The story of the staff of Santa Claus. The prototype of Santa Claus is a real person from Asia Minor

Santa Claus- the main fairy-tale character at the New Year's holiday, the Slavic version of the Christmas giver. The creation of the canonical image of Santa Claus as an obligatory character on the New Year - not Christmas - holiday took place in Soviet times and dates back to the end of the 1930s, when, after several years of banning, the tree was again allowed. The prototypes of Santa Claus are the character of Slavic fairy tale folklore and calendar rites and Saint Nicholas.

Santa Claus is depicted as an old man in a colored - blue, blue, red or white fur coat, with a long white beard and a staff in his hand, in felt boots. Rides three horses. Often comes accompanied by a granddaughter Snow Maiden, and in the days of the USSR, it happened, and New Year- a boy in a red fur coat and a hat (one of these items of clothing often had a digital designation of the coming / coming year). The New Year boy acted as a kind of successor to Santa Claus; most often he was depicted in new year cards the late 1950s - mid 1980s, and in one of the cartoons he is even allegedly the grandson of Santa Claus and flies on an airplane, after which the popularity of this character began to fall 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 a thud. The image of Frost is reflected in Russian proverbs, sayings, and fairy tales. For example, in fairy tales, Frost appears as a magic helper, acting under the nicknames "Studenets", "Treskunets", or as a donor with the right behavior fairytale hero(see Morozko). The snowy frosty winter, in the view of the Slavic farmer, was associated with a good future harvest. This was judged by the presence of Christmas or Epiphany frosts. Therefore, on Christmastide and Maundy Thursday, it was customary to perform the rite of "click of the frost": he was invited to a meal and treated with ritual food - pancakes and booze. At that time, the souls of deceased ancestors were called to the house in the same way, and kutia was a traditional memorial meal among the Slavs. Frost food 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 "The Tales of Grandfather Irenaeus" 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 folklore and ritual Frost, who previously acted only as a pagan host of cold and winter cold.

The image created by Odoevsky is not yet very similar to the familiar New Year character. The calendar confinement of a fairy tale is not Christmas or New Year and 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 come to him. He does not make any gifts for a certain date, although he can generously reward for a job well done. However, as the researcher writes:

... this image is already recognizable: "good Moroz Ivanovich" - "gray-haired" old man who "as 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 presents the needlewoman with a “handful of silver patches” for her good work, but he does not freeze Leninitsa either (like Morozko's old woman's daughter in a fairy tale), but only teaches her a lesson, giving her an icicle instead of silver ... fabulous Morozko 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 took place in the second half of the 19th century, when the first attempts to create an original “Christmas grandfather” were noted in the urban environment of Russia, who would give gifts to Russian children, like Nikolai Ugodnik among their Western peers. Under Alexander II, mention is made of "old Ruprecht" (clearly of German origin, 1861), St. Nicholas or "Grandfather Nicholas" (1870) - isolated attempts that did not take root. However, popular beliefs 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 Santa Claus was already taking shape. At the same time, from the illustrated translations of Valery Karrik, the tale of Morozko becomes familiar to English-speaking readers. In the translation, Morozko appears under the name "King Frost".

Santa Claus returned to Soviet use 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 offer to return Santa Claus), after which New Year's events are being organized across the country using the rethought old "Christmas" paraphernalia. The official solemn return of Santa Claus happened very soon. In the first in the USSR, the Kharkov Palace of Pioneers (opened in 1935), on December 30, 1935, the first official in the USSR after the "rehabilitation" Christmas tree... And in January 1937, Father Frost and Snegurochka greeted guests at a celebration in the Moscow House of Unions.

Soviet cinema also played an important role in the formation of the new image of Santa Claus.

Santa Claus and Orthodoxy[ | ]

The situation with several all-Russian Santa Clauses, including Lapland and Veliky Ustyug, was resolved as follows: since Santa Claus is a wizard, he can be both in Lapland and in Veliky Ustyug. If the Lapland Nature Reserve is not indicated on children's letters to Santa Claus, then they are delivered to Veliky Ustyug.

On December 25, 1999 in Veliky Ustyug the grand opening of the "House of Father Frost" took place. Tourist trains go to the city from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vologda and other cities of Russia. 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 start of the project, Santa Claus has received over a million letters from children from various countries, and the turnover in the city has grown 15 times and unemployment has decreased.

The Moscow estate of Father Frost was created within the framework of interregional project“Veliky Ustyug - the Motherland of Father Frost”. In 2004, the mayor of Moscow, Yu. M. Luzhkov, and the prefect of the South-Eastern district of the capital, VB Zotov, decided to build the Santa Claus Mail, the grand opening of which took place a year later. In 2006, four new objects were opened in the Estate: the Snegurochka 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 Santa Claus was given the status of a state budgetary institution... The founder of the Estate is the Moscow Public Relations Committee. The estate is open all year round, the main activity falls on the period from November 18 - the birthday of Santa Claus, until mid-January. Throughout the year, the manor hosts holiday concerts, game programs, master classes, excursions to the Post Office and the winter wizards' towers, various events with public organizations. More than 20 thousand letters are sent to the estate annually.

At the end of December 2011, a fabulous residence appeared in Murmansk. The house of Lapland's Father Frost was erected there on the territory of the Murmansk Lights park.

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

In Belarus [ | ]

Belarusian Santa Claus in his autumn outfit.

Belarusian Santa Claus is dressed in a long fur coat up to his toes, leans on a magic staff, does not wear glasses, does not smoke a pipe, leads healthy image life and does not suffer from 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 Santa Claus, he wrote the books How I Was Santa Claus and Santa Claus and His Relatives (together with the Director General of the National Park Nikolai Bambiza).

The total area of ​​the estate is 15 hectares. In addition to the House of Santa Claus itself, the estate also has a separate house for the Snow Maiden, the Treasury (Belorussian Skarbnitsa), where gifts and letters sent by children are kept, and the Museum of Santa Claus. On the territory of the residence grows, as they mistakenly say in the national park, "the highest in Europe" forty-meter natural spruce, which is 120 years old.

The estate is decorated with numerous wooden statues of various fairytale characters, a model of a mill and a "magic" well. The branch of Ded Moroz's mailbox is located in the Minsk park. Gorky.

Some journalists believe that the Sovietized image of the patron saint of the New Year has replaced the natively revered among Ukrainians Christian patron Saint Nicholas (Ukrainian saints Mykolaj), who brings gifts to children (mykolajci) on the night of December 18-19 and puts them under the pillow (see. Nikola Zimny). Before the revolution in Russian Empire New Year fell on the ancient holiday of Melania (Ukrainian. Malanka) or Generous evening and had its own attributes and rituals.

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

Since 2014 he has been living on the territory of the National Expocentre of Ukraine and on the territory of the Kievan Rus park.

In Soviet and Russian cinema[ | ]

New Year is the brightest, most beloved and expected holiday. People all over the world celebrate it with pleasure, but few people know the story of the New Year in Russia and in Russia.

Due to traditions, customs and religion different nations celebrate the New Year in their own way. The process of preparing for the holiday, like the memories associated with it, evokes feelings of joy, care, happiness, love and pleasure.

The day before new year holidays in every house work is in progress full swing. Someone is decorating a Christmas tree, someone is cleaning the house or apartment, someone is making a festive menu, and someone amicably decides where to celebrate the New Year.

History of the New Year in Russia

New Year is a favorite holiday of the inhabitants of our country. They prepare for it, wait with great impatience, greet it cheerfully and leave it in memory for a long time in the form of pleasant pictures, vivid emotions and positive feelings.

Few are interested in history. And in vain, I tell you, dear readers. It is very interesting and long-lasting.

History up to 1700

In 998, the Kiev prince Vladimir introduced Christianity to Russia. After that, the change of years took place on March 1. In some cases, the event fell on the day of Holy Easter. This chronology existed until the end of the 15th century.

At the beginning of 1492, by order of Tsar Ivan III, September 1 began to be considered the beginning of the year. In order for the people to respect the "September change of years", the tsar allowed peasants and noblemen to visit the Kremlin that day in search of the sovereign's favor. However, the people could not abandon the church chronology. For two hundred years the country had two calendars and constant confusion in dates.

History after 1700

Peter the Great decided to rectify the situation. At the end of December 1699, he promulgated an imperial decree, according to which the change of years began to be celebrated on the first of January. Thanks to Peter the Great, confusion arose in Russia in the change of eras. He threw away one year and ordered to consider the beginning of the new century exactly 1700. In other countries, the countdown of the new century began in 1701. The Russian tsar made a mistake by 12 months, so in Russia the change of eras was celebrated a year earlier.

Peter the Great strove to introduce a European way of life in Russia. Therefore, he ordered to celebrate the New Year according to the European model. The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree for New Year's holidays was borrowed from the Germans, for whom the evergreen tree symbolized fidelity, longevity, immortality and youth.

Peter issued a decree according to which decorated pine and juniper branches should be displayed in front of each courtyard on New Year's holidays. The rich population was obliged to decorate entire trees.

Initially, vegetables, fruits, nuts and sweets were used to decorate the coniferous tree. Lanterns, toys and decorative objects appeared on the tree much later. The Christmas tree first sparkled with lights only in 1852. It was installed at the Catherine Station in St. Petersburg.

Until the end of his days, Peter the Great made sure that the New Year in Russia was celebrated as solemnly as in European states. On the eve of the holiday, the tsar congratulated people, presented gifts to the nobles from his own hands, presented expensive souvenirs to favorites, actively participated in fun and festivities at the court.

The emperor arranged gorgeous masquerades in the palace and ordered fireworks and cannons to be staged on New Year's Eve. Thanks to the efforts of Peter I in Russia, the celebration of the New Year became secular, not religious.

The Russian people had to go through many changes until the New Year's date stopped at January 1st.

The story of the appearance of Santa Claus

The Christmas tree is not the only desirable attribute of the New Year. There is also a character who brings New Year's gifts. You guessed it, this is Santa Claus.

The age of this kind fabulous grandfather is over 1000 years old, and the story of the appearance of Santa Claus is completely a mystery for many.

It is not known exactly where Santa Claus came from. Each country has its own opinion. Some peoples consider Santa Claus a descendant of dwarfs, others are sure that his ancestors are wandering jugglers from the Middle Ages, and others consider him Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker.

Video story

The prototype of Santa Claus - Saint Nicholas

At the end of the 10th century, the eastern peoples created the cult of Nikolai Mirsky, the patron saint of thieves, brides, sailors and children. He was known for his asceticism and good deeds. After his death, Nikolai Mirsky was given the status of a saint.

The remains of Nikolai Mirsky were kept in the eastern church for many years, but in the 11th century it was robbed by Italian pirates. They transported the relics of the saint to Italy. The parishioners of the church are left to pray for the preservation of the ashes of St. Nicholas.

After some time, the cult of the miracle worker began to spread in the countries of Western and Central Europe... IN European countries it was called by different names. In Germany - Nikalaus, in Holland - Klaas, in England - Klaus. In the form of a white-bearded old man, he moved through the streets on a donkey or horse and handed out to children from a bag new Year gifts.

A little later, Santa Claus began to appear at Christmas as well. Not all churchmen liked it, because the holiday is dedicated to Christ. Therefore, Christ began to give gifts as well, in the form of young girls in white clothes. By that time, people got used to the image of Nicholas the Wonderworker and could not imagine the New Year holidays without him. As a result, grandfather got a young companion.

The attire of this fabulous old man also changed significantly. Initially, he wore a cloak, but in the 19th century in Holland he was dressed up as a chimney sweep. He cleared chimneys and dropped gifts into them. By the end of the 19th century, Santa Claus was awarded a red coat with a fur collar. The outfit was fixed for him for a long time.

Santa Claus in Russia

Fans of festive symbols believed that the domestic Santa Claus should have a homeland. At the end of 1998, the city of Veliky Ustyug, which is located in the northern part of the Vologda region, was declared his residence.

Some believe that Santa Claus is a descendant of the spirit of cold frost. Over time, the image of this character has changed. Initially, it was a white-bearded old man in felt boots with a long staff and a bag. He gave gifts to obedient children, and raised the negligent with a stick.

Later, Santa Claus became a kinder old man. He was not involved in educational activities, but simply told the children scary stories. Later still he gave up horror stories. As a result, the image became only kind.

Santa Claus is a guarantee of fun, dancing and gifts, which turns an ordinary day into a true holiday.

The story of the appearance of the Snow Maiden

Who is the Snow Maiden? This is a young girl with a long braid in a beautiful fur coat and warm boots. She is Santa Claus's companion and helps him distribute New Year's gifts.

Folklore

The story of the appearance of the Snow Maiden is not as long as that of Santa Claus. The appearance of the Snow Maiden is obliged to the Old Russian folklore traditions... Everyone knows this folk tale.

To his delight, an old man and an old woman blinded the Snow Maiden from the white snow. The snow girl came to life, received the gift of speech and began to live with the old people at home.

The girl was kind, sweet and beautiful. She had long blonde hair and blue eyes. On the arrival of spring with sunny days, the Snow Maiden began to feel sad. She was invited to take a walk and jump over a large fire. After the jump, she was gone, as the hot flame melted her.

Regarding the appearance of the Snow Maiden, we can say that its authors are three artists - Roerich, Vrubel and Vasentsov. In their paintings, they portrayed the Snow Maiden in a snow-white sundress and a bandage on her head.

We started celebrating the New Year long ago. Every year something changed and added, but the main traditions have passed through the centuries. People regardless social status and financial opportunity to have fun with the New Year holidays. They decorate the house, cook, buy gifts.

And during the times of the USSR, it happened, and New Year- a boy in a red fur coat and a hat (one of these items of clothing often had a digital designation of the coming / coming year). The New Year boy acted as a kind of successor to Santa Claus; most often he was depicted on New Year cards of the late 1950s - mid 1980s, 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 a thud. The image of Frost is reflected in Russian proverbs, sayings, and fairy tales. For example, in fairy tales Frost appears as a magic helper, acting under the nicknames "Studenets", "Treskunets", or as a donor with the correct behavior of the fairytale hero (see Morozko). The snowy frosty winter in the view of the Slavic farmer was associated with a good future harvest. This was judged by the presence of Christmas or Epiphany frosts. Therefore, on Christmastide and Maundy Thursday, it was customary to perform the rite of "click of the frost": he was invited to a meal and treated with ritual food - pancakes and booze. At that time, the souls of deceased ancestors were called to the house in the same way, and kutia was a traditional memorial meal among the Slavs. Frost food 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

Ded Moroz entered the literary tradition in 1840 - with the publication of the collection of fairy tales "The Tales of Grandfather Irenaeus" by VF Odoevsky. The collection included the fairy tale "Moroz Ivanovich", which for the first time gave a literary interpretation of the image of folklore and ritual Frost, who previously acted only as a pagan host of cold and winter cold.

The image created by Odoevsky is not yet very similar to the familiar New Year character. The calendar confinement 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 come to him. He does not make any gifts for a certain date, although he can generously reward for a job well done. However, as the researcher writes:

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

After the revolution, Santa Claus, along with all the Christmas traditions, was persecuted. His final exile took place on the eve of 1929. Then Christmas was declared a normal working day, and special patrols walked the streets and looked through the windows to identify holiday preparations.

Santa Claus returned to Soviet use 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 newspaper Pravda, where he proposed organizing a New Year celebration for children, after which New Year events began to be organized throughout the country using the rethought old " Christmas paraphernalia. The official solemn return of Santa Claus happened very soon. In the first in the USSR, the Kharkov Palace of Pioneers (opened in 1935), on December 30, 1935, the first official New Year tree in the USSR after the "rehabilitation" was held. And in January 1937, Father Frost and Snegurochka greeted guests at a celebration in the Moscow House of Unions.

Soviet cinema also played an important role in the formation of the new image of Santa Claus.

Santa Claus and Orthodoxy

The situation with several all-Russian Santa Clauses, including Lapland and Veliky Ustyug, was resolved as follows: since Santa Claus is a wizard, he can be both in Lapland and in Veliky Ustyug. If the Lapland Nature Reserve is not indicated on children's letters to Santa Claus, then they are delivered to Veliky Ustyug.

On December 25, 1999 in Veliky Ustyug the grand opening of the "House of Father Frost" took place. Tourist trains go to the city from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vologda and other cities of Russia. 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 start of the project, Santa Claus has received over a million letters from children from various countries, and the turnover in the city has grown 15 times and unemployment has decreased.

The Moscow estate of Ded Moroz was created within the framework of the interregional project “Veliky Ustyug - the Motherland of Ded Moroz”. In 2004, the mayor of Moscow, Yu. M. Luzhkov, and the prefect of the South-Eastern district of the capital, VB Zotov, decided to build the Santa Claus Mail, the grand opening of which took place a year later. In 2006, four new objects were opened in the Estate: the Snegurochka 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 the status of a state budgetary institution. The founder of the Estate is the Moscow Public Relations Committee. The estate is open all year round, the main activity falls on the period from November 18 - the birthday of Santa Claus, until mid-January. Throughout the year, the estate hosts festive concerts, game programs, master classes, excursions to the Post Office and the winter wizards' towers, and various events with public organizations. More than 20 thousand letters are sent to the estate annually.

At the end of December 2011, a fabulous residence appeared in Murmansk. The house of Lapland's Father Frost was erected there on the territory of the Murmansk Lights park.

In addition to the "national" Father Frosts with residences in Arkhangelsk, Veliky Ustyug and Chunozero, their "colleagues" of other peoples are also known in the territory of the Russian Federation. For example, in Karelia near Petrozavodsk, you can visit Pakkaine (translated from the Livvik dialect of the Karelian language Morozets). This hero, however, is quite far from the usual image. He is middle-aged, he has no beard, and he lives in a great plague.

Santa Claus in Belarus

In Belarus, Ded Moroz (Belarusian Dzed Maroz) also now has his official residence. On December 25, 2003, on the territory of the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, Belarusian Father Frost and Snegurochka greeted the first guests in his estate. Since then, Santa Claus all year round, and not only on New Year's Eve, cordially welcomes guests in his possessions. During the first five years of the Manor's operation, more than 340 thousand tourists from 70 countries of the world have visited here.

Belarusian Santa Claus is dressed in a long fur coat up to his heels, leans on a magic staff, does not wear glasses, does not smoke a pipe, leads a healthy lifestyle and does not suffer from noticeable obesity. The very first official Santa Claus in Belovezhskaya Pushcha was Vyacheslav Semakov, deputy director of the Belarusian National Park "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" for research work. About his two-year career as Santa Claus, he wrote the books How I Was Santa Claus and Santa Claus and His Relatives (together with the Director General of the National Park Nikolai Bambiza).

The total area of ​​the fabulous estate is 15 hectares. In addition to the House of Santa Claus itself, the estate also has a separate house for the Snow Maiden, the Treasury (Belorussian Skarbnitsa), where gifts and letters sent by children are kept, and the Museum of Santa Claus. On the territory of the residence grows, as they mistakenly say in the national park, "the highest 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 Ded Moroz's mailbox is located in the Minsk park. Gorky.

Belarusian Santa Claus has its own website, where, among other things, you can see some of the children's drawings sent as a gift to Santa Claus. Belarusian Santa Claus receives 1,500 letters every day and almost all messages with a return address are answered.

There is an opinion that the creation of the Father Frost Estate on the site of the former bison nursery in Pushcha violated the environmental legislation of the Republic of Belarus and introduced elements of landscape gardening design alien to the relict forest, and also caused great concern for the Pushcha population of bison.

Santa Claus in Ukraine

In Ukraine, Ded Moroz (Ukrainian Did Moroz) is widely known, but does not have his official residence. Santa Claus is "competing" to St. Nicholas, who since 2004 has a residence in the village of Pistyn in Ivano-Frankivsk region, where he receives local and foreign guests, and in 2007 he paid a courtesy visit to Ustyug - the residence Russian grandfather Frost.

Some journalists believe that the Sovietized image of the patron saint of the New Year has replaced the natively revered among Ukrainians Christian patron Saint Nicholas (Ukrainian saints Mykolaj), who brings gifts to children (mykolajci) on the night of December 18-19 and puts them under the pillow (see. Nikola Zimny). Before the revolution in the 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 Kiev Vitaliy Klitschko signed a decree that the main Christmas tree of Ukraine should move from Independence Square to one of the oldest squares in Kiev - Sophia Square. Celebration of the New Year will take place with the participation of St. Nicholas. The organizers talk about the desire to restore the ancient traditions of celebrating the New Year.

In December 2015, representatives of the public of Ivano-Frankivsk appealed to the city authorities with a proposal to abandon the celebration in educational institutions New Year with the participation of Santa Claus in favor of the Nativity of Christ with St. Nicholas.

Art films

• "Morozko" (1965) - the role of Morozko is played by Alexander Khvylya
• The Snow Maiden (1968) - Pyotr Nikashin.
• "Gentlemen of Fortune" (1971) - teacher Troshkin (Evgeny Leonov) changes into the mask of Santa Claus
• "New Years Adventures of Masha and Viti" (1975) - Igor Efimov plays the role of Santa Claus
• "Sorcerers" (1982) - Kivrin dresses up as Santa Claus (Valery Zolotukhin)

Image gallery

New Year stamps of Ukraine Santa Claus.jpg

Ukrainian brand 2011

see also

Write a review on the article "Santa Claus"

Notes (edit)

1. (Russian). Government of the Vologda Oblast.
2. (Russian). INTERFAX.RU. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
3. (Russian). Russian Ethnographic Museum. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
4. Odoevsky V.F.// Fairy tales of grandfather Irenaeus.
5. Shigarova, Julia.// Arguments and Facts - StoPersonality. - 2013. - No. 19 (49) of December 18... - S. 4. (Retrieved January 9, 2016)
6. Carrick V.// More Russian picture tales. - 1914.
7. Minaeva, Anna.// Moscow news. - 2003. - No. 49. (Retrieved January 9, 2016)
8. Ilyich, Larisa.// Evening Kharkov. - 2007. - No. for December 21. (Retrieved January 9, 2016)
9. Leskov S.... // News of Science (December 28, 2006). Retrieved December 1, 2011.
10. Salnikov A.// Blagovestnik: Vologda diocesan newspaper. - 2000. - No. 12.
12. . . ... December 17, 2003
13. Cheryomushkina I.... RIA Novosti (November 17, 2009). ...
14. . . ... "World of news" No. 2 (836) 2012
15. (Russian). Arguments and Facts - Northwest (November 16, 2011). Retrieved December 1, 2011.
16. .
17. .
18. . . - December 29, 2011
19. Ponomareva V.(Russian). ShkolaZhizni.ru (December 28, 2009). Retrieved December 1, 2011.
20. see VP: NAMES
21. (Russian). site of the Brest region. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
22. (Russian). Retrieved December 14, 2011.
23. (Russian). TUT.BY. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
24. (Russian). Retrieved December 14, 2011.
25. (Russian). Retrieved December 14, 2011.
26. (Russian). Retrieved December 14, 2011.
27. (Latvian) (English)
28. (Russian). Retrieved December 14, 2011.
29. (Russian). Retrieved December 14, 2011.
30. (Russian). Retrieved December 14, 2011.
31. (Russian). Retrieved December 14, 2011.
32. (Russian). Retrieved December 14, 2011.
33. see VP: NaUkr
34. (Ukrainian)
35. (Ukrainian). Retrieved December 14, 2011.
36. Klimonchuk O.(Ukrainian) // Day: newspaper. - 2010. - No. 232-233.
37. (Ukrainian). Retrieved December 14, 2011.
39. (Ukrainian)
40. (Ukrainian)
41. ... RIA Novosti Ukraine. Retrieved December 8, 2015.

Literature

• Adonyeva S. B. History of the modern New Year's tradition // Mythology and everyday life: collection. - SPb. : IRLI RAN, 1999. - Issue. 2. - S. 372.
• E. V. Dushechkina// Otechestvennye zapiski: journal. - M., 2003. - No. 1.
• E. V. Dushechkina: report. - SPb. : IRLI RAN, 2000.
• E. V. Dushechkina The history of Santa Claus in Russia // Russian Christmas tree. History, mythology, literature. - SPb. : Norint, 2002 .-- ISBN 5771101265.
• E. V. Dushechkina// Science and Life: Journal. - 2008. - No. 1.
• Georgy Borodin. . animator.ru(Oct 2001 - Oct 2007).

Links

• (Russian). ...

An excerpt characterizing Santa Claus

Kutuzov, through his spy, received news on November 1, which put the army under his command in an almost hopeless position. The scout reported that the French in huge forces, having crossed the Vienna bridge, headed for the route of communication between Kutuzov and the troops coming from Russia. If Kutuzov had decided to stay in Krems, then Napoleon's 1,500-strong army would cut him off from all communications, surround him with an exhausted 40,000-strong army, and he would be in the position of Mack near Ulm. If Kutuzov had decided to leave the road leading to communications with the troops from Russia, then he had to enter without a road into the unknown lands of the Bohemian
mountains, defending themselves from the superior forces of the enemy, and abandon all hope of communication with Buxgewden. If Kutuzov had decided to retreat on the road from Krems to Olmutz to join forces from Russia, then he risked being warned on this road by the French who crossed the bridge in Vienna, and thus be forced to take battle on a campaign, with all the weights and carts, and dealing with an enemy three times superior to him and surrounding him on both sides.
Kutuzov chose this last way out.
The French, as the spy reported, crossing the bridge in Vienna, marched with an intensified march to Znaim, which lay on the path of Kutuzov's retreat, more than a hundred miles ahead of him. Reaching Znaim before the French meant getting a lot of hope for the salvation of the army; to let the French warn themselves in Znaim meant probably to subject the entire army to shame, similar to that of Ulm, or to general death. But it was impossible to warn the French with the whole army. The French road from Vienna to Znaim was shorter and better than the Russian road from Krems to Znaim.
On the night of receiving the news, Kutuzov sent the four-thousand-strong vanguard of Bagration to the right in the mountains from the Kremsko Znaim road to the Vienna Znaim road. Bagration had to pass this passage without rest, stop facing Vienna and his back to Znaim, and if he could have warned the French, he had to delay them as long as he could. Kutuzov himself with all the weights set off to Znaim.
Passing with hungry, barefoot soldiers, without a road, through the mountains, on a stormy night forty-five miles, having lost a third of the backward, Bagration went to Gollabrunn on the Vienna Znaim road several hours before the French, who approached Gollabrun from Vienna. Kutuzov had to march a whole day with his wagons in order to reach Znaim, and therefore, in order to save the army, Bagration had to hold the entire enemy army, which met him in Gollabrunn, with four thousand hungry, exhausted soldiers for 24 hours, which was obviously , impossible. But a strange fate made the impossible possible. The success of that deception, which without a fight put the Viennese bridge into the hands of the French, prompted Murat to try to deceive Kutuzov in the same way. Murat, meeting a weak detachment of Bagration on the Znaim road, thought that it was the entire army of Kutuzov. In order to undoubtedly crush this army, he was waiting for the troops lagging behind on the road from Vienna, and with this purpose he proposed an armistice for three days, on the condition that both troops did not change their positions and did not move. Murat assured that peace negotiations were already underway and that because, avoiding the useless shedding of blood, he was proposing an armistice. The Austrian general Count Nostitz, who was at the outposts, believed the words of the envoy Murat and retreated, opening Bagration's detachment. Another envoy went to the Russian chain to announce the same news of the peace talks and propose an armistice to the Russian troops for three days. Bagration replied that he could not or refuse to accept the truce, and with a report on the proposal made to him, he sent his adjutant to Kutuzov.
The truce for Kutuzov was the only way to gain time, to give rest to the exhausted detachment of Bagration and skip the carts and gravity (the movement of which was hidden from the French), although there was one extra crossing to Znaim. The armistice proposal offered the only and unexpected opportunity to save the army. Having received this news, Kutuzov immediately sent General Vincengerode, who was with him, to the enemy camp. Wintzingerode had not only to accept the truce, but also to offer the terms of surrender, and meanwhile Kutuzov sent his adjutants back to rush as far as possible the movement of the convoys of the entire army along the Kremsko Znaim road. The exhausted, hungry detachment of Bagration alone had to, covering this movement of the carts and the entire army, remain motionless in front of the enemy eight times the strongest.
Kutuzov's expectations came true both regarding the fact that the proposals of surrender, which were not binding, could give time for some of the carts to pass, and about the fact that Murat's mistake was to be revealed very soon. As soon as Bonaparte, who was in Schönbrunn, 25 versts from Gollabrunn, received Murat's report and the draft of an armistice and surrender, he saw the deception and wrote the following letter to Murat:
Au prince Murat. Schoenbrunn, 25 brumaire en 1805 a huit heures du matin.
"II m" est impossible de trouver des termes pour vous exprimer mon mecontentement. Vous ne commandez que mon avant garde et vous n "avez pas le droit de faire d" armistice sans mon ordre. Vous me faites perdre le fruit d "une campagne ... Rompez l "armistice sur le champ et Mariechez a l" ennemi. Vous lui ferez declarer, que le general qui a signe cette capitulation, n "avait pas le droit de le faire, qu" il n "y a que l" Empereur de Russie qui ait ce droit.
"Toutes les fois cependant que l" Empereur de Russie ratifierait la dite convention, je la ratifierai; mais ce n "est qu" une ruse. Mariechez, detruisez l "armee russe ... vous etes en position de prendre son bagage et son artiller.
"L" aide de camp de l "Empereur de Russie est un ... Les officiers ne sont rien quand ils n" ont pas de pouvoirs: celui ci n "en avait point ... Les Autrichiens se sont laisse jouer pour le passage du pont de Vienne , vous vous laissez jouer par un aide de camp de l "Empereur. Napoleon".
[To Prince Murat. Schönbrunn, 25 Brumaire 1805 8 o'clock in the morning.
I cannot find words to express my displeasure to you. You command only my vanguard and have no right to make a truce without my order. You are forcing me to lose the fruits of an entire campaign. Break the truce immediately and march against the enemy. You will announce to him that the general who signed this surrender had no right to this, and no one has, except Russian emperor.
However, if the Russian emperor agrees to the above condition, I will also agree; but this is nothing more than a trick. Go, destroy the Russian army ... You can take its carts and its artillery.
The general adjutant of the Russian emperor is a deceiver ... Officers do not mean anything when they do not have authority; he also does not have it ... The Austrians allowed themselves to be deceived when crossing the Vienna bridge, and you allow yourself to be deceived by the emperor's adjutants.
Napoleon.]
Adjutant Bonaparte galloped at full speed with this formidable letter to Murat. Bonaparte himself, not trusting his generals, with all his guards moved to the battlefield, fearing to miss a ready sacrifice, and the 4,000th detachment of Bagration, cheerfully laying fires, dried himself, heated himself, cooked porridge for the first time after three days, and none of the people of the detachment knew and did not think about what lay ahead of him.

At four o'clock in the evening, Prince Andrei, having insisted on his request from Kutuzov, arrived in Grunt and appeared to Bagration.
Bonaparte's adjutant had not yet arrived in Murat's detachment, and the battle had not yet begun. In Bagration's detachment, they did not know anything about the general course of affairs, they talked about peace, but did not believe in its possibility. They talked about the battle and also did not believe in the nearness of the battle. Bagration, knowing Bolkonsky for his beloved and trusted adjutant, received him with special superior distinction and condescension, explained to him that there would probably be a battle today or tomorrow, and gave him complete freedom to be with him during the battle or in the arieguard to observe the order of retreat , "Which was also very important."
- However, today, probably, there will be no business, - said Bagration, as if reassuring Prince Andrew.
“If this is one of the ordinary staff franchises sent to receive a cross, then he will receive a reward in the arieguard, and if he wants to be with me, let it ... come in handy, if he is a brave officer,” thought Bagration. Prince Andrew without answering, asked the prince's permission to go around the position and find out the disposition of the troops so that, in case of instructions, he knew where to go. The duty officer of the detachment, a handsome man, dapperly dressed and with a diamond ring on his index finger, who spoke French badly but willingly, volunteered to see Prince Andrew off.
On all sides one could see officers, wet, with sad faces, who seemed to be looking for something, and soldiers, dragging doors, benches and fences from the village.
- Well, we cannot, prince, get rid of this people, - said the headquarters officer, pointing at these people. - The commanders are disbanding. And here, - he pointed to the outstretched tent of the marketer, - they will go astray and sit. This morning I kicked everyone out: look, it's full again. We must drive up, prince, scare them. One minute.
“Let’s stop by, and I’ll take cheese and a roll from him,” said Prince Andrey, who had not yet had time to eat.
- What didn't you say, prince? I would suggest my bread of salt.
They dismounted and went under the tent of the marker. Several officers with flushed and exhausted faces sat at tables, drank and ate.
“Well, well, gentlemen,” said the headquarters officer in a tone of reproach, like a man who has already repeated the same thing several times. - After all, you can't leave like that. The prince ordered that no one was there. Well, here you are, Mr. Staff Captain, ”he turned to a small, dirty, thin artillery officer, who, without boots (he gave them to the supply officer to dry), in stockings alone, stood in front of the newcomers, smiling not quite naturally.
- Well, how are you, Captain Tushin, not ashamed? - continued the headquarters officer, - it seems to you, as an artilleryman, you need to show an example, but you are without boots. They will sound the alarm, and you will be very good without your boots. (The headquarters officer smiled.) Please, go to your places, gentlemen, everything, everything, - he added in a superior manner.
Prince Andrey involuntarily smiled, glancing at the headquarters of Captain Tushin. Silently and smiling, Tushin, stepping from bare feet to foot, looked inquiringly with large, intelligent and kind eyes now at Prince Andrey, now at the officer's headquarters.
“The soldiers say: they’re cleverer,” said Captain Tushin, smiling and shy, apparently wishing to change from his awkward position into a joking tone.
But he had not yet finished how he felt that his joke had not been accepted and had not come out. He was embarrassed.
"If you please go," said the headquarters officer, trying to keep his seriousness.
Prince Andrey glanced once more at the artilleryman's figurine. There was something special about her, not at all military, somewhat comic, but extremely attractive.
The headquarters officer and Prince Andrew got on their horses and drove on.
Leaving for the village, constantly overtaking and meeting the marching soldiers, officers of different teams, they saw to the left, reddening with fresh, newly dug-up clay, fortifications under construction. Several battalions of soldiers in only shirts, despite the cold wind, swarmed like white ants on these fortifications; shovels of red clay were constantly being thrown out from behind the rampart. They drove up to the fortification, examined it and drove on. Behind the fortification itself, they stumbled upon several dozen soldiers, constantly changing, fleeing from the fortification. They had to pinch their noses and move the horses at a trot to get out of this poisoned atmosphere.
- Voila l "agrement des camps, monsieur le prince, [This is the pleasure of the camp, prince,] - said the officer on duty.
They drove onto the opposite mountain. The French were already visible from this mountain. Prince Andrew stopped and began to examine.
“Here is our battery,” said the headquarters officer, pointing to the highest point, “that same eccentric that was sitting without boots; you can see everything from there: let's go, prince.
“I humbly thank you, I’ll go by myself now,” said Prince Andrey, wanting to get rid of the officer’s headquarters, “please don’t worry.
The headquarters officer fell behind, and Prince Andrey rode alone.
The further he moved forward, closer to the enemy, the more decent and cheerful the type of troops became. The greatest confusion and despondency were in that wagon train in front of Znaim, which Prince Andrei traveled in the morning and which was ten miles from the French. In Grunta, too, there was some anxiety and fear of something. But the closer Prince Andrew approached to the French chain, the more self-confident the appearance of our troops became. Lined up in a row, soldiers were standing in greatcoats, and the sergeant-major and the company commander were counting on the people, poking his finger in the chest of the soldier last in the squad and ordering him to raise his hand; scattered throughout the space, the soldiers dragged firewood and brushwood and built booths, laughing merrily and talking; at the fires sat dressed and naked, dry shirts, roll-ups or mending boots and greatcoats, crowded around the cauldrons and cooks. In one company, dinner was ready, and the soldiers with greedy faces looked at the smoking cauldrons and waited for the sample, which in a wooden cup was brought by the captenarmus to the officer sitting on a log opposite his booth. In another, happier company, since not everyone had vodka, the soldiers, crowding, stood near the pockmarked broad-shouldered sergeant-major, who, bending over the keg, poured into the caps of manners that were substituted alternately. Soldiers with pious faces brought manners to their mouths, overturned them and, rinsing their mouths and wiping themselves with the sleeves of their greatcoats, with cheerful faces, they walked away from the sergeant-major. All the faces were so calm, as if everything was happening not in the mind of the enemy, before the case, where at least half of the detachment was supposed to remain in place, but as if somewhere in the homeland, waiting for a quiet stay. Having passed the jaeger regiment, in the ranks of the Kiev grenadiers, brave people engaged in the same peaceful affairs, Prince Andrey, not far from the tall, distinguished from other booth of the regimental commander, drove a grenadier to the front of a platoon, in front of which a naked man lay. Two soldiers held him, while two waved flexible rods and punched him regularly on his bare back. The punished one screamed unnaturally. The fat major walked in front of the front and, without stopping and not paying attention to the cry, said:
- It is shameful for a soldier to steal, a soldier must be honest, noble and brave; and if he stole from his brother, so in him there is no honor; it's a git. More more!
And all were heard flexible blows and a desperate but feigned cry.
- More, more, - said the major.
The young officer, with an expression of bewilderment and suffering on his face, walked away from the punished, looking inquiringly at the passing adjutant.
Prince Andrew, leaving for the front line, drove along the front. Our chain and the enemy's were on the left and right flanks far from each other, but in the middle, in the place where the envoys passed in the morning, the chains came together so close that they could see each other's faces and talk among themselves. In addition to the soldiers who occupied the chain in this place, on one side and on the other there were many curious people who, laughing, looked at the enemies, strange and alien to them.
From early in the morning, despite the prohibition to approach the chain, the bosses could not fight off the curious. The soldiers, standing in chains, like people showing something rare, no longer looked at the French, but made their observations of those who came and, bored, waited for the change. Prince Andrew stopped to examine the French.
“Look, look,” one soldier said to a comrade, pointing to the soldier’s Russian muskater, who approached the chain with the officer and spoke often and fervently to the French grenadier. - See, he is babbling how cleverly! Already the guardian cannot keep up with him. Come on, Sidorov!
- Wait, listen. Look, cleverly! - answered Sidorov, who was considered a master of speaking French.
The soldier pointed out by those who were laughing was Dolokhov. Prince Andrew recognized him and listened to his conversation. Dolokhov, together with his company commander, came into the chain from the left flank, on which their regiment was stationed.
- Well, more, more! - incited the company commander, bending forward and trying not to utter a single word incomprehensible to him. - More often, please. What he?
Dolokhov did not answer the company commander; he was involved in a heated argument with a French grenadier. They talked, as they should have been, about the campaign. The Frenchman argued, mixing the Austrians with the Russians, that the Russians had surrendered and fled from Ulm itself; Dolokhov argued that the Russians did not surrender, but beat the French.
“Here they tell you to drive you out and drive you out,” Dolokhov said.
“Just try not to be taken away with all your Cossacks,” said the French grenadier.
The French audience and listeners laughed.
- You will be forced to dance, as you danced under Suvorov (on vous fera danser [you will be forced to dance]), - said Dolokhov.
- Qu "est ce qu" il chante? [What is he singing there?] - said one Frenchman.
- De l "histoire ancienne, [Ancient history,] - said another, guessing that it was about previous wars. - L" Empereur va lui faire voir a votre Souvara, comme aux autres ... ...]
“Bonaparte…” Dolokhov began, but the Frenchman interrupted him.
- No Bonaparte. There is an emperor! Sacre nom ... [Damn it ...] he shouted angrily.
- Damn it, take your emperor!
And Dolokhov swore in Russian, roughly, like a soldier, and, throwing up his gun, walked away.
“Come on, Ivan Lukich,” he said to the company commander.
“That's the way it’s French,” said the soldiers in chains. - Well, you, Sidorov!
Sidorov winked and, addressing the French, began often, often babbling incomprehensible words:
“Kari, mala, tafa, safi, muter, helmet,” he muttered, trying to give expressive intonations to his voice.
- Go Go go! ha ha ha ha ha! Wow! Wow! - there was a roar of such healthy and cheerful laughter between the soldiers, which involuntarily communicated to the French through the chain, that after that it seemed necessary to unload the guns, detonate the charges and disperse as soon as possible for everyone to their homes.
But the guns remained loaded, the loopholes in the houses and fortifications looked ahead just as menacingly and, just as before, facing each other remained, removed from the limbs of the cannon.

Having traveled the entire line of troops from the right to the left flank, Prince Andrey climbed to the battery from which, according to the officer's headquarters, the entire field was visible. Here he dismounted from his horse and stopped at the outermost of the four guns removed from the limbs. Ahead of the guns walked a sentry artilleryman, who was stretched out in front of the officer, but at a sign made to him, resumed his uniform, dull walk. Behind the guns were the limbs, and behind the hitching posts and the fires of the gunners. To the left, not far from the outermost gun, was a new wicker hut, from which the animated officers' voices could be heard.
Indeed, from the battery, a view of almost the entire disposition of the Russian troops and most of the enemy was revealed. Directly opposite the battery, on the horizon of the opposite hillock, was the village of Shengraben; to the left and to the right could be discerned in three places, among the smoke of their fires, the masses of French troops, of which, obviously, most of them were in the village itself and beyond the mountain. To the left of the village, in the smoke, it looked like something similar to a battery, but it was impossible to see it well with the naked eye. Our right flank was located on a rather steep hill, which dominated the position of the French. Our infantry was positioned along it, and dragoons were visible at the very edge. In the center, where Tushin's battery was located, from which Prince Andrey was examining the position, there was the most gentle and straight descent and ascent to the stream that separated us from Schengraben. To the left, our troops adjoined the forest, where the fires of our infantry, chopping wood, were smoking. The French line was wider than ours, and it was clear that the French could easily bypass us on both sides. Behind our position was a steep and deep ravine, along which it was difficult for artillery and cavalry to retreat. Prince Andrey, leaning on the cannon and taking out his wallet, drew for himself a plan for the disposition of the troops. In two places he put notes in pencil, intending to communicate them to Bagration. He intended, firstly, to concentrate all the artillery in the center and, secondly, to transfer the cavalry back to the other side of the ravine. Prince Andrew, constantly being with the commander-in-chief, watching the movements of the masses and general orders and constantly engaging in historical descriptions battles, and in this upcoming matter, I involuntarily pondered the future course of hostilities only in general outline... He imagined only the following major accidents: “If the enemy leads an attack on the right flank,” he said to himself, “the Kiev Grenadier and Podolsk Jaegers will have to hold their position until the reserves of the center come close to them. In this case, the dragoons can hit the flank and overturn them. In the event of an attack on the center, we deploy a central battery on this hill and, under its cover, pull together the left flank and retreat to the ravine in echelons, "he reasoned with himself ...
All the time that he was on the battery at the gun, he, as often happens, without ceasing, heard the sounds of the voices of the officers speaking in the booth, but did not understand a single word of what they said. Suddenly the sound of voices from the booth struck him with such a soulful tone that he involuntarily began to listen.
- No, my dear, - said a pleasant and as if familiar to Prince Andrey voice, - I say that if it was possible to know what will happen after death, then none of us would be afraid of death. So that, my dear.
Another, younger voice interrupted him.
- Yes, be afraid, do not be afraid, all the same - you will not pass.
- And you're still afraid! Eh you, learned people, - said the third manly voice, interrupting both. - Then you, artillerymen, are very learned because you can take everything with you, and vodka and snacks.
And the owner of the courageous voice, apparently an infantry officer, laughed.
“And you're still afraid,” the first familiar voice continued. - Afraid of the unknown, that's what. Say what you like, that the soul will go to heaven ... after all, we know that there is no sky, but there is only one sphere.
Again a courageous voice interrupted the artilleryman.
“Well, treat the herbalist to yours, Tushin,” he said.
“Ah, this is the same captain who stood at the storekeeper without boots,” thought Prince Andrey, gladly recognizing his pleasant philosophizing voice.
- A herb can be, - said Tushin, - but all the same future life comprehend ...
He didn't finish. At this time a whistle was heard in the air; nearer, nearer, faster and more audible, more audible and faster, and the core, as if not having finished speaking everything that was needed, exploding splashes with superhuman force, splashed into the ground not far from the booth. The earth seemed to gasp from a terrible blow.
At the same instant, the first to jump out of the booth was little Tushin with a pipe bitten on its side; his kind, intelligent face was somewhat pale. Behind him came the owner of a courageous voice, a brave infantry officer, and ran to his company, buttoning himself up as he ran.

Prince Andrew stopped on horseback on the battery, looking at the smoke of the cannon, from which the cannonball flew out. His eyes scattered over a vast space. He saw only that the formerly immobile masses of the French were swaying, and that there really was a battery to the left. The smoke has not yet cleared on it. Two French horsemen, probably adjutants, galloped up the mountain. Downhill, probably to strengthen the chain, a clearly visible small column of the enemy was moving. The smoke of the first shot had not yet cleared, as another smoke and a shot appeared. The battle has begun. Prince Andrew turned his horse and galloped back to Grunt to look for Prince Bagration. Behind him, he heard the cannonade grow louder and more frequent. Apparently, ours were beginning to answer. Below, in the place where the envoys were passing, rifle shots were heard.
Lemarrois (Le Marierois) with a formidable letter from Bonaparte had just galloped to Murat, and the ashamed Murat, wanting to make amends for his mistake, immediately moved his troops to the center and bypassing both flanks, hoping even before the evening and before the arrival of the emperor to crush the insignificant who stood in front of him, squad.
"Started! Here it is!" thought Prince Andrew, feeling how the blood more often began to rush to his heart. “But where is it? How will my Toulon put it? " he thought.
Passing between the same mouths that ate porridge and drank vodka a quarter of an hour ago, he saw everywhere the same rapid movements of the soldiers building up and taking apart guns, and on all their faces he recognized the feeling of animation that was in his heart. "Started! Here it is! Scary and fun! " spoke the face of every soldier and officer.
Before reaching the fortification under construction, he saw in the evening light of a cloudy autumn day, riding towards him towards him. The front line, in a burka and a cap with straps, rode a white horse. It was Prince Bagration. Prince Andrew stopped, waiting for him. Prince Bagration suspended his horse and, recognizing Prince Andrew, nodded his head to him. He continued to look ahead while Prince Andrew told him what he saw.
Expression: “it's started! here it is!" there was even on the strong brown face of Prince Bagration with half-closed, dull, as if sleepy eyes. Prince Andrey gazed with uneasy curiosity at this motionless face, and he wanted to know if he was thinking and feeling, and what he was thinking, what was this man feeling at that moment? "Is there anything at all behind this motionless face?" Prince Andrew asked himself, looking at him. Prince Bagration bowed his head, in agreement with the words of Prince Andrew, and said: "Good", with such an expression as if everything that happened and what he was told was exactly what he had already foreseen. Prince Andrew, pushed up by the speed of the ride, spoke quickly. Prince Bagration pronounced the words with his oriental accent especially slowly, as if suggesting that there was nowhere to hurry. He started, however, with a trot on his horse in the direction of Tushin's battery. Prince Andrew, along with his retinue, went after him. They were following Prince Bagration: a retinue officer, the prince's personal adjutant, Zherkov, an orderly, an officer on duty on an englised beautiful horse, and a state official, an auditor who, out of curiosity, asked to go to battle. Auditor full of man with full face, with a naive smile of joy, looked around, shaking on his horse, imagining a strange look in his camlot overcoat on the Furshtat saddle among the hussars, Cossacks and adjutants.

Name: Ded Moroz

Country: Russia

Creator: Slavic folklore

Activity: new year wizard

Family status: not married

Santa Claus: character story

Snow-covered streets, a decorated Christmas tree, Olivier on the table ... The list of New Year's symbols of the inhabitants of Russia would not be complete without Santa Claus. Every year, a clumsy fairy-tale good-natured person makes both children and adults believe in a miracle.

The image of Santa Claus was formed gradually, taking shape from the details of East Slavic beliefs and literary works... The modern Grandfather, who comes on New Year's Eve with a bag of gifts, is a rather young character, no more than 100 years old.

In the mythology of the Eastern Slavs, the spirits of cold, Treskun, Karachun and Zimnik, were in charge of business in winter. The Trinity froze all living things, but each had its own task: Treskun sent cold to the ground and destroyed crops, Karachun, who lives underground, froze reservoirs and wells, and Zimnik, a stooped old man with a long silver beard, turned people and animals into ice. In those days, people appeased with gifts of dangerous spirits, and not vice versa. On Christmas Eve, they offered kutya, jelly, pancakes and baked koloboks with a request to spare the crops in the fields.

Over time, the spirits united into a single character, and Frost the voivode settled in folk art... In myths and legends, the lord of cold and blizzard turned out to be a little kinder than his ancestors, but even more powerful, because his powers tripled - the abilities of previous spirits were mixed in him.

The writer contributed to the creation of the canonical image of Santa Claus. The fairy tale "Moroz Ivanovich", which was included in the collection "Tales of Grandfather Irenaeus" in 1840, tells about an inhabitant of an icy country, to whom children fall. In the magical story, the character is presented in the role of a just mentor and educator - for good work and obedience, Frost presents the positive heroine with silver coins.

In Russian literature of the 19th century, the future favorite of children appeared several more times, but all in the same guise of the evil sovereign of winter. The cruel and domineering elder became the main character of the poem "Frost - Red Nose", the play "Snow Maiden" and the opera of the same name.

Before the revolution in Russia, they tried to take root in the Western tradition of celebrating Christmas, during which a gray-haired grandfather appears with gifts. The costume was brought closer to the Russian mentality - they dressed the old man in a fur coat and felt boots, and put a staff in his hand. However, the people did not accept the likeness of Nicholas the Pleasant or "old Ruprecht" (companion of St. Nicholas in German folklore). And the sunset of the 19th century was marked by the appearance of the fairy tale "Frost", where the character turned into good grandfather as we see it today at the end of each year.

The biography of Santa Claus was interrupted with the change of power in Russia, at the height of the anti-Christmas campaign. The disgraced hero returned to the kids only in 1936 - together with his granddaughter Snegurochka, symbolizing frozen waters, he ruled the New Year's ball at the House of Unions. Since then, the kind owner of cold and snowstorms gives gifts and helps children cope with evil forces in the person of Leshy, and other fairy-tale heroes.

Ded Moroz residence

By the beginning of perestroika, the main owner of the New Year holidays began to acquire their own residences. Today Santa Claus has more than one address - the geography of residence of the New Year's character stretched from Moscow to Murmansk, and you can write a letter to every city asking for a gift, which the children are happy to do.

Arkhangelsk was declared the first homeland of Santa Claus in the late 1980s, a little later the character settled on the Kola Peninsula as part of the project "Fabulous Lapland - the possession of Santa Claus." And in 1998, with the light hand of the capital's mayor, Veliky Ustyug received the first tourists who wanted to see the snow grandfather with their own eyes. Now the Vologda residence includes the house of Ded Moroz, the tower of the Snow Maiden, the fairy trail and the post of Ded Moroz.

In 2011, at the initiative of the Murmansk authorities, the house of Lapland's Father Frost was erected in the northern city. A young Morozets Pakkaine lives in the Karelian town of Olonets.

Santa Claus in other countries

The symbol of the New Year is quite diverse, in every country there is a character who brings the desired gifts on Christmas Eve or on the eve of the coming year.

Santa Claus is eagerly awaited in America, Australia and Great Britain. Europe has its own traditions, according to which Saint Basil (Greece), Babbo Natale (Italy), Mikulas and Ezhishek (Czech Republic and Slovakia) come to homes.

In Finland, a relative of the New Year's grandfather is called Joulupukki. The Japanese revere Segatsu-san, and the Colombians revere Pope Pascual.

Image in cinematography

Fairy tales and feature films New Year theme are full of images of the lord of the snow and winter cold. The classic Santa Claus, whom Russians still consider "real", was presented in 1965. In the fairy tale "Morozko" the role has disappeared - the grandfather turned out to be solid, formidable, but at the same time kind and fair.

In 1975, the children's picture " New Year's Adventures Masha and Viti ”, where in addition to Baba Yaga, Matvey the Cat and Koshchei Bessmertny, Grandfather Frost appears in the person of actor Igor Efimov. Filled with magic and kindness adult tale The character embodied the "sorcerers".

The directors exploited the image as best they could. It even leaked to Gentlemen of Fortune. According to the script of the film, he changed into a bearded gift giver, enriching the lexicon of the Soviet viewer with a catch phrase:

“Santa Claus has come to you, he brought you presents. Fedya, come here! Sneakers for you. They will come in handy in prison. "

Trying on a New Year's costume and modern famous actors... Lovers of Russian cinema will remember Santa Claus the thief from Poor Sasha (1997), as well as Zhenya Lukashin of the 21st century, who put on the attributes of a snowy old man in the film The Irony of Fate. Continuation ". In the 2007 tape, he won the heart of Nadia.

The romantic hero from Come See Me (2000) dressed as Santa Claus brings magic to the house old maid Tatiana. And the adventures of the actors who work as a grandfather on New Year's Eve were shown in the comedy Who Comes to winter evening"(2006).

• During the first three years after the opening of the "House of Father Frost" in Veliky Ustyug, the tourist flow in the city increased from 2 to 32 thousand people. For almost 20 years, the fabulous grandfather received more than a million messages from children.
• Writing a letter to a fabulous magician is as easy as shelling pears. Santa Claus address: 162390, Russia, Vologda region, Veliky Ustyug. Messages from kids are also expected on the Internet mail of Santa Claus.

• Journalists have declassified the identity of the main New Year's character living in the Vologda region. Andrei Balin is hiding under his snow-white beard, who has not even celebrated his 40th birthday yet. The man took up the post of the country's main Santa Claus at the age of 22. A zootechnician by education turned into a specialist in culture and tourism under the administration of Veliky Ustyug. The married fabulous magician was immediately presented with a three-room apartment, and at the place of service, the "grandfather" launched a business - he opened a souvenir shop, in which he put his spouse as a seller.

• Modern Santa Claus celebrates his birthday on November 18. The date was not taken from the ceiling - on this day Russia is already covered with snow and frosts are hitting most of its territory.
• Santa Claus since the 50s of the last century often traveled around the world in the company of a boy named New Year. The character who settled on the postcards of that time wore a red fur coat and a hat with the number of the coming year. The boy's popularity lasted 30 years, and then faded away.

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

But what is the story of Santa Claus and Snegurochka? 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, and older children already want to know more about him and his companion.

The history of the appearance of Santa Claus - a kind grandfather goes far into the past, there is no unequivocal opinion 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 Old Russian legends. People believed that the lord of the cold wanders the fields and forests, wrapping them in snow, knocking with a staff, freezing rivers and lakes, drawing patterns. This was called Vladyka Frost, Ded Studenets, Morozko, Ded Treskun or Moroz Ivanovich. This gray-haired old man not only freezes, he also looks after nature, helps plants and animals survive the frosty winter. Morozko did not present children with gifts and did not wish them Happy New Year, his main task was to take care of nature.

Ancestral spirit

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

Ancient Varuna

In the rituals of antiquity, falling on the period of the winter solstice, during Christmas time, depicting the sun, it was customary to draw its legs. This meant that all roads were now 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 Russia this is facilitated by Father Frost, who also unites the world of the living and the dead and helps the souls of the dead to return to Earth with rain or snow. It was from Varuna that the winter guest known to us adopted the custom of judging people by their actions and rewarding what they deserve, being a strict and fair judge.

Evil Frost

There are several versions according to which the prototype of dear Grandfather was completely opposite characters. According to one legend, he is known as an evil and cruel deity, the lord of the cold and blizzards, the Great Northern Elder, who freezes people, and once 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.

St Nicholas

According to one version, many features of Santa Claus inherited from a real person who lived before our era, the kind and selfless Nicholas. Living in prosperity, he willingly helped those in need and those who were 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 laid the foundation for the tradition of hiding surprises - "nikolaychiki" in children's socks. For his kindness, Nicholas began to be called saints. And in many countries, the custom of giving gifts for the Christmas holidays has become entrenched.

Image and clothing

Previously, Santa Claus was portrayed in a completely different outfit, which was radically different from the outfit we were used to. Now it is hard to imagine that Santa Claus was once wearing a raincoat. Then the artists worked on the image and outfit of the grandfather, 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 we know has the following special features:

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

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

Fur coat- very long and exceptionally red in color, 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 and pom-poms, trimmed with swan down, decorated with pearls and silver pattern, with a V-neck in the front.

Mittens- necessarily white, not red, decorated with a silver pattern, symbolize purity.

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

Footwear- boots or red or silver boots.

Staff- has a twisted silver handle, with the head of a bull or a month at the top, which symbolizes fertility and power, the staff can freeze naughty kids and helps to move through the snowdrifts.

Bag- bottomless, full of gifts, always red.

Who is the Snow Maiden?

If everything is very complicated and confusing with the appearance of Santa Claus, then the story of his granddaughter Snegurochka is known - this is the heroine of the New Year's play, which the audience loved so much 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, Sneguroka. Her name comes from the word "snow", because this girl was born from the snow.

Sometimes she is portrayed as a young girl, sometimes as a little girl, because there is a version that the Snow Maiden is the daughter of Santa Claus, but we know her as the granddaughter of a fabulous grandfather.

Be that as it may, not a single children's matinee can do without her, it is she who helps the children to call Santa Claus to the holiday, it is she who is his permanent companion and assistant.

On the holidays

On the holiday, Santa Claus manages to go around every house, but he does not invite anyone to visit, so no one knows his exact address. People who believe in magic assume that his home is far in the North, in the 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 supreme all year round.

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

Santa Claus comes to the children with the Snow Maiden, who is his granddaughter. Her clothes are snow-white in color, with a silvery ornament, 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 contests and helps the children to invite Grandfather Frost to the holiday.

The appearance and character of Santa Claus were collected from many good and evil, real and fictional characters. Having come a long way, he appeared before us as a symbol of power, goodness, justice and holiness. 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.