Snow Maiden in different countries of the world. The mystery of the origin of the Snow Maiden. The story of the Snow Maiden. Who is she and where did she come from? Snow Maiden names in different countries

As we know, every country has its own Santa Claus. But, according to our ideas, each Santa Claus is entitled to his own Snow Maiden. But this is not true everywhere. Who actually plays the role of the Snow Maiden in different countries? And does it do it?

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But first, about the history of our Snow Maiden. Actually, the granddaughter of Santa Claus was born thanks to the play of the same name by Alexander Ostrovsky, published in 1873. However, right up to the revolution, the Snow Maiden was present at Christmas trees only in a “doll” version, that is, in the form of figures on the Christmas tree, as well as in girls’ costumes. But after the Christmas tree, which had been banned for a number of years by the Soviet regime, was again allowed in 1935, the Snow Maiden already began to serve as an indispensable companion and assistant to Grandfather Frost.

Female counterparts

The image of the Snow Maiden is also widespread in the former republics of the USSR: in Azerbaijan it is Garagyz, accompanying the local Father Frost Shakhta Baba, dressed in a blue suit, in neighboring Armenia - Dzyunanushik or “Snowy Anush” - the companion of Dzmer Papi (Winter-grandfather), in Uzbekistan - Korgyz accompanying grandfather Corbobo, dressed in a striped robe and riding a donkey.

Mongolia also has its own Snow Maiden. Her name is Zazan Okhin, and she accompanies the Mongolian Santa Claus - Uvlin Uvgun. However, in this case, she is not the only companion of the grandfather; Shin Zhil, the boy - New Year, is also walking nearby.

In Bulgaria, Santa Claus's companion is Snezhanka, after whom one of the popular national salads is even named. And the Swedish Snow Maiden's name is Lucia. She appears wearing a crown of lit candles.

In Italy, the good fairy Befana comes to children in parallel with the local Santa Claus Babo Natale, and not with him. On New Year's Eve, she enters houses through the chimney and brings gifts to good children, and only ash and coals to naughty ones.

"Male" replacement

Saint Nicholas, who visits children in Belgium and Poland, is accompanied by a small black boy - Black Peter. This character is somewhat intimidating - behind his back he has a bag with gifts for obedient children, and in his hands there is a rod for naughty children.

Black Peter also accompanies Sinterklass - Father Frost from the Netherlands and Flanders. He behaves more gently - good children find gifts in their shoes in the morning, and naughty children find bags of salt.

The assistant of the French Father Frost, Pierre Noel, is also somewhat similar to Black Peter. His name is Pierre Fouétard, and people also call him “The Evil Dad.” There is a legend associated with him - in 1100, this character and his wife kidnapped and killed three young men, fried them and were going to eat them. But Pierre Noel resurrected the young men, and as punishment forced the criminal to be his eternal slave. Fouétard's main function is to ensure that gifts are given only to the “right” children.

In Austria, Bavaria and Hungary, local Santa Claus comes to children accompanied by the devil Krampus. His job is not to give gifts, but to scare naughty children. There are even legends about how Krampus took bad children to his castle and threw them into the sea. But this, of course, is just a legend. By the way, on December 5, Bavaria and Austria celebrate Krampus Day, when all residents dress up in creepy clothes and have fun scaring others.

In other regions of Germany, Santa Nikolaus has an assistant named Knecht Ruprecht, with whom all sorts of horror stories are associated - they say, he compiles a detailed dossier for each child throughout the year. And in the 19th century, stories were popular about how Ruprecht carried away ugly people in a sack into a dense forest.

But the Czech Santa Claus - Mikulas - comes accompanied by a “balanced duet” - an angel in snow-white clothes and a shaggy little devil. The first one gives out sweets, and the second one gives out boring potatoes.

"Collective replacement"

Santa Claus from the USA arrives on a sleigh drawn by reindeer, accompanied by elves and gnomes. Dwarfs, dressed in capes and with their heads crowned with pointed caps with white fur, accompany the Finnish grandfather with the complex name Joulupukki.

And some Santa Clauses even come in splendid isolation!

Santa Claus is the main fairy-tale character at the New Year holiday, the East Slavic version of the Christmas giver. Initially in Slavic mythology - the personification of winter frosts. The creation of the canonical image of Father Frost as an obligatory character of the New Year holiday occurred in Soviet times and dates back to the late 1930s. Now it has become common to invite Grandfather Frost and Snow Maiden home; this brings a lot of joy to children.

Santa Claus is an old man in a colored (blue, dark blue, red or white) fur coat, with a long white beard and a staff in his hand, wearing felt boots. Rides three horses. Inseparable from his granddaughter Snegurochka, usually depicted in a white, silver or blue fur coat.

Many peoples of Russia have their own similar character. What they call and what they look like Santa Clauses among different peoples of Russia?

Chuvash Father Frost - Khel Muchi. The house of the Chuvash Father Frost - Khel Muchi stands on Red Square in the city of Cheboksary, near the Cheboksary Bay. He lives with his granddaughter Snegurochka (in Chuvash - Yur Pike), and among the wonderful artifacts he has a chest that grants wishes, a pendulum clock that brings happiness, and a talking samovar.

Udmurt Father Frost - Tol Babai. Special features: his fur coat is purple, and his staff is crooked - from long travels around the world. The wizard carries his gifts in a birch bark box. Place of residence: Udmurtia, Shirkansky district, Titovo village. But at first the Udmurts doubted Tol Babai’s mental abilities, so that’s why they called him Alangasar. According to legend, the fellow tribesmen of the stupid giant lived on Kar-Gora, but then people came there. The Alangasars got scared and decided to hide from them in a hole at the top of that same mountain. But one of the smallest giants named Tol Babai hesitated, and the pit disappeared. And Alangasar then went to wander around the world, to gain his mind. While I was walking, I learned the language of birds and animals, and learned the healing properties of plants. And then he met Lymynylu and offered to become his assistant. One day a little giant met children, but they were not afraid of him, but on the contrary, they began to play with him. For this, Tol Babai began to give the children beautiful pine cones and wild berries and mushrooms. Since then, the friendship between the giant and the children has only grown stronger.

Tatar Father Frost - Kysh-Babay. Special features: blue caftan, instead of a hat - a shaggy skullcap. As the legend says, it was Kysh Babai in ancient times who was responsible for the cheerful celebration of the arrival of the New Year. Festive rituals were performed from December 21 to January 1. And this holiday was called Nardugan.

Ossetian Santa Claus - Arthuron. Ossetian Father Frost is not just a New Year's grandfather, but a deity named Arthuron. This name translates as "Fire Solntsevich." Nowadays, native Ossetians hardly mention his name; it is preserved only in the name of the ritual pie that every family bakes for the New Year.

Mordovian Santa Claus - Nishke, Atya Frost. In Mordovian mythology there is a character Nishke, who is considered the highest god. According to legend, Nishke created the sky and the earth, released three fish into the world ocean, on which the earth rests, planted forests, created the Erzyan human race, and ordered men to engage in farming and women to do housework. Nishke has two daughters, Kastargo and Vetsorgo, who are called upon in conspiracies against illnesses, and a wife, Nishke-ava. Mordva knows that Nishke has seven magical barns in the sky. In one lives Father Frost, who is called Moroz-atya, in another - Father Chaff, in the third - Friday, in the fourth - Sunday, in the fifth - winter, in the sixth - summer, and the seventh cannot be opened, and therefore no one knows what there is. Moroz Atya during the holidays lives in her estate, which is located in the Mordovian village of Kivat in the Kuzovatovsky district of the Ulyanovsk region.

Mari El Santa Claus - Yushto Kugyza and Lumudyr. Mari's Santa Claus is called Yushto Kugyza, which translates as “Cold Grandfather.” He comes to the guys with his granddaughter Lumudyr (Lum?dyr). However, in the Mari language the word “kugyza” means “old man” or “grandfather”, and this is what the Mari call all spirits. There is Surt Kugyza - the spirit of the house, Pokshym Kugyza - the spirit of frost, Kuryk Kugyza - the mountain old man. But besides Yushto Kugyz, the Mari have another character who claims to be similar to Santa Claus in his role and responsibilities of delivering gifts. This is Grandfather Vasily, in Mari El they call him Vasli Kuva-Kugyza. He, together with his old woman named Shorykyol Kuva-Kugyza, is the main character of the Shorykyol - “Sheep's Foot” holiday.

Karelian Santa Claus - Pakkaine. Karelian Father Frost, or rather Morozets, is a red-haired, perky character. Unlike most of his New Year's colleagues, this is a very young character who appeared in the fairy-tale world quite recently. His distinctive feature is his cheerful, mischievous character. According to legend, Pakkaine was born in a frosty winter, when a trade train was returning from a fair to the city of Olonets (Karelia). When he was born, Pakkaine laughed, for which he was called the “cheerful Frost.” Growing up, Pakkaine, like his father, became a merchant. While traveling around the world, Morozets left his reflections in mirrors. By winter, all the reflections went to their homeland - to Olonets, where competitions were held to prove which of them was the real Pakkaine.

Cossack Santa Claus. Special features: a red caftan with gold epaulettes, a sash instead of a belt, and a cavalry saber on it. Place of residence: Kaliningrad. If you meet this eccentric old man, do not be surprised when he introduces himself as follows: “World Cossack Father Frost Vasily Petrovich Pestryakov-Golovaty.” Yes, it was he, Major General of the Cossack Troops, who came up with the image of the Cossack Father Frost. He plays this role of a wizard. You rarely see Motley-Golovaty at kindergarten Christmas trees. Most often - at New Year's matinees in cadet corps and Suvorov schools, where he talks about patriotic education to future defenders of the fatherland. Because “raising love for the Motherland in the younger generation on the basis of traditional and universal values” is one of the seven goals that the World Cossack Father Frost sets for himself.

Kabardino-Balkarian Father Frost - Wes-Dade. Kabardino-Balkarian Father Frost Wes Dade (“Dade” means “grandfather”) is a rather secretive person. Little is known reliably about him, but in general he is a typical highlander - with a beard, a dagger and a traditional pile of gifts, although he often dresses not in national clothes, but in the traditional red fur coat of Father Frost.

Buryat Santa Claus - Sagan Ubugun. The White Old Man of Buryatia - Sagan Ubugun - is one of the main characters of the Sagaalgan holiday ("White Month") - one of the most famous holidays of the Mongol-speaking peoples, which coincides with the onset of the New Year. The cult of Sagaan Ubugun was widespread among the Mongol-speaking peoples for more than two and a half thousand years and dates back to the pre-Buddhist period. The white elder is revered as the patron of longevity, wealth, happiness, family well-being, procreation, fertility, the lord of wild animals, people and domestic animals, geniuses (spirits) of the earth, water, the lord of the mountains, earth and water. It is believed that peace and prosperity come with his appearance, he brings peace, tranquility and balance in all human affairs and endeavors to those who revere him. His image goes back to the myths about God - the wife of the Earth, the patron of fertility and longevity. The White Old Man is depicted as a hermit with a staff in his hands, the touch of which gives long life, sitting at the entrance to a cave under a peach tree. New Year in Buryatia is celebrated according to the lunar calendar - February 3. To celebrate the White Month, or Sagaalgan, the White Elder invites guests to Lake Baikal. If you meet him on a holiday and tell him about how many good deeds you have done over the past year, then the White Elder can generously bestow health, love of loved ones and material well-being in the coming year.

So, Santa Clauses of different peoples of Russia:

Santa Clauses in other countries:

Soon the New Year will be knocking on the door of every home... More precisely, Santa Claus will be knocking... Or maybe it will be cute brownies in knitted caps?! Or the beautiful fairy Befana?! We need to figure out who to expect on New Year's Eve.

This is what they are like, these Santa Clauses:

• 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—St. Nicholas. As the legend goes, he left golden apples in a shoe in front of the fireplace for the family who sheltered him. It 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 a Moorish servant, Black Peter, who carries a bag of gifts for obedient children on 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. In addition to him, the good fairy Befana (La Befana) comes to obedient children and gives gifts. The naughty ones get a coal from the evil sorceress Befana.
• Spain - Papa Noel
• Kazakhstan - Ayaz-ata
• Kalmykia - Zul
• Cambodia - Ded Zhar
• Karelia - Pakkainen
• China - Sho Hin, Sheng Dan Laoren
• Colombia - Papa Pascual
• Mongolia - Uvlin Uvgun, accompanied by Zazan Okhin (Snow Maiden) and Shina Zhila (New Year boy). 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 holds an ice staff and a bag of gifts.
• Romania - Mos Jerile
• Savoie - Saint Chalande
• Uzbekistan - Korbobo and Korgyz (Snow Maiden). On New Year's Eve, a “snow grandfather” in a striped robe rides into Uzbek villages 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, Père Noel. The French "Father January" walks with a staff and wears a wide-brimmed hat.
• Czech Republic - Ded Mikulas
• Sweden - Krise Kringl, Yulnissan, Yul Tomten (Yolotomten)
• Japan - Oji-san

All Santa Clauses bring gifts, but each one does it in his own way:

• Russian Santa Claus puts a gift under the Christmas tree.
• The English and Irish find gifts in a sock, and Mexicans find gifts in a shoe.
• New Year's gifts are dumped down the chimney in France, and onto the balcony in Spain.
• In Sweden, Santa Claus puts gifts near the stove, and in Germany he leaves them on the windowsill.

Santa Clauses - they are all so different! They look different, one is kind, and the other can scold. Everyone has their own personal way of getting into a holiday home.

But no matter what you are, Santa Claus, you are there to congratulate and give a gift!

In Russia

The main fairy-tale character of the New Year holidays is Father Frost. A kind grandfather with a long snow-white beard wears a red, blue, light blue or white fur coat. In his hands he has a magic staff and a bag of gifts. Santa Claus rides on a sleigh drawn by three horses. The winter wizard is accompanied by his granddaughter Snow Maiden, and sometimes Boy New Year- a boy in a red fur coat and a hat with the number of the coming year on a sling.

In addition to the main wizard Santa Claus, many regions of Russia have their own winter wizards:

* in Yakutia - the lord of the cold Chyskhaan,
* in Chuvashia - Hel Muchi,
* in Udmurtia - Tol Babai,
* in Bashkortostan and Tatarstan - Kysh Babai,
* in Karelia - Pakkaine(“Frost” translated from Karelian language),
* in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug - .

In Belarus and Ukraine

They call Grandfather Frost Dzed Maroz or Zyuzya, A - Santa Claus.

What are other names for Father Frost and Snow Maiden in different countries?

* In Armenia : Dzmer Papi (Grandfather Winter) And Djunanushik.
* In Azerbaijan : Mine Baba And Gargyz.
* In Kyrgyzstan : Ayaz Ata And Ayaz Kyz (Snow Maiden).
* In Kazakhstan : Ayaz Ata And Akshakar (Snow White).

It's funny what they call Santa Claus In Bulgaria — Uncle Mraz.

In Moldova and Romania

Santa Claus and - ( Grandfather Christmas) - wears a red sheepskin coat and a tall kushma hat made of sheep fur, like a general’s hat. The kind grandfather is accompanied not by his granddaughter Snegurochka, but by a small tame lamb.

In Mongolia

Santa Claus in Mongolia - Uvlin Uvgun— wears the traditional clothes of a cattle breeder: a long sheepskin coat and a large fox fur hat. The Mongolian Santa Claus is holding a whip, which reminds children to behave well. Uvlin Uvgun comes to the holiday with Zazan Ohin (Girl Snow) And Shine Gil (Boy New Year).

In North America and Western Europe

Santa Claus (Christmas Santa) is the North American and Western European Santa Claus. Santa is a kind, well-fed grandfather with a wide snow-white beard and a large mustache. Father Christmas wears red pants and a red sheepskin coat with white fur trim. Santa Claus travels on a magical sleigh drawn by reindeer.

In France

New Year's holidays come Pere Noel (Father Christmas) And Pere Fouétard (Grandfather with rods). Père Noel looks exactly like Santa Claus from . Père Fouétard is a bearded old man in a dark cloak and fur hat, and carries a basket of rods on his back. Père Noël gives gifts to obedient children, and Père Fouétard raises naughty, capricious children.

In Spain and the Basque Country

Santa Claus is called Papa Noel (Daddy Christmas), and the Basque Country has its own winter wizard - Olentzero. Olentzero is dressed in traditional clothes, wears a black beret, and always carries a small flask of good Spanish wine and a pipe of tobacco.

In Germany

In Germany, winter holidays come St Nicholas (Nicholas the Wonderworker) And Knight Ruprecht. Saint Nicholas gives gifts to obedient children, and Knight Ruprecht gives parents of disobedient children sticks for punishment.

In Italy

The Italian Santa Claus is called Babbo Natale, but besides him there is another fabulous New Year’s character - Befana. Befana is an old witch, but very kind. A little old lady in an old raincoat flies into the house on a broomstick through the chimney and fills children's stockings hanging by the fireplace with gifts. However, only obedient children receive gifts, and Befana puts ash and coals in their stockings for naughty and capricious children. Caring Italians leave a glass of wine or a cup of coffee with cookies on the fireplace for the little witch, and Befana, in turn, can sweep the floor with a magic broom for the generous owner of the house before leaving.

In Norway

In Norway, Christmas gifts are delivered from home to home Julenisse. Yulenisse is a little old man with a white beard, a kind of Santa dwarf. The magic gnome carries gifts in a cart drawn by a snow-white Christmas goat, which is called Yulebukk.

In the Czech Republic

There are many fairy-tale New Year characters, one of them is Grandfather Mikulash. A kind grandfather with a large snow-white beard carries gifts in a shoulder box. Grandfather Mikulash does not come to the holiday alone: ​​he is accompanied by an angel and an imp. An angel gives gifts to obedient children, and a shaggy little devil playfully scolds naughty children.

In Finland

Joulupukki- Father Frost

The Snow Maiden is children's favorite New Year's guest, who accompanies Father Frost everywhere, helps him prepare and present gifts. From a literary character, she turned into a mandatory “attribute” of the holiday, symbolizing gentle beauty and meekness. A good granddaughter obeys her grandfather in everything and follows all his instructions. He cites her as an example for children who are capricious and disobedient.

In paintings from the first half of the 19th century, the Snow Maiden appears as a little girl, and only later does she acquire the features of a young beauty with a long braid. A fur hat or kokoshnik crown is the preferred headdress of the Russian Snow Maiden.

Do Santa Clauses have assistants in other countries?
With such a fabulous biography as that of the Snow Maiden - no, but there are characters who are just as loved, known and desired by children of different nations. In Italy, this is the fairy Befana, the Mongolian Snow Maiden is called Zazan Okhin, and the German one is Kristinda. The Swedes also have their own legendary heroine - Lucia.
Although the Italian Befana is not as gentle and beautiful as the Russian Snow Maiden - an old woman with a hooked nose - her arrival is a real holiday for children. The Good Fairy flies in on her broom, bringing with her gifts in a mended bag. Similar to the American Santa Claus, a sorceress in worn-out shoes descends the chimney and places gifts in socks that have been previously hung by children and their parents. Candy and all kinds of toys await the obedient and kind, and charcoal - special candy that turns the tongue black - awaits the naughty and naughty.

The origin story of Befana is known to all children in Italy. She was not a fairy tale character. An ordinary old woman from Bethlehem, who was busy with household chores from morning to evening, was so busy that she refused to take the 3 Magi to little Jesus. So, to this day, the Befana Fairy on her broom is looking for the infant Christ with the only desire - to correct the unfortunate mistake. To atone for her guilt, she gives gifts to the children, and at the same time, she gets into the house. In return, the housewives leave treats for the kind Befana - an orange and a glass of wine.

The Mongolian Santa Claus, Uvlin Uvgun, has 2 assistants at once - the boy Zhin Shin (New Year) and Zazan Okhin or, as she is otherwise called, the Snow Girl. Zazan Okhin loves to ask riddles, and gives a gift only after he hears the answer.

Everywhere accompanying the formidable German Weinachtsman is the meek and beautiful Christkind. She always dresses in a long white outfit, covers her head with a veil, and in her hand holds a basket of fruits, sweets, and nuts. Kind Christkind leaves a chance for naughty children to receive a gift. They sing songs for her and read poems.

Although the Swedish Snow Maiden is usually called the girl Lucia (Queen of Light), the story of her origin is tragic and goes back to past centuries. In Sweden, the holiday of St. Lucia is dedicated to her, which in the Middle Ages was accompanied by superstitious rituals. Today the tradition of celebration has changed radically. Lisia wears a long white dress, tied with a red ribbon at the waist, and on her head there must be a wreath of lingonberries, into which lit wax candles are inserted. The light emanating from them resembles a halo. The girl symbolizes the little Christ and is considered the patron saint of children.

Snow Maidens of the former CIS countries
Unlike the European assistants of Father Frost, the Snow Maidens of the republics of the former Soviet Union are reminiscent of the Russian beauty. In Armenia it is Dzyunanushik (Snowy Anush). She wears a long fur coat decorated with gold/silver embroidery and fur trim, and on her head is a luxurious kokoshnik crown.
In Uzbekistan, grandfather Korbobo is accompanied everywhere by Korgyz. She is known for her talent as a needlewoman, so she makes all the gifts with her own hands.