Ded Moroz

Everyone knows the big jolly man with a white beard....his name is Santa Claus!  In Russia, the big jolly man is tall and slender. He goes by the name, Ded Moroz...translated it means Grandfather Frost. Ded Moroz never enters your home through a chimney, puts presents into a stocking or ride reindeer.  He carries a staff, rides in a troika driven by three horses and is always accompanied by his grand daughter, Snegurochka which translates to Snow Girl/Maiden. He also arrives on New Years Eve not Christmas Eve.

I was told a story of Ded Moroz in an Understanding Russia course I take.  I am paraphrasing and it goes something like this.....

 

A man and woman gave birth to a girl. When this girl was young her mother past away.  The father remarried a woman with two daughters.  His new wife was evil and did not like her new step daughter (think Cinderella).  One day, the wife said to her husband take your daughter to the forest and kill her.  The father obeyed. He took his daughter to the forsest only he could not kill her. So, he left her there with nothing but the clothes on her back.  Ded Moroz was an evil man who brought harsh coldness and wind.  (I immediately think of an American version of Jack Frost)  He saw her in the forest and  the weather colder and harsher. It went on for days. This girl in the forest appeared to be unaffected.  She remained happy. Ded Moroz did not understand how she could remain so happy despite the evil mans doing. He invited her back to his home and offered her the following...if you come to my home for the next 30 days and do as I ask and you abide, I will allow you to return home.  (um, hello?!? can we say weirdo!) She accepts his challenge. For 30 days she cleans and cleans with a happy heart. Ded Moroz is amazed!  He sends the girl back to her home, only when she arrives, she has been gifted with new clothes, jewels among other things.  The girls new step mother sees this and is astonished!  She wants these things for her daughters.  She sends her daughters out to the forest.  They have a bad attitude and needless to say, never make it....

 So, what is the moral?  Be good and Ded Moroz will reward you. Be bad and the evil man will not deliver the goods.....

 

I have been told Ded Moroz wore a blue robe up until the Soviet Union fell. Now you see him wearing red as well. Both colors seem to be appropriate.

Russian New Year and Christmas

While our holidays have come and gone, Russia is still celebrating!  Today is Christmas Eve in Russia. 

Prior to the year 1917, Christmas was celebrated in Russia much the same way it is celebrated in many other parts of the world with trees, Saint Nicholas, etc.  After the Russian Revolution of 1917, the Bolsheviks banned Christmas and began using the Gregorian calender.  Many of the traditions around Christmas (decorating a tree, presents) were transferred to New Years Eve. During Communism Christmas was not celebrated. New Years became the traditional holiday.  It wasn't until 1991 that Christmas became an official holiday in Russia.  However, the date to celebrate Christmas in Russia is on January 7th per the Russian Orthodox Church. The church celebrates religious holidays according the the Julian calender.  There is a 13 day difference between the Gregorian and Julian calender, hence why we celebrate December 25 and the Russians celebrate on January 7th.

Preparing for Russian Christmas begins on November 28th with a forty day Lent.  From my understanding, meat is completely avoided. Other foods may be avoided like dairy and eggs.Christmas Day is a family holiday and a National holiday, but not as important as New Years Eve.  New Years Eve is to Russians what Christmas is to most other people around the world, without a religious aspect.  New Years Eve is a time to celebrate and exchange gifts.  Few Russians have begun to celebrate Christmas on January 7th, but it doesn't really mean much to the vast majority of the country.

The country pretty much shuts down from December 31 until January 10th due to both holidays.  Here in Moscow, the streets are empty. The metro traffic is light. We have noticed a considerable decrease in the amount of grocery goods available for purchase. Many shelves are empty.