Snegurochka, the Snow Maiden, is a popular seasonal figure in Russian culture. In her most recognizable form, she is Ded Moroz’s granddaughter and companion as she gives gifts to good children to celebrate the New Year. The oldest incarnation of Snegurochka can be seen in Russian lacquer boxes and nesting dolls – this Snegurochka is a character from a fairy tale not directly related to the Ded Moroz legend. Whether you are traveling to Russia during the winter or shopping for souvenirs, you will want to familiarize yourself with the history of Snegurochka and other folk tales about Christmas and winter.
Snegurochka y Ded Moroz
In the Ded Moroz legend, Snegurochka is the granddaughter and helper of the Russian Santa Claus and lives with him in Veliky Ustyug. She is most commonly depicted in long silver robes and a furry cap. Just as Ded Moroz appears in various performances during the Christmas season impersonated by costumed men, Snegurochka takes on new forms in Russia to help distribute gifts. Snegurochka’s name is derived from the Russian word for snow, sneg .
Snegurochka from Russian fairy tales
The story of Snegurochka , or The Snow Maiden , is often beautifully depicted in hand-painted Russian crafts. This Snegurochka is the daughter of spring and winter, appearing as a winter blessing for a childless couple. Unable or forbidden to love, Snegurochka remains indoors with her human parents until the attraction from the outside and the need to be with her companions becomes unbearable. When she falls in love with a human child, she melts.
Snegurochka’s story has been adapted into plays, films, and a Rimsky-Korsakov opera.
Morozko is old man winter
The Russian fairy tale about Snegurochka is different from a fairy tale in which a girl comes into contact with Morozko, an old man who is more analogous to Old Winter than Santa Claus. For English speakers, however, the distinction can be confusing because Morozko’s name is derived from the Russian word for frost, moroz . In translations, he is sometimes referred to as Grandfather Frost or Jack Frost, which does little to distinguish him from Ded Moroz, whose name is more commonly translated as Grandfather Frost or Father Frost.
Morozko is the story of a girl who is sent into the cold by her stepmother. The girl receives a visit from the elderly Winter, who gives her warm furs and other gifts.
In 1964, the live-action Russian production of Morozko was made .
The Snow Queen
Another winter-related legend that is often depicted in hand-painted Russian crafts is the story of the Snow Queen. However, this story is not originally Russian; is by Hans Christian Anderson. This story became popular after it was released on film by Soviet animators in the 1950s. In popular art, the Snow Queen may share some physical similarities with Snegurochka. If in doubt, check if the item is labeled “Снежная королева” (Snezhnaya koroleva) which is “Snow Queen” in Russian.
In tales about snow maidens and personifications of frost by grandparents, it is possible to detect the Russian affinity for winter, the season that covers many parts of Russia more completely and for a longer period of time than in other parts of Europe. The popular art illustrated with these fairy tales makes memories that are uniquely Russian, and film and theatrical adaptations of these stories will entertain and educate the viewer on this aspect of Russian culture.
