by Sophia, age 9 from Sacramento, asks Ded Moroz about Russian New Year traditions and his granddaughter Snegurochka.
A Letter to Ded Moroz from Sophia in Sacramento, California
Dear Ded Moroz, my name is Sophia and I am nine years old. I live in Sacramento, California, and I read about Russian New Year traditions at the library, so I have a lot of questions for you:
- Do you carry a magic staff that freezes things?
- Do you come on New Year’s Eve instead of Christmas Eve?
- Do you give presents to all children, or only the really good ones?
- Do you have a granddaughter named Snegurochka, the Snow Maiden, who helps you?
- Do you ride in a sleigh pulled by three white horses instead of reindeer?
- Do you visit children in person at New Year’s parties, instead of sneaking in at night?
- Is your home in Veliky Ustyug, not the North Pole?
- Why are you much skinnier than the jolly American Santa Claus?
- Why do you wear a long blue or white robe instead of a red jacket like Santa?
- Your name means Grandfather Frost, are you always cold because of that?
- Geography: Where is Veliky Ustyug located, and how big is the country Ded Moroz calls home?
- Social Studies: Why do Russian families celebrate on New Year’s Eve rather than Christmas Eve?
Love, Sophia
Ded Moroz Writes Back
Do you carry a magic staff that freezes things?
Yes, I carry a crystal staff carved from ice that never melts. A gentle tap can frost a window pane or send a flurry of snow twirling into the air, mostly for fun, though it does keep me cool on long walks.
Do you come on New Year’s Eve instead of Christmas Eve?
That is right, Sophia. I deliver my gifts on New Year’s Eve, December 31st, which has been the big family celebration in Russia for many decades.
Do you give presents to all children, or only the really good ones?
I bring presents to almost every child, though I do enjoy hearing about extra kindness during the year from Snegurochka, who keeps better notes than I do.
Do you have a granddaughter named Snegurochka, the Snow Maiden, who helps you?
Yes, my granddaughter Snegurochka, the Snow Maiden, travels with me nearly everywhere. She wears a long silver blue coat and is every bit as important to Russian New Year celebrations as I am.
Do you ride in a sleigh pulled by three white horses instead of reindeer?
Traditionally, yes, a troika, three horses pulling a sleigh side by side, though these days I will admit reindeer occasionally lend a hand for the trickiest routes.
Do you visit children in person at New Year’s parties, instead of sneaking in at night?
Both, actually. I sneak gifts under trees quietly at night, but I also love appearing in person at New Year’s parties and school celebrations, where children can shake my hand and tell me their wishes directly.
Is your home in Veliky Ustyug, not the North Pole?
Yes, my official residence is in Veliky Ustyug, a beautiful old town in northern Russia, where children can even mail me letters and visit my house.
Why are you much skinnier than the jolly American Santa Claus?
I keep active walking through deep snow for weeks at a time, Sophia. It is hard to stay round when your daily commute involves that much shoveling.
Why do you wear a long blue or white robe instead of a red jacket like Santa?
I wear a long robe, often blue, sometimes white or silver, embroidered with frost patterns. Red never quite suited the Russian winter the way deep blue does.
Your name means Grandfather Frost, are you always cold because of that?
Ded Moroz does mean Grandfather Frost, and yes, I am rather fond of the cold. It has been my whole personality for centuries, so I have made peace with it.
Geography: Where is Veliky Ustyug located, and how big is the country Ded Moroz calls home?
Veliky Ustyug sits in the far north of European Russia, in a country so enormous it stretches across eleven time zones, from Europe all the way to the edge of the Pacific Ocean. Russia is the largest country in the world by land area.
Social Studies: Why do Russian families celebrate on New Year’s Eve rather than Christmas Eve?
For much of the twentieth century, Russia’s government discouraged religious celebrations like Christmas, so New Year’s Eve became the big family holiday instead, complete with a tree, gifts, and me. Even though Christmas traditions have returned for many families, New Year’s remains the bigger celebration to this day.
