Ded Moroz

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For the Russian fairy tale Father Frost, see Father Frost (fairy tale)

In the culture of the eastern Slavs the traditional character Ded Moroz (Russian: Дед Мороз) plays a role similar to that of Santa Claus. The literal translation of the name would be Grandfather Frost. However, English-speakers traditionally translate his name as Father Frost.

Ded Moroz brings presents to children. However, unlike the clandestine ways of Santa Claus, he often brings them in person, at the celebrations of the New Year, at New Year parties for kids by the New Year Tree. The "in-person" gifts only occur at big organized celebrations, where the gifts can be "standardized." The clandestine operations of placing the gifts under the New Year tree still occur while the children are young. Ded Moroz is accompanied by Snegurochka (Russian: Снегурочка), or 'Snow Maiden', his granddaughter.

The traditional appearance of Ded Moroz has a close resemblance to that of Santa Claus, with his red coat, boots and long white beard. Specifically, Ded Moroz wears a heel-long red fur coat, a semi-round fur hat, and white valenki or high boots (sapogi), silver or red with silver ornament. Unlike Santa Claus, he walks with a long magical staff, does not say "Ho, ho, ho", and drives no reindeer.

The official residence of Ded Moroz in Russia is the town of Veliky Ustyug. The residence of the Belarusian Dzied Maroz is in Belavezhskaya Pushcha.

History

His roots are in pagan beliefs, but since 19th century his attributes and legend were shaped under literary influences. He, together with Snegurochka, were "fleshed out" from a kind of a winter sprite into what he is now. The fairy tale play Snegurochka by the famous Russian playwright Alexander Ostrovsky was influential in this respect, followed by Rimsky-Korsakov's Snegurochka with libretto based on the play.

Only by the end of the 19th century did Ded Moroz win a "competition" between the various mythical figures who were in charge of New Year presents: Grandfather Nicholas, Santa Claus, Ded Treskun, Morozko, simply Moroz, etc. He perfectly fits the Russian traditions, so that there was a widespread opinion that he has been known to Russians for centuries.

After the Russian Revolution, when in 1920s Bolsheviks started to wage a campaign against religion and superstitions, Ded Moroz and the New Year Tree were banned in 1928, and Ded Moroz was declared "an ally of the priest and kulak".^[1]. Joseph Stalin restored the tradition in 1935, after the recommendation of Pavel Postyshev, who had considered the traditions as a tool with which to fight both Christianity and to mobilize the workers.^[1] In 1937, Ded Moroz for the first time arrived at the Moscow Palace of Unions. Since this time, an invitation to the New Year Tree at the Palace of Unions became a matter of honor for Soviet children. Several times, the coat of Ded Moroz was changed to not be confused with Santa Claus; it was made blue. Joseph Stalin ordered Palace of Unions' Ded Morozes to wear only blue coats.

Regional differences

There are equivalents of Ded Moroz and Snegurochka all over the former USSR, as well as the countries once in the so-called Soviet bloc.

Belarus

Dzied Maroz (Belarusian: Дзед Мароз, Dzied Maróz, literally "Grandfather Frost") is the Belarusian analogue of Russian Ded Moroz. His official residence is located in Biełavieskaja Pušča.

Unlike in Russia, in Belarus dzied Maroz is not a traditional character and is never mentioned in national folklore. This character was introduced during Soviet times in order to replace the traditional Śviaty Mikałaj (Saint Nicholas), whom the anti-religious Soviet government considered inappropriate. Unlike Śviaty Mikałaj, who was coming on Christmas, Dzied Maroz was a New Year guest. All his habits and looks were borrowed from Russian traditions, with Belarusian ones being abandoned.

Although some people are making attempts to bring Śviaty Mikałaj back, Dzied Maroz remains to be the popular winter holiday character, mainly because most people are familiar with Soviet customs, and know almost nothing about Belarusian national traditions.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the person who brings New Year's gifts to kids of all religions is called Djeda Mraz in Bosnian, much alike Деда Мраз (Deda Mraz) in Serbia or Дядо Мраз (Djado Mraz) in Bulgaria. In Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the name is Дедо Мраз (Dedo Mraz), and in Serbian part of Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Montenegro, the variation of this person's name is Ijekavian Serbian Дједа Мраз (Djeda Mraz), like in Bosnian. In Croati his name is Djed Mraz or Deda Mraz He wears red clothes, just like Father Christmas, but he's not always fat.

Slovenia

In Slovenia he is called Dedek Mraz (Grandpa Frost) and is quite different in appearance from the American Santa Claus. He is slim, wears a grey coat and a round fur cap.

Three good old guys

After the demise of the communist regime in the beginning of the 1990s, two other good old men reappeared in public: Miklavž (Saint Nicholas) brings presents on December 6, and Božiček (Father Christmas) on the Christmas Eve. Dedek Mraz is active during all of December and may top the gifts on the New Year's Eve. There are family preferences according to creed. In public the three good guys avoid conflict, they are even featured together, as friends. Dedek Mraz, due to his confessional neutrality, has retained a strong public presence.

Poland

While there is no traditional analog of Ded Moroz in Polish folklore, there was an attempt to introduce him as Dziadek Mróz during the communist period. In the People's Republic of Poland the figure Dziadek Mróz was used in propaganda, since the traditional Święty Mikołaj (Saint Nicholas, the Polish Santa Claus) was determined to be "ideologically hostile", as part of the campaign against religion, which included elimination of Christmas in favor of New Year. Often officials insisted on using the figure in Polish schools and preschools during celebrations and events for Polish children, instead of Santa Claus in order to give impression of traditional cultural links with Soviet Russia. Despite those efforts, Dziadek Mróz never gained any popular support among the Polish people, and after the fall of communism he disappeared from Poland.^[2]

Romania

Moş Gerilă was, in Communist Romania, a replacement of Father Christmas (Moş Crăciun), being part of the Communist offensive against religion. Its name is a Romanian language adaptation of Russian Ded Moroz.

In 1948, after the Communists gained power in Romania, it was decided that Christmas should not be celebrated in Romania, 25 December and 26 December being working days and no official celebrations were to be held. As a replacement of Moş Crăciun, a new character was introduced, Moş Gerilă (literally "Old Man Frosty"), who brought gifts to children on 31 December.

Officially, the New Year's Day celebrations began on 30 December, which was named the Day of the Republic, since it was the day when King Mihai I of Romania abdicated in 1947.

After the Romanian Revolution of 1989, Moş Gerilă lost his influence, being replaced with Moş Crăciun.^[3]

Germany

The Väterchen Frost ("Old Father Frost") character of German folklore is also closely related to the tradition of Ded Moroz, some similarities Ded Moroz also shares with French Père Noël (Grandfather January).

Tatar

In Tatar language he is known as Qış Babay/Кыш Бабай (Winter Grandfather) and is accompanied by Qar Qızı/Кар Кызы (Snow Girl).

See also

• Christmas in Eastern Europe

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Karen Petrone, Life Has Become More Joyous, Comrades: Celebrations in the Time of Stalin, Indiana University Press, 200, ISBN 0-253-33768-2, Google Print, p.85
2. ^ *(Polish) Dziadek Mróz against Saint Nicholas, last accessed on 11 May 2006
3. ^ Amintiri cu Moş Gerilă ("Memories with Moş Gerilă"), Evenimentul Zilei, 24 December 2005

External links

• Amintiri cu Moş Gerilă, Evenimentul Zilei, 24 December 2005