Santa Clauses around the world have acquired their own Snow Maidens
More than half of the world's countries celebrate New Year on the same day, January 1, but each nation follows its own unique customs and traditions that have been forming for centuries. Here, the indispensable characters of the New Year holiday are Ded Moroz and Snow Maiden, while in Colombia it is the outgoing year. He walks on stilts, gives gifts to children and tells funny stories, while the Colombian Santa Claus – Papa Pascual – puts on fireworks.
Our northern neighbors the Finns celebrate the holiday for only one day, January 1. The differences don't end there: in Finland, it is legally prohibited to set off fireworks except from 6:00 p.m. on December 31 to 6:00 a.m. on January 1. New Year's gifts there are brought by Joulupukki (literally translated from Finnish as "Yule goat"). This tradition dates back to the Middle Ages, when instead of New Year, the middle of winter (Yule) was celebrated and the "Yule goat" delivered gifts to homes. It was depicted in a goat skin with small horns. In addition to assistant gnomes, Joulupukki has a wife – Muori, who is considered the personification of winter.
Père Noël – the Santa Claus of France, who leaves gifts not under the tree but in children's shoes. The main delicacy of the New Year's table is a festive pie in which one bean is baked. Whoever gets it becomes the "bean king" and freely gives orders all night.
In the Slavic countries related to us – Belarus, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro – Ded Moroz is called similarly to ours – "Deda Mraz". And overall they all resemble the Russian Moroz Ivanovich.
In Uzbekistan, the beginning of the year is greeted with Korbobo (literally translated as "Snow Grandfather"). His outfit consists of a red tubeteika and a national striped robe, and he delivers New Year's gifts on a donkey.
Recently, children grow up incredibly fast, mature and as a result stop believing in miracles. Surely ordering Ded Moroz will help create an atmosphere of a living fairy tale, fill the holiday with extraordinary emotions and impressions, and remain in your child's memory as the happiest day for a long time. Moreover, before Ded Moroz comes to the house, you can write him a letter. And this is a whole adventure for a child and a wonderful opportunity for parents to find out what their beloved child dreams about.
_