New Year is Coming! "Santa Clauses" in Different Countries. Personal Experience. Part I
I thought it would be interesting to write a post about "Santa Clauses" in different countries. Probably just few of us keep believing in him but I bet we all believe that New Year will bring us new happiness.
Today I will write about Ded Moroz from Russia and Sinterklaas from Holland as I am Russian and my husband is Dutch, so we had both experiences.
Ded Moroz. Russia.
In Russia we have Ded Moroz ("Grandfather Frost"). He is the main character at the New Year party.
It is considered that our Ded Moroz is a descendant of Eastern - Slavic frost spirit Treskun ("Ringing Frost"). With time this character has been changing. First it was an old man with a beard and valenki, in one hand he had a bag with gifts and in another - a crook. The obedient kids received gifts from him but careless and lazy kids were beaten with the crook. Gradually Ded Moroz became a kind old man, he didn't beat kids but just scared them with horror stories. And now he is a very kind guy who just gives gifts to the kids and tells fairy - tails. I have also heard that before Ded Moroz was a prototype of Saint Nicolas and came for Christmas not for the New Year. (like in Europe, America and other countries). But after revolution there was ban on anything concerning religion and they replaced him with Ded Moroz.
He also has a granddaughter Snegurochka ("Snow Girl") who helps him to bring the gifts.
First Motherland of Ded Moroz was Archangelsk. There was also The Post of Ded Moroz. Then they also created Residence of Ded Moroz in Lapland at the reserve of the Kolsk peninsula. And later the Moscow Mayor initiated one more Residence in Great Ustuyg. As Ded Moroz is a Magician, he can be at three places at the same.
Great Ustuyg. Ded Moroz and Snegurochka
First acquaintance of my 1 year daughter with Ded Moroz in 2013.
Next year it was better)).
Everybody loves Ded Moroz and the kids are waiting for the New Year to meet him. They shall behave well and write him letters to get a New Year gift. My daughter of 4 years old has already written one too. If somebody has not understood, it is written there:" Ded Moroz, I love you. Bring me gifts."
(Sorry for the quality. And the letter has already been sent to Ded Moroz.)
Sinterklaas. Holland.
Sinterklaas in Holland is a prototype of Saint Nicolas that is why this day is celebrated on the 5th of December (a birthday of Saint Nicolas). Every year Dutch kids are waiting for him. He is leaving from Spain by boat in the end of November to bring gifts by the 5th of December. He visits many cities with his escort in Holland.
He has many assistants, Zwarte Piets ("Black Petes"). They are black as they put gifts for kids through chimneys. My little daughter when she was 3 years old asked why the gifts stay clean if they are put through the chimney. It was a logical question, isn't it?))).
About 2 weeks before the 5th of December kids can leave a shoe with a carrot for the horse of Sinterklaas, Amerigo, next to the fireplace and the next day they will find a little gift with candies instead. Last year we did it.
In the evening
In the morning
And at the end of November we went to meet Sinterklaas at the railway station.
In the evening of the 5th of December there was a knock at the door and when Emily opened the door she discovered a huge surprise.
I adore these traditions and enjoy it like kids. And of course I am so happy to see how the kids believe in miracles and I hope they will be able to save this wonderful tradition forever.
To be continued.
Yours, @aksinya.