar New Year's character. The calendar timing of the fairy tale is not Christmas or New Year, but spring. Therefore, Moroz Ivanovich lives in an icy country, the entrance to which opens through a well. And it is not Moroz Ivanovich who comes to the children, but the children who come to him. He does not give any gifts on any date, although he can generously reward for a job well done. However, as the researcher writes:

... this image is already recognizable: “kind Moroz Ivanovich” - a “gray-haired” old man who “when he shakes his head, frost falls from his hair”; he lives in an ice house and sleeps on a feather bed made of fluffy snow. He rewards the needlewoman with a “handful of silver coins” for her good work, but he doesn’t freeze Lenivitsa (like Morozko’s old woman’s daughter in a fairy tale), but only teaches her a lesson by giving her an icicle instead of silver... pedagogical fairy tale Odoevsky's ritual Moroz and the fabulous Morozko are turned into a kind but fair educator and mentor.

For quite a long time, Moroz Ivanovich and the New Year tree existed separately. Their unification occurred in the second half of the 19th century, when in the urban environment of Russia the first attempts were made to create an original “Christmas grandfather” who would give gifts to Russian children, like Nikolai Ugodnik among their Western peers. Under Alexander II, “old Ruprecht” is mentioned (obviously German origin, 1861), Saint Nicholas or “Grandfather Nicholas” (1870) - isolated attempts that did not take root. However, popular ideas about St. Nicholas later had a certain influence on the creation of the image of Santa Claus. In 1886, “Morozko” was celebrated for the first time, and by the beginning of the 20th century, the familiar image of Father Frost was already taking shape. At the same time, from the illustrated translations of Valery Carrick, the tale of Morozko becomes familiar to English-speaking readers. In translation, Morozko appears under the name “King Frost”.

Father Frost returned to Soviet usage on the eve of 1936. This happened after on December 28, 1935, a member of the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR, P. P. Postyshev, published an article in the Pravda newspaper, where he proposed organizing a New Year celebration for children with a New Year tree (however, Postyshev did not propose returning Santa Claus), after which New Year's events are beginning to be organized across the country using reimagined old "Christmas" paraphernalia. The official ceremonial return of Father Frost happened very soon. In the first Kharkov Palace of Pioneers in the USSR (opened in 1935), on December 30, 1935, the first official ceremony in the USSR after “rehabilitation” was held. christmas tree. And in January 1937, Father Frost and the Snow Maiden greeted guests at a holiday in the Moscow House of Unions.

Soviet cinema also played an important role in the formation of the new image of Father Frost.

Santa Claus and Orthodoxy[ | ]

The situation with several all-Russian Santa Clauses, including Lapland and Veliky Ustyug, was resolved this way: since Santa Claus is a wizard, he can be in both Lapland and Veliky Ustyug at the same time. If children's letters to Santa Claus do not indicate the Lapland Nature Reserve, then they are delivered to Veliky Ustyug.

On December 25, 1999, Veliky Ustyug hosted grand opening"The House of Santa Claus." Tourist trains go to the city from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vologda, and other Russian cities. According to the former governor of the Vologda region V.V. Pozgalev, in the first three years (from 1999 to 2002) the number of tourists visiting Veliky Ustyug increased from 2 thousand to 32 thousand. Since the beginning of the project, more than a million letters from children from different countries have been sent to Santa Claus, and trade turnover in the city has increased 15 times and unemployment has decreased.

The Moscow estate of Father Frost was created as part of the interregional project “Veliky Ustyug - the Homeland of Father Frost.” In 2004, Moscow Mayor Yu. M. Luzhkov and Prefect of the South-Eastern District of the capital V. B. Zotov decided to build a Santa Claus Post Office, the grand opening of which took place a year later. In 2006, four new objects were opened in the Estate: the Snow Maiden's tower, the Creativity tower, an ice skating rink, and a fairy tale trail. On August 5, 2008, by order of the Moscow government, the Moscow estate of Father Frost was given state status budgetary institution. The founder of the Estate is the Moscow Public Relations Committee. The estate is working all year round, the main activity occurs from November 18, the birthday of Santa Claus, until mid-January. Throughout the year, the estate hosts holiday concerts, game programs, master classes, excursions to the Post Office and the towers of winter wizards, various events with public organizations. Every year the estate receives more than 20 thousand letters.

At the end of December 2011, she opened her own fabulous residence in Murmansk. The house of the Lapland Father Frost was erected there on the territory of the Lights of Murmansk park.

In addition to the “nationwide” Santa Clauses with residences in Arkhangelsk, Veliky Ustyug and Chunozero, on the territory Russian Federation Their “colleagues” of other nations are also known. For example, in Karelia near Petrozavodsk you can visit (translated from the Livvikov dialect of the Karelian language Frost). This hero, however, is quite far from the usual image. He is middle-aged, he has no beard, and he lives in a large tent.

In Belarus [ | ]

Belarusian Santa Claus in his autumn outfit.

The Belarusian Grandfather Frost is dressed in a long fur coat reaching to his toes, leans on a magic staff, does not wear glasses, does not smoke a pipe, and leads healthy image life and does not suffer noticeable fullness. The very first official Santa Claus in Belovezhskaya Pushcha was the deputy director of the Belarusian National Park "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" for research work. About his two-year career as Father Frost, he wrote the books “How I Was Father Frost” and “Father Frost and His Relatives” (together with general director National Park Nikolai Bambiza).

The total area of ​​the estate is 15 hectares. In addition to the House of Father Frost itself, the estate also has a separate house for the Snow Maiden, the Treasury (Belarus. Skarbnitsa), where gifts and letters sent by children are kept, and the Museum of Father Frost. It grows on the territory of the residence, as erroneously stated in national park, “the tallest in Europe” forty-meter natural spruce, which is 120 years old.

The territory of the estate is decorated with numerous wooden statues of various fairy-tale characters, a model of a mill and a “magic” well. The branch of Father Frost's mailbox is located in Minsk Park. Gorky.

Some journalists believe that the Sovietized image of the patron of the New Year holiday has replaced the traditionally revered Christian patron Saint Nicholas (Ukrainian: Saint Mykolay) who, on the night of December 18-19, brings children gifts (mykolaychiky) and puts them under the pillow (see. Nikola Zimny). Before the revolution in Russian Empire The New Year fell on the ancient holiday of Melania (Ukr. Malanka) or Generous Evening and had its own attributes and rituals.

In November 2014, the mayor of Kyiv, Vitaliy Klitschko, signed a decree that the main Christmas tree of Ukraine should move from Independence Square to one of the oldest squares in Kyiv - Sophia Square. The New Year celebration will take place with the participation of St. Nicholas. The organizers talk about their desire to restore the ancient traditions of celebrating the New Year.

Since 2014, he has lived on the territory of the National Expo Center of Ukraine and on the territory of the Kievan Rus Park.

In Soviet and Russian cinema[ | ]

Can any of the children or adults imagine such a beloved and long-awaited New Year holiday without the most important guest, Grandfather Frost? All people wait with equal impatience for both of them. The capricious queen from the fairy tale “The Twelve Months” claimed that there would be no New Year until snowdrops were brought to her. But in reality, the New Year does not come until the most welcome guest - Grandfather Frost - comes to visit.

But what is the story of Father Frost and the Snow Maiden? How did Santa Claus and his granddaughter appear? Was he always a grandfather? Very young children are more interested in what gifts he has in his bag, but older children already want to know more about him and his companion.

The history of the appearance of Father Frost - the kind grandfather - goes far into the past; there is no clear opinion about who exactly became his prototype. There are several versions and legends that reveal the secret of the appearance of a magical character:

Lord of the cold

Similar characters appeared long ago in ancient Russian legends. People believed that the lord of the cold wandered through fields and forests, covering them with snow, knocking with his staff, freezing rivers and lakes, and drawing patterns. They called this Lord Frost, Grandfather Studenets, Morozko, Grandfather Treskun or Moroz Ivanovich. This gray-haired old man not only freezes, he also looks after nature, helping plants and animals survive the frosty winter. Morozko did not give children gifts or wish them Happy New Year; his main task was to take care of nature.

Spirit of ancestors

Ancient people believed that the spirits of the dead cared for the living and protected nature. As a sign of gratitude, people performed a kind of ritual, depicting the spirit of the dead, and went from house to house. For this they received rewards from the owners. The oldest man among all the carolers portrayed a formidable spirit, for which he was called Grandfather. Probably, he could become the predecessor of Father Frost, with the difference that the participants in the ceremony received gifts, and Father Frost, on the contrary, brings them.

Ancient Varuna

In the rituals of antiquity, which occurred during the winter solstice, during Christmastide, when depicting the sun, it was customary to complete the drawing of its legs. This meant that now all roads were open to the sun. Now the sun begins its new journey in a circle, which increases daylight hours and frees nature from snow and ice. By analogy with the ancient Varuna, in Rus' this is facilitated by Father Frost, who also connects the world of the living and the dead and helps the souls of the dead return to Earth with rain or snow. It was from Varuna that the winter guest we know adopted the custom of judging people by their actions and rewarding them according to their deserts, being a strict and fair judge.

Evil Frost

There are several versions according to which the prototype of the dear Grandfathers were completely opposite characters. According to one legend, he is known as an evil and cruel deity, the lord of cold and blizzards, the Great Northern Elder, who freezes people, and one day freezes a young widow to death and leaves her children orphans. According to another version of the pagan peoples, Santa Claus received sacrifices on earth, stole small children and carried them away in his sack.

Saint Nicholas

According to one version, many of Santa Claus’ traits were inherited from a real person who lived before our era, the kind and selfless Nicholas. Living in abundance, he willingly helped those in need and those in trouble; he paid special attention to children. Everyone knows that Nikolai helped collect a dowry for the daughter of a poor peasant; he threw a bag of coins into the chimney, and the coins fell into the girl’s sock drying near the fireplace. This legend marked the beginning of the tradition of hiding surprises - "Nicholas" - in children's socks. For his kindness, Nicholas began to be called a saint. And in many countries the custom of giving gifts for the Christmas holidays has become established.

Image and clothes

Previously, Santa Claus was depicted in completely different clothes, which were radically different from the outfit we are used to. Now it’s hard to imagine that Santa Claus was once dressed in a raincoat. Then artists worked on grandpa’s image and outfit, and at the end of the 19th century he wore a red fur coat with white fur trim. Later, the image of a good-natured, fat old man with a gray beard characteristic of his age was created.

Now the grandfather known to us has the following special signs:

Hair and long beard to the floor(same in all collective images character) - thick, gray in color, symbolize power and happiness.

Shirt and pants – white with the same snow-white pattern, symbolize purity. It is a mistake to dress grandfather in red trousers.

Fur coat– very long and exclusively red, trimmed with swan down and decorated with a silver pattern. A short sheepskin coat and fur coats of other colors belong to the wardrobe of grandfathers from other countries.

Cap– red, without tassels or pom-poms, trimmed with swan down, decorated with pearls and silver patterns, with a triangular neckline at the front.

Mittens– always white, not red, decorated with a silver pattern, symbolize purity.

Belt– white with a red pattern, symbolizing the unity of past and present.

Shoes- felt boots or red or silver boots.

Staff– has a twisted silver handle, with a bull’s head or a month on the top, which symbolizes fertility and power, the staff can freeze naughty children and helps to move through snowdrifts.

Bag– bottomless, full of gifts, always red.

Who is Snegurochka?

If everything is very complicated and confusing with the appearance of Grandfather Frost, then the story of his granddaughter Snegurochka is known - this is the heroine of the New Year's play, who was so loved by the audience that her image has been popular for more than a hundred years. Although there was an image of a girl in a white fur coat before, it existed in folklore and this girl’s name was Snezhevinochka, Snow Maiden. Her name comes from the word “snow,” because this girl was born from snow.

Sometimes she is depicted as a young girl, sometimes as a little girl, because there is a version that the Snow Maiden is the daughter of Grandfather Frost, but we know her as the granddaughter of a fairy-tale grandfather.

Be that as it may, not a single children’s party can go on without her; she is the one who helps the children call Santa Claus for the holiday, she is his constant companion and assistant.

For the holiday

During the holiday, Father Frost manages to visit every house, but he does not invite anyone to visit him, so no one knows his exact address. People who believe in magic suggest that his home is far in the North, in a land of ice and eternal winter. Many believe that grandfather may well live at the North Pole or that his home is in Lapland. Santa Claus will feel comfortable in any country where winter reigns all year round.

Grandfather comes to visit on a sled flying through the air, drawn by three horses; he can also come on skis or on foot. If someone had to see him on the reindeer, keep in mind that this is Santa in front of you.

Father Frost comes to the children with Snegurochka, who is his granddaughter. Her clothes are snow-white, with silver ornaments, and on her head she wears a crown with 8 rays. The image of the Snow Maiden is very close to children; she takes an active part in New Year's games and competitions and helps children call Grandfather Frost for the holiday.

The appearance and character of Santa Claus were collected from many good and evil, real and fictional characters. Having passed long haul, he appeared before us as a symbol of power, goodness, justice and holiness. A meeting with him marks the beginning of a new period in the life of a person and the entire planet, in which there will be only good, kind and the best.

Where did Santa Claus come from? The answer to this question interests not only children, but also adults. On the eve of the New Year, the history of this fairy tale image will be informative for all readers.

Pagan traditions

In ancient times, our ancestors worshiped many gods at once. Each image was responsible for a specific element or action. For example, Perun was considered the main deity and was otherwise called the Thunderer.

According to legend, Svarog was responsible for all the gods who led natural forces. Morozko was a similar character in those days. He was responsible for the weather in winter. It was believed that this deity gave the Slavs sparkling snow and celebrations with the onset of cold weather.

People firmly believed that during the attack of enemy troops, it was he who did not allow them to advance further, freezing everything around. According to legends, this deity created ice that could not be cut even with iron axes.

The fight against paganism

After the arrival of Christianity in the Russian lands, active propaganda of the new faith began. The fight against paganism was waged with all our might. In those days, the image of Morozko was dramatically changed, making him a negative hero.

According to an invented legend, he turned into the Great Old Man of the North, who came to different settlements and cruelly froze people. One of these tragedies is described in the work “Frost - a Red Nose,” which was written by Nekrasov.

In the poem, the Great Old Man froze a lonely mother in the forest without regret. Due to this tragedy, several children were left orphans and had to overcome many difficulties to survive on their own.

Uneducated villagers began to believe in this legend. With the arrival of winter, they were terrified that this deity would come to their house.

Did Santa Claus take children?

During times ancient Rus' In every village the children were afraid of this hero. They awaited his arrival in horror. It was believed that it was he who was catching up severe frosts and winds into the villages to “pick up” the children.

It was often very cold in poor houses during a severe snowstorm, because such shacks were not heated in any way. Weak guys sometimes froze to death. Such misfortune in the family was associated with the arrival of this far from kind and long-awaited character. For those families, it didn’t matter where Santa Claus came from. The story, unfortunately, is not entirely pleasant. But it also happened.

In those days it was believed that this deity took the children to himself. Unlike modern children, the children of ancient Rus' never expected this hero and were very afraid of him. Everyone didn’t even want to say his name out loud, and no one was interested in the question of where Santa Claus came from.

The turning point

In 1910, for the first time, hand-drawn postcards began to depict this character in a more attractive form. In this way, artists tried to eradicate pagan traditions and overcome fear among children.

A character appeared on the cards who smiled and came to the children with a large bag of gifts. The artists knew for sure that it is very easy to bribe children even with small surprises, because children are so trusting.

With the help of new fairy tales and stories, they and their parents were offered a good version of where Santa Claus came from in Russia.

During the Soviet period, belief in any deity was strictly prohibited. In those days, Christianity was also actively oppressed. To further increase the patriotism of children, they turned them into good old man, bringing gifts to good children, a little forgotten Santa Claus. No one knew where this character came from. His legend had not yet been invented at that time.

Father Frost, as well as his wonderful granddaughter Snegurochka, became the most beloved and desired characters. They came to kindergartens and schools for New Year's parties, entertained the little ones near the Christmas trees, which in those days were organized in every park and every club. In Soviet times, many wonderful cartoons and films were made about these kind fairy-tale characters, which children today enjoy watching. Perhaps because there was no hint of violence in such films, children were unobtrusively instilled with beautiful human qualities, such as honesty, mutual assistance, friendship. Santa Claus in these films was always fair, cheerful and infinitely kind.

Truth and speculation

Those who were children in Soviet era, perhaps, will be very surprised to learn that some modern historians are trying to connect the image of Santa Claus with communist propaganda. In those days, this hero was sincerely loved and believed that he was “the most real.” And the statement that it comes only to obedient children hardly needs to be given a negative connotation, because it was not only in the Soviet Union that they tried to influence the behavior of children in this way. Andersen's fairy-tale character Ole Lukoje also opens colored umbrellas only over obedient children.

The first children's matinee with the participation of Father Frost was held in 1935 in Kharkov. The event was a huge success. The kind, red-cheeked grandfather in a red fur coat was loved not only by children, but also by adults, he carried so much positivity with him and created a festive mood.

Image development

Gradually, this character became so firmly established in people’s lives that few people were interested in the question of where Santa Claus came from. It was enough for the children to know that he was bringing gifts for the New Year, and they were really looking forward to his arrival.

With the help of cinema, approximately the same image of the character emerged. He had to have:

• Gray hair and long beard.
• Cheerful smile.
• Red cheeks.
• Staff.
• A red or blue sheepskin coat and the same hat.
• Large bag with gifts.
• Kind eyes.

Gradually this hero grew incredible stories and legends.

Snow Maiden: daughter or granddaughter?

Over time, the writers decided to diversify the character and added an assistant to him. Where did Father Frost and Snow Maiden come from? People first learned about this heroine from Ostrovsky’s work.

The fairy tale said that the Snow Maiden appeared in the forest in front of the walkers, who was attracted by the songs and dances of the youth. According to the plot, the girl was the daughter of Santa Claus and helped him manage his daily life.

Over time, her image passed into the status of a granddaughter. There is an easy explanation for this. The age of the children was suitable for a small girl, with whom communication at matinees became more pleasant and relaxed.

Where did Father Frost come from in Russia, and where does he live? There is no clear answer to the question. This hero has changed his place of residence several times during his existence. Even in ancient times, it was believed that the deity lived in a dense forest.

With the advent of Soviet power, this hero was relocated to Arkhangelsk. They took children there on excursions and showed him his residence. Now Veliky Ustyug is considered the official place of residence. Here the architects built a large residence of Father Frost with all the winter attributes.

Thousands of children come here during the New Year holidays to meet their favorite character and plunge into his life. Many adults, in order to return at least temporarily to childhood, also enjoy walking around the domain of their favorite fairy-tale hero.

Santa Claus has a full-fledged family. His wife is considered to be Winter, and his granddaughter is the well-known Snow Maiden. Together they re-read the children's letters and collect gifts in a large bag.

Santa Claus has several animals on his farm. It has long been the custom that this hero travels in a sleigh drawn by three horses. But in the character’s residence there is also a beautiful deer Leshka.

In the Penates of Moroz there is a room for a wardrobe. It stores large number character's elegant fur coats. You can also find ski suits and summer clothing sets here. Thus, the Russian Father Frost is a “fashionist” in comparison with similar characters from other countries.

The birthday of our fairy-tale hero is considered to be November 18th. Around this period of the year, cold weather sets in and frosts intensify in Russia. Father Frost celebrates his holiday first in Veliky Ustyug, and a few days later he arrives in the capital. Hundreds of children are also waiting for him here with gifts and congratulations.

The main Santa Claus of the country is 37-year-old Andrei Balin. He has been managing the household in the residence for 15 years. The livestock specialist, at the age of 22, entered into an agreement with local authorities and makes children happy every year during the winter holidays.

Prototypes in other countries

Almost every state has its own characters who play the role of givers for the New Year. Thus, in Cyprus and Greece, Santa Claus is called Agios Vasilis. In these countries, January 1 is considered not only the New Year, but also a holiday named after all Vasiliev and Vasilisa.

Where did Santa Claus come from in France? Pere Noel is the name of this character in this European country. Its history is connected with religion. Père Noel is considered the prototype of St. Nicholas, who gave sweets to children from poor families during the Christmas holidays.

American Santa Claus is increasingly appearing in commercials in our country. The story of the appearance of the hero is connected with Nikolai Ugodnik. This saint was real character and went through many trials in his life. Despite this, he always remained the patron saint of children.

Initially, Santa Claus had the appearance of an elf and was dressed in dark green clothes. But in 1930, the famous Coca-Cola company came up with a publicity stunt and depicted the character in the red and white colors used for their products.

From that time on, Santa Claus became a large old man with a beard and mustache. He travels around in a sleigh pulled by 12 reindeer. My favorite one is Rudolph. The American prototype does not have the Snow Maiden. Little elves help him in everything. They sort through the kids' letters and collect gifts.

Where did Santa Claus come from in Africa? Does it exist there? Of course yes. There is such a character here too. His name is Papa Noel. Of all the characters, he is the most secretive; he does not like to be in public. No one knows exactly what he looks like or where he lives.

The most interesting and unusual name has a character from Finland. Here it is called Joulupukki. Finnish Santa Claus comes to children on a goat. He has gnomes as his assistants. He lives with his wife in a small house on the mountain.

It probably doesn’t matter what this hero’s name is, how tall he is, or what he’s wearing. Let the question of where Santa Claus come from concern adults. It is enough for children to simply believe in his existence and wait for his arrival every New Year. After all, a person retains the feeling of a fairy tale and a miracle throughout his entire life.