Happy New Year from the Frosts

Happy New Year! Or ‘athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh’, as they say here in Ireland.

In this post, I’m exploring some more mythical characters associated with the festive season, starting with Ded Moroz, or Father Frost/Grandfather Frost, a legendary figure of Slavic pagan mythology associated with New Years Eve.

Ded Moroz

The tradition of Ded Moroz is mostly spread in East Slavic countries and is an important part of Russian culture. Although at the beginning of the Soviet era communists banned Ded Moroz, he soon became an important part of the Soviet culture also.

Much like his counterparts Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas and Santa Claus, Ded Moroz is depicted as bringing presents to well-mannered children, often delivering them in person in December days and secretly under the Christmas tree on New Year’s Eve.

In East Slavic cultures, Ded Moroz is accompanied by Snegurochka (Snow Maiden), his granddaughter and helper, who wears long silver-blue robes and a furry cap or a snowflake-like crown. She is a unique attribute of Ded Moroz, since similar characters in other cultures do not have a female companion. Often Snegurochka is called Nastenka (Nastya), the diminutive of Anastasia.

Ded Moroz wears a heel-length fur coat, a semi-round fur hat, and valenki on his feet. He has a long white beard, walks with a long magic stick and often rides in a horse-drawn sleigh.

The residence of Ded Moroz in Russia is considered to be the town of town of Veliky Ustyug in Vologda Oblast.

The origins of the character of Ded Moroz predates Christianity as a Slavic a wizard of winter. According to some sources in Slavic mythology, Ded Moroz, back then also called Morozko or Ded, is a snow demon. However, before the influence of Orthodox traditions, the term demon had no negative connotation. Like with many other mythical figures only over time demons were attributed to negative characteristics, and the character of Ded Moroz was transformed.

Jack Frost

Jack Frost is an active fairy in the cold weather, painting windows with intricate lacework. In Russia he is called Father Frost, the soul of winter, covering trees with ice and bringing presents for the children on New Years Day. Do not shy away from the frost fairy- go out and wonder at his works and he will reward you with hope and joy. 

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