Russian: Дед Мороз – Ded Moroz (lit. It is believed that Ded Moroz (the Russian and interpretation of and name for Santa Claus) brings presents with the help of his granddaughter, Snegurka.
Ded Moroz or Grandfather Frost is a Russian counterpart of Santa Claus. Both bring presents and are much expected by the kids but there're a few things that make them different. 1. Ded Moroz is much taller than Santa Claus.
St. Nicholas became Dyed Moroz, or “Grandfather Frost,” who traveled across Russia on New Year's Eve with Snegurochka, “The Snow Maiden,” a character from Russian Fairy tales visiting children and placing presents under their newly renamed “New Year's Trees.”
Whilst the Russian Father Christmas, of course, is a little tougher, his origins are entwined in Slavic mythology, and he goes by the name Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost). He's icy to the touch and capped in long blue robes, in contrast to his western counterpart.
The Russian Santa Claus is named Ded Moroz, or Father Frost. On New Year's Eve, he places presents for children under the New Year tree (as opposed to a Christmas tree). Snegurochka accompanies him, a snow maiden said to be his granddaughter.
His coat was also made blue so as not to be confused with the red-coated, Coca-Cola drinking, capitalist pig Santa Claus. And, of course, Ded Moroz is slender and manlier than Santa. Basically, the new Soviet Santa was made to represent a good spirit who inspires hard work in Soviet children.
During the celebration, we can still observe such ancient elements of Russian holiday as fortune-telling on Christmas Eve, koliada, and singing carols (kalyadki), while worshipers follow a strict fast, which ends when the first star appears in the sky on the night of Christmas Eve.
In the Russian Christmas tradition Father Christmas is always accompanied by his granddaughter. Her name is Snegurochka a snow maiden.
The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. It is believed that Nicholas was born sometime around A.D. 280 in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey.
Unlike the bloated, red-coated father Christmas of the West, Russia's Santa Claus, known as Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost), is slender with a wizard-like flowing beard and he wears a long robe that comes in different colors, such as blue and white.
Babushka means grandmother in Russian, and it tells the story of an old woman who met the three wise men. However, most people in Russia have never heard of the story. (It seems that it was probably created by an American poet and writer called Edith Matilda Thomas in 1907.)
Ukraine's Santa Claus is called Did Moroz (Father Frost) or Svyatyy Mykolay (Saint Nicholas).
Santa Claus goes by lots of names, depending on where you are in the world. In Australia and other English-speaking countries, he's usually called Father Christmas, Santa Claus, or sometimes just “Santa” for short.
In East Slavic cultures, Ded Moroz is accompanied by Snegurochka (Russian: Снегурочка, Snegurochka; Belarusian: Снягурка, Sniahurka; Ukrainian: Снігуронька, Snihurońka; "Snow Maiden"), his granddaughter and helper, who also wears long silver-blue robes and a furry cap or a snowflake-like crown.
Snegurochka Is the Snow Maiden in Russian Culture. Kerry Kubilius is a freelance writer who specializes in Eastern European history, culture, current events, language, and travel. Snegurochka, the Snow Maiden, is a popular seasonal figure in Russian culture.
The Russian Orthodox Church, which claims sovereignty over Orthodoxy in Ukraine, and some other Eastern Orthodox churches continue to use the ancient Julian calendar. Christmas falls 13 days later on that calendar, or Jan. 7, than it does on the Gregorian calendar used by most church and secular groups.
Although Russia follows the Gregorian calendar, like India and most of the world, the country's Orthodox Church still follows the Julian calendar and celebrates Christmas on January 7, which corresponds to December 25 on the Gregorian calendar.
Sinitta's mother is Miquel Brown, who was a popular Canadian disco-soul singer in the 1970s and 1980s and a member of the cast of Hair. Sinitta has said that she was born when her mother was only 14 years old but this was not true (she was 18).
“Are Mom and Dad really Santa?” We know that you want to know the answer and we had to give it careful thought to know just what to say. The answer is no. We are not Santa. There is no one, single Santa.
Maybe it is a good thing for the rest of us that Russia celebrates Christmas on January 7. Because all the kids leave a generous shot of vodka for Santa – and with 57.5million homes in the country, he'd be too sleighed to get round the world on December 24.
White is used by most churches as the color of Christmas, when the altar is covered with a white cloth (in the Russian Orthodox Church Gold is used for Christmas).
Christmas in Russia is normally celebrated on January 7th (only a few Catholics might celebrate it on the 25th December). The date is different because the Russian Orthodox Church uses the old 'Julian' calendar for religious celebration days. The Orthodox Church also celebrates Advent.