Where does the Snow Maiden live? Where does the Snow Maiden live, and how to visit her home? Santa Claus and Snow Maiden where they live.
Where The Snow Maiden lives?
Where there is cold, snow and ice.
Where the blizzard swirls,
Where the snow is deep.
Winter built it
Ice towers.
The Snow Maiden lives there,
New Year's holiday awaits!
Of course our favorite characters New Year's holiday- this is Father Frost and Snow Maiden. But if some semblance of our Russian pagan God Santa Claus is under different names exist in many countries, then Snow Maiden - our purely Russian heritage, the product of the great and generous truly Russian spirit.
We have long been accustomed to the annual appearance of this fabulously beautiful, eternally young, cheerful and infinitely kind Russian Goddess at New Year's celebrations and every time we chant with pleasure: “Snow Maiden! Snow Maiden! Snow Maiden!" And it’s even hard to imagine that no one will respond to our call.
The origin of the image of the Snow Maiden.
The life of the Snow Maiden is shrouded in secrets and legends. It’s not even very clear where this young companion of Santa Claus came from. In Russian folk tales, the Snow Maiden is in no way connected with him. According to some sources, Big Spruce gave birth to her. The girl suddenly appeared from under a fluffy fir branch; according to others, she is the daughter of Red Spring and Frost, or perhaps she was fashioned from the snow by childless old men Ivan and Marya. They sculpted it for their own joy, but they couldn’t save it...
The Snow Maiden fell in love with many and soon became the constant companion of Father Frost. Only their family ties have undergone some changes over time - from a daughter she turned into a granddaughter, but she did not lose her charm.
There are 3 versions regarding the origin of the Snow Maiden.
1 . The image of the daughter of Frost.
The image of the Snow Maiden is known from a folk tale about a girl made of snow and brought to life. This snowy girl goes with her friends to the forest in the summer to pick berries and either gets lost in the forest (in which case the animals save her, bringing her home with them), or melts while jumping over a fire (apparently a Kupala fire). The last option is more indicative and, most likely, is the original one. It reflects the myth of natural spirits that die when the season changes (a creature born from snow in winter melts at the onset of summer, turning into a cloud). Here a connection is revealed with the calendar (Kupala) ritual of jumping over a fire, which is initiation (at this moment the girl turns into a girl). The Snow Maiden, as a seasonal (winter) character, dies with the arrival of summer...
2. Image of Kostroma.
The tale of the Snow Maiden originates from ancient Slavic funeral rite of Kostroma. Kostroma is buried in different ways. A straw man representing girl Kostroma, or drowned in the river, or burned, like Maslenitsa at the stake. The word Kostroma itself has the same root as the word bonfire. The burning of Kostroma is also a farewell to winter. The ritual is intended to ensure the fertility of the land. Likewise, the Snow Maiden lived until spring and died at the stake.
The image of Kostroma is associated with the celebration of “Green Christmastide” - seeing off spring and welcoming summer, rituals that sometimes take the form of funerals. Kostroma could be depicted by a young woman, wrapped in white sheets, holding an oak branch in her hands, walking accompanied by a round dance. During the ritual funeral of Kostroma, she is embodied by a straw effigy. The effigy is buried (burnt, torn into pieces) with ritual mourning and laughter, but Kostroma is resurrected. The ritual was intended to ensure fertility.
3. Symbol of frozen waters.
Version of Zharnikova S.: Since the image of Father Frost originates in the ancient mythological Varuna - the god of the night sky and waters, then the source of the image of the Snow Maiden, who constantly accompanies Father Frost, must be sought next to Varuna. Apparently, this is a mythologized image of the winter state of the waters of the sacred Aryan river Dvina (Ardvi of the ancient Iranians). Thus, the Snow Maiden is the embodiment of frozen waters in general and the waters of the Northern Dvina in particular. She is dressed only in white clothes. No other color is allowed in traditional symbolism. The ornament is made only with silver threads. The headdress is an eight-rayed crown, embroidered with silver and pearls.
The literary father of the girl who was made out of snow is believed to be A. N. Ostrovsky, who published the play “The Snow Maiden” in 1873.
Ostrovsky's Snow Maiden.
He drew this image from Russian folk tale. In 1882, this play was staged opera by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov at the Mariinsky Theater.
In Ostrovsky's play, the Snow Maiden was not the granddaughter of Father Frost, but his assistant. Later, she was traditionally portrayed as his granddaughter, but her age constantly varied - sometimes she was a little girl, sometimes an adult girl. To some she looked like a peasant woman, to others she looked like Snow Queen.
The image of the Snow Maiden in Russian fine arts
The image of the Snow Maiden attracted many artists, and each found their own unique features in this image.
V. M. Vasnetsov. "The Snow Maiden", 1899
V.M.Vasnetsov created an amazing gallery of the ancient Russian people, in all their wonderful and beautiful appearance.
Half a century later, the artist Grabar will say: “The drawings for “The Snow Maiden”, located in the Tretyakov Gallery, in the sense of the penetration and flair of the Russian spirit, have not yet been surpassed, despite the fact that a whole half century separates them from our days.”
Almost twenty years later, Vasnetsov painted a portrait of the Snow Maiden, capturing her at the edge of the forest. The Snow Maiden’s fur coat in the picture is one-piece, slightly flared, going back to the “princess” silhouette that was fashionable at the end of the 19th century. The brocade on the fur coat is embroidered in an amazing way. It would seem that snowflakes would be appropriate here, and Vasnetsov drew strawberries. Alexander Benois said that it was in this painting that the artist managed to discover “the law of ancient Russian beauty.” Another contemporary was even more categorical: “There is no other artist for the Snow Maiden except Vasnetsov.” This statement can be disputed.
Mikhail Vrubel. "Snow Maiden" 1890.
Sketches and costumes for N. Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera “The Snow Maiden” were also created by Mikhail Vrubel, and his wife Nadezhda Zabela was the performer of the main opera role. Four times I turned to the design of “The Snow Maiden” for opera and dramatic scenes and Nicholas Roerich, he created dozens of sketches and drawings for this production. In the work of 1921, the artist unexpectedly combines Slavic mythology and Eastern influences on it: in the work “Lel and the Snow Maiden” he created an Asian ethnic type of characters.
N. Roerich. On the left is a sketch of the Snow Maiden's costume. On the right - Snow Maiden and Lel, 1921
Shabalin Alexey. Snow Maiden.
Kim Svetlana.
Snow Maiden. Artist Boris Zvorykin
Still from the cartoon *Snow Maiden*, 1952
Performed the role of the Snow Maiden in a movie for the first time actress Evgenia Filonova in 1968. Three years later, Natalya Bogunova played the same role in the film “Spring Tale”. The most attractive actresses of Soviet cinema played the role of the Snow Maiden, creating the image of an unearthly, otherworldly beauty.
Evgenia Filonova as the Snow Maiden, 1968
Film *Snow Maiden*, 1968
Natalya Bogunova in the film *Spring Tale*, 1971
The film is a fairy tale based on the play of the same name by Alexander Ostrovsky from the series “Spring Tales”. 1968
Modern image of the Snow Maiden
Mine modern look The image of the Snow Maiden was received in 1935 in the Soviet Union, after the official permission to celebrate the New Year. In books on organizing New Year trees of this period, the Snow Maiden appears on a par with Father Frost, as his granddaughter, assistant and mediator in communication between him and children.
At the beginning of 1937, Father Frost and the Snow Maiden appeared together for the first time at the Christmas tree celebration at the Moscow House of Unions. It is curious that in early Soviet images the Snow Maiden is often depicted as a little girl; she began to be represented as a girl later. Why is still unknown.
During the war period, the Snow Maiden was forgotten again. As an obligatory constant companion of Santa Claus, she was revived only in the early 1950s thanks to the efforts of children's classics Lev Kassil and Sergei Mikhalkov, who wrote scripts for Kremlin Christmas trees.
For the film “The Snow Maiden” (1968), an entire “Village of Berendeys” was built near the Mera River. The choice of location was not accidental: in these parts, in Shchelykovo, Ostrovsky wrote his play. After filming was completed, the wooden sets were moved to Kostroma, where the Berendeyevka park appeared. In addition, in Kostroma there is now the “Terem of the Snow Maiden”, in which she receives guests all year round.
In 2009, the Snow Maiden’s birthday was officially celebrated for the first time, which was decided to be the night from April 4th to April 5th. This does not correspond to the plot of the fairy tale, in which the Snow Maiden is born in winter. However, according to the organizers’ explanations, “Snegurochka’s father is Father Frost, and her mother is Spring, and therefore her birthday is in the spring.”
In 2010, Father Frost himself arrived from his residence in Veliky Ustyug for his granddaughter’s birthday, officially confirming the status of Kostroma as the main residence of his companion and assistant.
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Every Russian child knows that Father Frost lives in Veliky Ustyug. Tourist buses go there, and excursions are also held there. And if a child wants to write a letter to the wizard, he will definitely indicate the city on the envelope. But what should you do if you want to go visit the Snow Maiden? Where does she live: with her grandfather or separately? This is what you will find out by reading our article.
In which city to look for the Snow Maiden?
Today, a lot of entertainment has been invented for children. And the main one, which is intended for children of primary school age during the winter holidays, is a trip to Veliky Ustyug. But in 2 weeks you can visit not only Father Frost, but also his faithful companion, that is, his granddaughter Snegurochka. Where does this fairy-tale girl live?
Very close to my grandfather, in Kostroma. Why exactly there? The fact is that in 1873 A. N. Ostrovsky wrote a play that received great success. This work was called “The Snow Maiden”. And when in 1882 Rimsky-Korsakov wrote an opera based on this work, the whole world learned about the fairy-tale girl. And since A. N. Ostrovsky worked in Kostroma, the birthplace of the Snow Maiden is officially attributed to this city.
Another circumstance that served as an impetus for the creation of the mansion of the granddaughter of Santa Claus was filming. The film called “The Snow Maiden” was filmed in the village of Berendeyevka, Kostroma region. It is not surprising that after the film was ready, the scenery was moved to the nearest city. They were restored there and began to be used as the official residence of the Snow Maiden.
Where exactly does the granddaughter of Santa Claus live?
Of course, such a high-status girl should not live in some high-rise building. After all, her grandfather had entire mansions built in Veliky Ustyug. So the granddaughter lives in her own mansion. The birthplace of the Snow Maiden attracts tourists not only with its beautiful scenery. After all, here, in the mansion of a fairy-tale girl, everyone will be shown the internal structure of the home, as well as an excellent courtyard. There is a hotel and restaurant on site. Here tired travelers can rest after a long journey and refresh themselves after have a fascinating trip. For children there is freedom here in winter. They can ride slides, sleds and even skis.
Ice room
We already understood where the Snow Maiden lives, but some might have a question: how does she tolerate the summer heat? Some might assume that her fairytale mansion has air conditioning. No, such a technical innovation has no place in the house of a winter beauty. It’s already cool in her wooden mansions. But still, at 30 ⁰C the tower heats up. Then the Snow Maiden escapes in her ice room. This room is made entirely of ice. Frozen water covers the walls, floor, and ceiling. Furniture, household utensils, paintings and sculptures are made from ice here.
Anyone can have a look at the fabulous apartments. Access to the ice room is open to everyone. If you arrive in the summer season, then before entering you will be provided with felt boots and padded jackets. And the hospitable hostess will definitely treat her guests. Snegurochka offers all children a refreshing cocktail, and adults an ice-cold tincture of her own production. IN winter time The Snow Maiden offers her guests tea from the samovar.
Is it possible to go on a tour
Of course you can. All year round In her mansion in Kostroma, the Snow Maiden is waiting for visitors. The fairytale girl will give a tour of her home, treat her guests and even organize entertainment. But maintaining such a house alone is problematic. Therefore, the Snow Maiden is helped by her friends: the brownie and his wife, as well as Kot-Bayun. Fairy-tale characters will introduce adults and little guests to interesting legends, and will also tell the story of the appearance of the Snow Maiden in Kostroma. The tour also includes a visit to the puppet theater. Here children and adults can watch an interesting performance.
For children, both in summer and in winter, entertainment events are organized in the courtyard of the tower. The guys dance in circles, play tag and solve riddles.
When is the best time to visit the Snow Maiden?
To better feel the atmosphere of a fairy tale, you should visit the Kostroma Snow Maiden in winter. And preferably during the New Year period. This way you can create something incredible. festive mood, and not only for children. Ice room, snow-covered tree in front of the entrance, new Year gifts- all this awaits guests of the tower in winter.
But you can also visit Snegurochka in the summer. Of course, it won’t be as atmospheric, but it will also be very exciting. The Snow Maiden's blue fur coat is transformed into a dress in the summer. The girl will tell the guys what she does in the summer heat, how she prepares for winter adventures and how often she visits her grandfather.
Do I need to book a trip?
Before you go on a trip, be sure to call the Snow Maiden’s reception. We will tell you where the girl lives, so be sure to read the article to the end and rewrite the address. Why book a trip, you may ask. Well, of course, to fairy tale characters were ready for your arrival and assigned you to one of the groups. After all, the Snow Maiden cannot lead a crowd of 100 people around her mansion. Therefore, excursions are conducted for small groups, but often.
It takes tourists approximately 2 hours to explore the tower, eat and play with the Snow Maiden. You can come without a reservation only in the summer, and even then it’s better to play it safe and sign up for a tour.
How much does the Snow Maiden's hospitality cost?
The magical girl does not try to profit from her guests. But she still needs money to maintain her mansion and for New Year’s gifts for the children. Therefore, the prices for hospitality at the Snow Maiden’s house are low. A visit to the ice room and all the hostess's treats will cost 350 rubles for adults and 175 for children.
If you want to look puppet show in the Snow Maiden's house, then such an opportunity exists. The ticket price also includes a tour of the tower of the granddaughter of Father Frost. Its price is 250 rubles for adults, and 200 for children. You will also have to pay for playing in the yard. The price of an adult ticket is 170 rubles, and a child ticket is 120. For disabled people and large families there is a 20% discount on the cost of services.
How to get to Snegurochka
You can get to Kostroma different ways: by bus, train or car. If you prefer to fly, you can also travel by plane.
Snegurochka's address: Kostroma, st. Lagernaya, 38.
Today the girl lives in one of the prestigious areas of the city. Was it always like this? Who lived with the Snow Maiden, the heroine of Ostrovsky's fairy tale? At Bobyl and Bobylikha's. And the house didn’t resemble their tower at all. But today we can see a young girl greeting guests in her mansion every day. How old is Snegurochka? If we take the year the play was written as the birthday of this fairy-tale heroine, then in 2017 she turned 144 years old.
You can contact Snegurochka and make an appointment with her by phone, or by leaving a letter at e-mail. These contacts can be found on the official website.
What else can you see in Kostroma
Of course, many tourists come specifically to see where the Snow Maiden lives and to visit her tower. But this event only takes 2 hours, so what to do next? Well, after the planned excursion, you can explore the city on your own or sign up for a group sightseeing tour.
If you are traveling with children, they will be interested in visiting the zoo. It is located on the territory of Berendeyevka Park. But school-age children should definitely visit the Susanin Museum. And in the Romanov Gallery, schoolchildren will be able to get to know the former rulers better.
Adults and children should definitely visit the Museum of Wooden Architecture. Kostroma is an ancient city, and buildings from the late 18th century have been preserved in it. Among the monuments, you should definitely look at the sculpture of the Snow Maiden with a bunny and Ivan Susanin.
Religious people will be interested in visiting the Holy Trinity Ipatiev Monastery, as well as the Church of the Resurrection on Debra. According to legend, one of the first churches in Russia stood on the site of the Church of the Resurrection.
Many children's questions baffle adults. And you can’t shrug it off, and you need to respond. The truth. In winter, especially on the eve of the New Year holidays, almost all kids are interested in where Santa Claus and his granddaughter live?
Where they spend the whole year and prepare gifts. If the homeland of Father Frost is known (this is Veliky Ustyug), then everything is not so smooth with the Snow Maiden. Where does the granddaughter of Santa Claus live? Where does the Snow Maiden live?
The story of the birth of Santa Claus's granddaughter
Only at the end of the nineteenth century Christmas trees His granddaughter appeared next to the grandfather. The official date of her birth is 1873. At this time, A.N. Ostrovsky’s play “The Snow Maiden” saw the light of day. The image of the snow girl created by the writer was liked by many and began to be used by many. And the Shchelykovo estate in the Kostroma region began to be considered the birthplace of the young beauty.
In 1882 beautiful story about the snow girl appeared on the stage of a home circle in Moscow. The initiator of the production was Savva Ivanovich Mamontov, a famous philanthropist. And the costume sketches were prepared by the famous artist Vasnetsov. Three years later, the plot of “The Snow Maiden” was reflected in the opera of the same name by N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov.
The work was a tremendous success and was staged on the most famous stages in Russia. The image of the young Snow Maiden was developed by both writers and artists. But it all started with beautiful fairy tale Ostrovsky.
to his appearance The snow girl is indebted to Vasnetsov, Roerich and Vrubel. It was in their paintings that the Snow Maiden first appeared in a long white robe lined with ermine, in a small fur coat, and with a headband.
The year 1937 also became significant in the history of the Snow Maiden. Her first appearance took place as a companion of Santa Claus. Since then, every New Year a girl has appeared at the Christmas tree party. She entertained the children, danced with them, asked riddles, joked, and asked questions to Grandfather Frost. These fairy-tale characters have become an integral part of the New Year's celebration.
The Snow Maiden's residences opened in many cities. But she lives where she was born.
Where does the Snow Maiden live?
The Snow Maiden's permanent place of residence is Shchelykovo. Where the estate of its famous creator Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky is located.
It is better to go to visit a snow girl with a kind heart through the Ivanovo region. However, public transport is a little tight here. First, take the train to Kineshma, and from there take a ride or taxi to the estate. But these road ordeals will be more than compensated by the impressions gained from the trip.
The administration of the estate is trying its best to preserve the manor house in the form in which it was during the life of the great playwright. Therefore, since 1847 the estate has changed little. The floors are still worn with brick and pine needles. In the lower reaches of the park the icy spring also gushes playfully. The house is still enchantingly reflected in the lake on Lover's Island. Only the crumbling brick staircase running down from the attic was replaced with a wooden one. Yes, instead of the living Ostrovsky, the cast-iron Alexander Nikolaevich sits opposite the porch.
A good-quality miracle tower made of wood was built on the territory of the estate for the Snow Maiden. The Blue House is an architectural monument of the early twentieth century. The project for him was drawn up by Maria Alexandrovna Chatelain, the eldest daughter of Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky. The Snow Maiden's tower is decorated with carved white shutters and beautiful stained glass windows. The wide porch is also decorated with carvings. Inside it is nice, cozy, simple, as it should be in a young girl’s home.
The spacious rooms house many wonders. Here is the beauty’s outlandish mirror, the lightest “snow” blanket, the “icy” bedchamber, and even an openwork sleigh. The Snow Maiden's house is equipped with a literary and musical living room, a video room, and an excellent library. And in winter the residence of the granddaughter of Father Frost operates. The cat Bayun helps Snegurochka receive guests. He tells stories of the kingdom of Berendey, sings songs, and asks riddles. Together they dance in circles. I wonder if where Santa Claus lives, they know how to greet guests like this?
A path leads from the house to Snegurochka Spring. According to legend, the snow girl melted at this place. The earth mourned too much for the tragic death of the Snow Maiden. As a sign of this sorrow, a spring began to flow from its depths. Today tourists throw coins into the well, some try to swim. And the bravest climb under the furious pressure of water at the dam on the local Kueksha river.
The Maly Theater patronizes the village of Shchelykovo. Today, a medical boarding house operates on the territory of the museum-reserve. A person can afford to relax in it, even with not very much income. Cost per day – 1250-1500 rubles. And this is with three meals a day. The boarding house has a medical building offering all types of medical services. By the way, this is where everyone likes to relax famous actors capital Cities.
Each of us has known all the heroes of books since childhood. Each character has its own long history of origin, as well as the place where he lives. In a fairy tale, the characters have their own character traits and features that cannot be confused with anyone else.
A little bit of history - where did the image of Snegruki come from?
There is also such a fabulous legend about the Snow Maiden. A long time ago, the goddess Kostroma lived in a distant land. The people considered it a symbol of spring, fertility and harvest. Over time, people lost their faith in the powers and strength of the goddess, which is why she turned into a snow maiden, cold and unapproachable. People could only see her in winter, during blizzards and cold. For this they began to call her the Snow Maiden.
The Snow Maiden personified the snowy and cold Russian winter. One day, with the first rays of spring, Domovoi woke up, stretched and sneezed so loudly that he woke up the cold girl.
Frightened by the bitter cold, people ran to ask Vesna for help. The kind and fair Mother Spring gave the frosty girl a warm, loving heart and called her her daughter.
Since that time, the Snow Maiden has become a symbol of goodness and light of the forgotten goddess of the Kostroma region. The Snow Maiden began to live with the people, gain intelligence, generosity and wisdom. Now she lives for the joy of everyone year after year in the Fairytale Land and brings happiness to people.
By the way, for lovers of winter wonders you can also visit, which we wrote about in our last article.
Why Kostroma?
The Kostroma region has been famous for its history since time immemorial. There are many legends and stories in this region that attract travelers here.
After all, it was here, in Shchelykovo, that the writer and playwright Alexander Ostrovsky told the world about the new legend of the goddess Kostroma, embodying her image in the fairy-tale Snow Maiden. After this event, director Pavel Kadochnikov shot the film “The Snow Maiden” in Kostroma. So the heroine of Ostrovsky’s plot became a symbol of the holiday and New Year’s fairy tale.
Today's Kostroma is not just a famous Russian city with a centuries-old history and traditions. Kostroma became the birthplace of the magical girl Snow Maiden. Here, on the banks of the Volga, a fabulous wooden tower was built for the Snow Maiden, where the girl lives with her brownie friends and the cat Bayun. Every year Grandfather Frost also comes to visit his granddaughter. But the Snow Maiden is not bored all year round: she greets guests with joy, fun and interesting stories.
Snow Maiden's mail
An interesting object of the Snow Maiden Residence is the Post Office. Letters are sent to the post office for the Snow Maiden, and congratulations from the young sorceress are also sent back.
Everything here goes on as usual: mechanisms constantly rotating and processing incoming correspondence; Carrier pigeons fly and Snow Maiden's assistants bustle about. Here you can not only write a letter by sending it to a miraculous mailbox, but also place an order for a letter from the Snow Maiden for any holiday!
Such an order will not be free: in order for the Snow Maiden to send a letter to the desired address, you must select and fill out a holiday form. The cost of such a fabulous letter is 150 rubles.
In addition to the post office, guests are attracted here by the Snow Maiden's Gift Shop. You can buy many different souvenirs, gifts and handicrafts from handicraft masters here for yourself and your loved ones! 
"Snow Academy" at the granddaughter of Santa Claus
There is an interesting place in the Residence where everyone can feel like a master and even a wizard. At the Academy of Miracles there are academic sorcerers who will help you get acquainted with miracles and plunge into a fairy-tale atmosphere. Sorcerers came from fairy tales and stories familiar to everyone:
- Chief Academician (Professor of Miracles) – conducts children's entertainment classes at the academy, takes part in organizing holidays and birthdays;
- Vestochka - the first and main postman, heads the Snegurka Post Office;
- Clever is a young scientist at the academy, he freely solves all fairy-tale questions and is in charge of a huge library;
- Skorenka is a mischievous and cheerful needlewoman, she conducts for the children exciting master classes for creating crafts, dolls or New Year's greetings.
Despite the fact that the Snow Academy is small, here you can find a music room, a laboratory magical miracles with a bunch of children's gifts and things.
Entertainment available at the Snow Maiden Residence
In addition to interactive educational games and classes at the Academy of Miracles, guests of the Snegurka Residence can discover many other entertainments.
- Visitors to the residence can visit snow-themed exhibitions and art galleries.
- Various competitions, competitions and celebrations are regularly held here in accordance with all Old Russian traditions and holidays.
- Needlewomen and craftswomen conduct master classes for guests. During the lesson, you can create amazing objects with your own hands from scrap materials that will be a symbol of winter wonders and adventures.
- Popular among adults and children in the Residence is “The Snow Maiden’s Wardrobe”. Among the many unique costumes, everyone will find an outfit to their liking, which they can try on and take a memorable photo.
- You can celebrate your birthday at the Residence. In honor of the holiday, each fairy-tale helper will give a surprise for the birthday boy, and the Snow Maiden herself will help prepare the festive cake and go on a wonderful journey with the guests.
Exhibition and excursions
The mesmerizing beauty Snegurka meets adults and children on the second floor of the residence for an exciting journey. The Snow Maiden talks playfully about her life in the Kostroma region and shows the guests her magical outfits. An interesting exhibit of the excursion is the magic wish box. If you leave your wish written on a piece of paper, you can be convinced of its miraculous properties.
Among the exhibits there is also an amazing “mirror of friendship”. If two people look at both sides of the mirror, then each will see parts of the other’s face along with their own. This experiment is very entertaining for both children and adults.
During the tour, the Snow Maiden shows a wonderful dressing table with the Snow Maiden's jewelry and treasures; a magic ball “with dreams”, in which you can catch beautiful, good dreams; a magic blue key in a magic well; if you put your hand in there, you can make your wishes come true; visit the library and even be surprised by the window display beautiful snowflakes; look at the main Christmas tree of the Snow Maiden Residence and make a wish under it. And this is not the entire list of interesting activities at the Snow Maiden’s Residence. Every guest who comes here can find something to do to their liking and ability. 
Cost of entertainment and excursions
Visit to the Snow Maiden's Tower
| Program name | For individual tourists
(per person) |
For groups (from 10 people) (per person) |
VIP (per group) |
||
| adults | children | adults | children | up to 10 people | |
| Interactive tour of the tower with puppet show | 220 | 150 | 200 | 135 | 5000 |
| Visit Ice room with treats |
300 | 270 | 135 | ||
| Game program at Snegurka's courtyard | 150 | ||||
| Tea drinking in the gazebo | 120 | 100 | |||
| Birthday | 600 | 450 | |||
| Graduation quest | 450 | ||||
| Wedding programs (wedding meeting, wedding ransom, wedding anniversary) | 3000 (2-14 people) Additionally: adults - 100 / Ice - 200 children - 50/Ice - 100 |
||||
PRICE LIST* NEW YEAR
(Valid from 12/01/2017 to 01/31/2018)
*(prices are indicated in Russian rubles)
Children up to three years for free.
Persons with disabilities, large families, war and labor veterans, participants in military operations - 20% discount
Museum workers with identification - free of charge.
Visit to the Snow Maiden's residence
Excursion “Miracles near you” (30 min): 100 rubles;
Interactive programs (40 min): 100 rub.;
Master classes at the “Laboratory of Magic” - 150 rubles.
How to book a tour online?
You can book an excursion not only by visiting the Residence in advance or by calling. You can book a tour online, without leaving your home. To do this, you need to go to the official website of the Snow Maiden's Tower. On the left side of the site menu, you can find the “Book an excursion” section. By filling out the required fields with the appropriate information, you can confidently visit the attraction at a time convenient for you!
The Snow Maiden's Tower
Where does the granddaughter of Santa Claus live? A large and cozy wooden tower stands on the banks of the Volga, inviting you to plunge into the fabulous and original world of the Snow Maiden. Here, the Snow Maiden will tell and show the guests all the corners of the tower, tell interesting stories and make a wish with you!
At the residence of the granddaughter of Father Frost in Kostroma, guests will be laughed to tears and treated to vodka from ice glasses
Father Frost and the Snow Maiden have long become the most important attributes of the upcoming New Year. The children diligently write letters with wishes to the main wizard of the country, which postmen deliver in bags to the Vologda region, to Veliky Ustyug. Everyone knows that this is where the bearded old man lives. Where is his granddaughter’s fairy-tale house? This question baffles even child prodigies.
In fact, Santa Claus officially has several residences. In addition to Veliky Ustyug, the two-story mansion of the fairy-tale magician appeared six years ago in Moscow’s Kuzminki Park. Many people sincerely think that the Snow Maiden is “registered” in the same place as Grandfather - in a wooden mansion, made in the “onion” style according to the design of Kostroma craftsmen. This is wrong.
Children from all over Russia send letters from touching congratulations for his granddaughter in Veliky Ustyug. After the New Year, the already tired poor old man and his fabulous retinue spend months sorting messages for the Snow Maiden into a huge box, which they send with messengers to Kostroma. To the homeland, by the way, not only of the winter beauty, but also of Ivan Susanin. So, where does the kind, smiling granddaughter of the country’s main bearded man live?
Two places are vying for the title of the Snow Maiden’s “family nest” - Kostroma and the village of Shchelykovo, located 120 km from this glorious city. Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky, the author of the well-known play “The Snow Maiden,” based on an old fairy tale, lived and worked there.
The Snow Maiden's apartments amaze with their beauty both outside and inside. In addition to the room and the upper room, other rooms with various costumed characters and royally decorated Christmas trees, there is an ice hall in which the temperature is maintained at -15 degrees all year round.
Everything in it is made of ice, from cute sculptures, the floor, the ceiling, a table with chairs, a bar counter, and ending with mugs with a samovar. Unusual ice chambers were created by the hands of Ural craftsmen.Enter the kingdom of ice without outerwear not recommended - you may catch a cold. To make the excursion comfortable, you can rent felt boots with bows and a colored oversized coat. The cost of the frosty trip is 250 rubles for adults and 120 rubles for children.
By the way, severely frozen visitors are treated to alcoholic drinks - tincture and vodka - to warm up. Moreover, alcohol is poured exclusively into glasses made of ice. Exotic! Milkshakes are available for children.Each guest can swing on the magic swing and make a wish that will certainly come true in the coming year. You can take photos at the residence of Father Frost's granddaughter for free. But an introduction to magical objects and a puppet show will cost 80 rubles for children and 150 rubles for adults.
The Snow Maiden gifts all visitors to the fairy-tale palace with an ancient magical amulet as a souvenir.
In general, in the mysterious wooden house there are several Snow Maidens - all smart, beautiful, each with a luxurious outfit and a pleasant, bewitching voice. They work in the residence in shifts. Cat-Bayun from the fairy tale by A.S. helps them entertain guests with games, dances, and jokes. Pushkin and Domovoi and Domovikha.
Snegurkina's "personal"
However, the main granddaughter of Father Frost lives in Kostroma, whom everyone calls her - the Snow Maiden of Kostroma. She has a personal page on social networks "In contact with" , where she actively communicates with fans, mainly an adult audience.
On behalf of their little children, fathers and mothers, grandparents convey greetings and gifts in the form of photographs and drawings to the granddaughter of the New Year's wizard.
The real name of the Snow Maiden girl from Kostroma is kept in the strictest confidence. The charming person is in no hurry to declassify herself.
On her website, the keeper of the hearth of the New Year's heroine's residence keeps a detailed report on the work done over the year, meetings, trips to different cities and villages. So, in November, Snegurochka visited Father Frost in Veliky Ustyug, whom she congratulated on his name day.
We bet you didn't know that the main characters of the New Year's holiday have their own birthday! So, the Snow Maiden celebrates it on April 7, and Father Frost on November 18.
A little earlier, at the beginning of June, the Snow Maiden visited Tsar Berendey in Pereslavl-Zalessky, where, together with everyone, she opened a fabulous summer. And on May 19, I visited Kirov, the homeland of Kikimora Vyatskaya, where the first world fairy games took place.
Just two weeks ago, Snegurochka returned from the city of Olonets, where she admired the games of Father Frosts. The wizard's bearded assistants also competed in funny sports competitions.“The Snow Maiden tells the young guests of the fairy-tale tower that she lives in the forest, and comes to her residence only to answer letters and meet with the guys,” says Elena Tsvetkova, head of the excursion and educational department of the museum A.N. Ostrovsky. – We take everyone to the Blue Key – there, according to the playwright’s play, the Snow Maiden melted. Children and their parents are indescribably delighted with the vivid impressions.
Every year on April 7, creative groups from all over Russia come to Kostroma for the Snow Maiden’s birthday, as well as Father Frost from Veliky Ustyug and fairy-tale characters - Kikimora Vyatskaya, the Mouse King, Tutaev’s Sheep, Baba Yaga and many others. Funny competitions, exhibitions of drawings and crafts are organized for all guests.
Was there a girl?
This is a purely Russian phenomenon. Nowhere in the world does the Snow Maiden appear on New Year's and Christmas holidays. Only recently in Europe, Santa Claus was accompanied by a teenage girl at a private party. She was introduced to the guests as an assistant, and not as a beautiful granddaughter.
Russian folklorists and writers in different times They tried to find a mention of the Snow Maiden’s pedigree in ancient legends, but did not find anything concrete with a convincing evidence base.
The true roots of the Snow Maiden's kinship go back to the pre-Christian mythology of the Slavs. In the northern regions of pagan Rus' there was a custom of making idols from snow and ice. The image of a revived ice girl was often found in the legends of those times.
A. N. Afanasyev studied fairy tales about the Snow Maiden in the second volume of “Poetic views of the Slavs on nature,” says Elena Tsvetkova. - The book fell into the hands of the Russian playwright A. Ostrovsky, he was inspired and wrote the play “The Snow Maiden,” where he shed light on the origins of the cold beauty. Ostrovsky’s creation is about how the Snow Maiden, the daughter of the nature spirits Frost and Red Spring, falls in love with a shepherd and then dies from the rays of the Sun.
Employees of the Moscow Folklore Center conducted a fundamental study of ancient printed sources and came to the conclusion that the Snow Maiden was not related to anyone. This is a girl who was sculpted from snow by children, and childless couples dreaming of offspring, and old people whose adult offspring did not give grandchildren for a long time.The official date of birth of the Snow Maiden is considered to be 1873, when Ostrovsky translated the folk legend in his own way in the fairy tale “The Snow Maiden,” continues Elena Tsvetkova. - The appearance of the winter beauty was created thanks to three great artists - Vasnetsov, Vrubel and Roerich. It was in their paintings that the Snow Maiden found her famous outfits: a long white snow robe lined with ermine, a light sundress, a headband, and a small fur coat.
From 1927 to 1935 there is no mention of the Snow Maiden. As you know, in Soviet Russia to celebrate New Year officially allowed only in 1935.For two years, Santa Claus entertained the public alone, and since 1937, a sweet, modest girl in a blue fur coat and with a braid over her shoulder appeared next to him. She sang and danced beautifully. The people fell in love with the positive image of the kind and talented Snow Maiden.
It is curious that at first the girl was introduced to everyone as the daughter of a bearded man with a bag of gifts. A little later, Snegurochka suddenly became his granddaughter. People “swallowed” this change, without particularly delving into the essence of the strange metamorphosis.
Since then, the charming Snow Maiden has appeared in all books on organizing New Year trees.
Where should i writeSnegurochka's postal address: 156000, Russia, Kostroma, st. Lenina 3. Email address: