The story begins with a stepmother who dislikes her good-natured stepdaughter who is always good and kind and always having to hear about it. ![]() It is a Russian fairy tale first collected by Alexander Afanasyey for his Russian Fairy Tales collection and then is included in “The Yellow Fairy Book” compiled by Andrew Lang in 1894 as “The Story of King Frost.” This is the main story and source for Ded Moroz and is also the origin for his granddaughter, Snegurochka (Snow Maiden). Why ruin a good thing that people love? Morozko (Grandfather Frost) The very image of Ded Moroz that many people have, especially in Russia does come out of the Soviet era. However, myths and legends do evolve, grow and change. He goes from scary demon to a figure that can now allow for some of the religious traditions to come back, even if they’re claimed to be pagan in origin. I’ll touch on it more, further down there was a period of religious prohibition during the Soviet era and the Russian Orthodox Church doesn’t seem to be settled on the nature and role that Ded Moroz has. He does appear to be derived from a Slavic deity of Winter and to be the personification of cold and frost. I should throw in at this point, a note that scholars and historians do have some disputes about the exact origins of Ded Moroz. As more of the Slavic countries and Russia became Christianized, the term demon would take on more negative associations. You Called Him A Demon!īefore we freak out, the Slavic use of referring to entities as demons is very similar to the Greeks usage of the term daimon when referring to a spirit or a minor local deity, or force of nature. Later fairy tales would soften Morozko’s image to be an elderly old man who could be more benevolent and not quite as harsh. With the Russian Orthodox Church, there was an attempt to label Morozko as a demon. As a deity, he could freeze people and the countryside in a moment’s notice. Slightly different origins place Morozko as a god of frost and ice who’s married to the harsh, unforgiving Winter. As a force of nature, Morozko isn’t necessarily evil, he is known to help those who show him proper respect and giving gifts, plus he can be devastating to those who are rude, disrespectful and otherwise mean-spirited. In folklore, Ded Moroz is originally Morozko, a powerful blacksmith and hero known for freezing water to become frost. Here, Ded Moroz is the Wizard of Winter and a snow demon who personifies Russian winters. Slavic Paganismĭed Moroz appears to have a strong connection to Eastern Slavic Paganism before spreading out into Russian beliefs and culture. Many sources will also place Ded Moroz’s age at around 2,000 years old. ![]() ![]() Other little factoids about Ded Moroz include that his birthday is on November 18 th, this coincides with when the first frost arrives on the ground in Veliky Ustyug, Russia. Unlike Santa Claus who brings his gifts on December 25 th or Sinterklaas who arrives on December 6 th, Ded Moroz brings his gifts on New Year’s Eve. Much like his American and other European counterparts, Ded Moroz is known for bringing presents to good children. He carries with him a long magical staff and rides along with an evergreen tree in a sled or troika pulled by three white horses. To start, Ded Moroz is described as an elderly looking man with a long, flowing white beard who wears a long red, blue or white fur coat and round fur hat and boots. When we jump over to the Russian and Slavic celebrations for Winter, there is Ded Moroz or Grandfather Frost who will be bringing gifts. That magical time of the year with Christmas and Yuletide celebrations. Other names: Dzyed Maróz (Ukrainian), Did Moróz (Russian), Dédushka Moróz (Serbian), Deda Mraz (Bulgarian), Dyado Mraz (Slovenian), Dedek Mraz (Russian), Morozko (Russian), Grandfather Frost, King Frost, Father Frost, Ice KingĪh Santa Claus, Sinterklaas and Father Christmas….
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