by Chloe, age 7 from Nashville, asks Dzied Maroz about Belarusian New Year traditions and his embroidered robe.
A Letter to Dzied Maroz from Chloe in Nashville, Tennessee
Dear Dzied Maroz, my name is Chloe and I am seven years old. I live in Nashville, Tennessee, and I found your name in a book about winter holidays around the world, so here are my questions:
- Are you the same as the Russian Ded Moroz, or are you a separate character?
- Do Belarusian children leave out treats for you?
- Do you carry a magic staff made of ice?
- Do you come on New Year’s Eve in Belarus?
- Do you have a granddaughter who helps you deliver presents?
- Do you ride in a horse-drawn sleigh, or do you have reindeer?
- Do you visit children in person at New Year’s celebrations?
- Do you wear a long robe with beautiful embroidery?
- Where is your home, is it in Belarus or Russia?
- Your name means Grandfather Frost in Belarusian, are you like the Russian Ded Moroz?
- Geography: What is the capital city of Belarus?
- Social Studies: What are the two official languages of Belarus?
Love, Chloe
Dzied Maroz Writes Back
Are you the same as the Russian Ded Moroz, or are you a separate character?
We are close relatives, Chloe, sharing old Slavic winter folklore, but Belarus has given me my own name, my own home, and my own local traditions over the years.
Do Belarusian children leave out treats for you?
Belarusian children often leave out draniki, potato pancakes, or sweet pastries, along with a warm drink for the cold walk between houses.
Do you carry a magic staff made of ice?
Yes, my staff is carved from clear ice and never melts, and a light tap can send frost curling prettily across a window pane.
Do you come on New Year’s Eve in Belarus?
New Year’s Eve, December 31st, is my big night in Belarus, filled with family dinners, a decorated tree, and gifts waiting underneath it.
Do you have a granddaughter who helps you deliver presents?
Yes, my granddaughter travels with me, dressed in silver and blue, helping hand out gifts and keep track of wishes at parties.
Do you ride in a horse-drawn sleigh, or do you have reindeer?
A horse-drawn sleigh, decorated with bells and ribbons, carries me across Belarus’s snowy forests and fields.
Do you visit children in person at New Year’s celebrations?
I love appearing in person at town squares and school parties, where children can walk right up and share their wishes.
Do you wear a long robe with beautiful embroidery?
Yes, my robe is long and covered in traditional Belarusian embroidery, red and white patterns that have been stitched the same way for generations.
Where is your home, is it in Belarus or Russia?
My home is in Belarus, in a quiet forest lodge where I keep my sleigh polished and ready all year.
Your name means Grandfather Frost in Belarusian, are you like the Russian Ded Moroz?
Dzied Maroz does mean Grandfather Frost in Belarusian. We share old roots with the Russian Ded Moroz, but I have my own Belarusian traditions, clothing, and stories that make me distinctly mine.
Geography: What is the capital city of Belarus?
Minsk is the capital of Belarus, a city with wide boulevards that look especially beautiful under a fresh coat of snow.
Social Studies: What are the two official languages of Belarus?
Belarus has two official languages, Belarusian and Russian, and you will hear both spoken in homes, schools, and shops across the country, sometimes even in the same conversation.
