The Slavic Frost Wizard
I was chatting with a friend today about these posts and the specific origins of our own gift bringer character. Before we even look at the very AMERICAN Santa Claus tradition, we might want to look at this guy....
Ded Moroz is a legendary figure similar to Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, and Santa Claus, who has deep roots in Slavic mythology. The tradition of Ded Moroz is mostly spread in East Slavic countries and is an important part of Russian culture. At the beginning of the Soviet era, communist authorities banned Ded Moroz. Nevertheless, he soon became an important part of the Soviet culture. The literal translation of Ded Moroz is "Grandfather Frost."
Ded Moroz wears a heel-length fur coat, in red or blue, a semi-round fur hat, and valenki on his feet. He has a long white beard. He walks with a long magic stick and often rides a troika, which is a type of sleigh pulled by 3 horses. He is often depicted bringing presents to well-mannered children, often delivering them in person in the days of December and secretly over night on New Year's Eve.
The residence of Ded Moroz in Russia is considered to be the town of Veliky Ustyug, Vologda Oblast. The residence of the Belarusian Dzyed Maroz is said to be in Belavezhskaya Pushcha.
In East Slavic cultures, Ded Moroz is accompanied by Snegurochka the Russian "Snow Maiden"), his granddaughter and helper, who also wears long silver-blue robes and a furry cap or a snowflake-like crown. She is a unique attribute of Ded Moroz, since similar characters in other cultures do not have a female companion.
The origins of the character of Ded Moroz predates Christianity as a Slavic wizard of winter. According to some sources in Slavic mythology, Ded Moroz, back then also called Morozko or Ded, is a snow demon. However, before the Christianity of Rus' the term demon had no negative connotation, its meaning was akin more to that of "spirit". Like with many other mythical figures, only over time were demons attributed negative characteristics.
