by Isaac, age 10 from Grand Rapids, asks Djed Mraz about New Year traditions in Serbia and Croatia.
A Letter to Djed Mraz from Isaac in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Dear Djed Mraz, my name is Isaac and I am ten years old. I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and I am curious about New Year traditions in the Balkans, so I have questions for you:
- Are you different from the Russian Ded Moroz?
- Do Serbian and Croatian children leave out treats for you?
- Do you carry a magic staff?
- Do you come on New Year’s Eve in Serbia and Croatia?
- Do you have a granddaughter or helper who accompanies you?
- Do you ride in a horse-drawn sleigh, or do you have reindeer?
- Do you visit children in person at celebrations?
- Do you wear a long robe or a short jacket?
- Where is your home, is it in Russia or in the Balkans?
- Your name means Grandfather Frost, are you like the Russian Ded Moroz?
- Geography: What major European river flows through Belgrade, the capital of Serbia?
- Social Studies: Serbia and Croatia both emerged from the former country of Yugoslavia, which broke apart in the 1990s. How does that shared history explain why both countries have such similar Grandfather Frost traditions?
Thanks, Isaac
Djed Mraz Writes Back
Are you different from the Russian Ded Moroz?
We share old Slavic roots, Isaac, but Serbia and Croatia have each given me my own local traditions, separate from my Russian cousin.
Do Serbian and Croatian children leave out treats for you?
Yes, Serbian and Croatian children often leave out treats, especially around New Year celebrations.
Do you carry a magic staff?
Yes, I carry a staff, often decorated with frost like patterns, similar to my Slavic cousins in Russia and Belarus.
Do you come on New Year’s Eve in Serbia and Croatia?
New Year’s Eve, yes, is traditionally my biggest night in both Serbia and Croatia, filled with family gatherings and fireworks.
Do you have a granddaughter or helper who accompanies you?
In some regional versions of my story, yes, a young helper accompanies me, similar to Snegurochka in Russian tradition.
Do you ride in a horse-drawn sleigh, or do you have reindeer?
A horse-drawn sleigh is traditional in my stories, gliding across the snowy hills and valleys of the Balkans.
Do you visit children in person at celebrations?
Yes, I love appearing at community New Year’s gatherings, where children can share their wishes with me directly.
Do you wear a long robe or a short jacket?
A long robe, often decorated with traditional patterns, similar to my Slavic cousins across Eastern Europe.
Where is your home, is it in Russia or in the Balkans?
My home is set firmly in the Balkans, not Russia, even though our stories share the same old roots.
Your name means Grandfather Frost, are you like the Russian Ded Moroz?
That’s right, my name also means Grandfather Frost, and while I share history with the Russian Ded Moroz, Serbia and Croatia have each shaped their own distinct version of my story.
Geography: What major European river flows through Belgrade, the capital of Serbia?
The Danube River flows right through Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, one of the great rivers of Europe, connecting many countries along its path.
Social Studies: Serbia and Croatia both emerged from the former country of Yugoslavia, which broke apart in the 1990s. How does that shared history explain why both countries have such similar Grandfather Frost traditions?
Serbia and Croatia were both once part of the larger country of Yugoslavia, which broke apart into several separate nations during the 1990s. That shared history helps explain why both countries still celebrate such similar Grandfather Frost traditions today, even though they have been independent nations for several decades now.
