Ded Moroz is the name of the person who plays the role of Santa Claus for Eastern Slavs. The literal translation of the name would be Grandfather Frost, however Russians traditionally translate it as Father Frost.

Ded Moroz brings presents to kids, however unlike the clandestine ways of Santa Claus, he brings them in person, at the celebrations of the New Year, at New Year parties for kids by the fir tree. Ded Moroz is accompanied by Snegurochka , or Snow Maiden , his granddaughter.

The traditional appearance of Ded Moroz differs from that of Santa Claus. Ded Moroz wears a heel-long red fur coat , a semi-round fur hat, white valenki or high boots (sapogi ), silver or red with silver ornament. He has a long white, even silverish-white beard, walks with a long magical staff, doesn't say "Ho, ho, ho", and drives no reindeer.

The official residence of Ded Moroz in Russia is the town of Veliky Ustyug . The residence of the Belarussian Dzied Maroz is in Belavezhskaya Pushcha.

History

His roots are in Pagan beliefs, but since 19th century under the literary influence he, together with Snegurochka "fleshed out" from a kind of a winter sprite into what he is now. The fairy tale play Snegurochka by the famous Russian playwright Alexander Ostrovsky was influential in this respect, followed by Rimsky-Korsakov's Snegurochka with libretto based on the play.

Only by the end of the 19th century Ded Moroz has won a competition of "persons" who were in charge of New Year presents: Grandfather Nicholas, Santa Claus, Morozko, simply Moroz, etc. He perfectly fits the Russian traditions, so that there was a widespread opinion that he has been known for Russians for centuries.

After the Russian Revolution, when in 1920s Bolsheviks started to wage a campaign against religion and superstitions, Ded Moroz and the New Year Fir Tree were banned. Joseph Stalin restored the tradition in 1935. In 1937, Ded Moroz for the first time arrived to the Moscow Palace of Unions . Since this time an invitation to the Fir Tree at the Palace of Unions became a matter of honor for Soviet children. Several times the coat of Ded Moroz was changed to be not confused with Santa Claus to a long blue coat. Joseph Stalin ordered Palace of Unions' Ded Morozes to wear only blue coats.