Father Frosts and Snow Maidens parade across Russia (and Manhattan!)

The New Year in Russia is unimaginable without a Russian Santa – “Father Frost” (Ded Moroz) – and his granddaughter Snegurochka – the Snow Maiden. Russians love to get into the festive spirit, dress up like these fictional characters, and join in the parades that have been increasingly taking place all over the country!

These outdoor festivals with singing, dancing, various activities, and entertainment bring together people from large cities and small towns alike. In anticipation of the biggest party of the year, dozens (and in some cases hundreds) of Father Frosts and Snow Maidens have paraded through cities including Krasnodar, Ulyanovsk, Ufa, Kazan, Rostov, and Zlatoust, to name but a few.

“Father Frost gives us a feeling of happiness and magic – this is very important right now, I’d like children to believe in him for as long as possible,” said one person taking part in Kazan’s Father Frost parade.

BONUS

Foreigners have also had the chance to see Father Frosts and Snow Maidens this month. More than 100 Russians characters paraded through Manhattan in New York on Dec. 23. They wished happy holidays to everyone and handed out Russian souvenirs.

"When Americans see our Ded Moroz, most of them mistake him for Santa, only a more handsome and glamorous one," Igor Kochan, the organizer of the event, pointed out. "We explain that his costume and appearance are different, as well as the legend behind him. People willingly take photos with us and even learn Russian phrases.”