New Year in the style of “Fairy-Tale Heroes. Winter characters New Year characters

New Year cannot do without Father Frost and the Snow Maiden - in Russia, Santa Claus and Rudolph the Reindeer - in English-speaking countries and Joulupukki - in Finland. Read about what other New Year's wizards come to visit children in our material

Grandfather Mikulash and grandfather Jerzyshek

Children in the Czech Republic and Slovakia are the first to receive their Christmas gifts. Local Santa Claus - St. Nicholas - comes to visit on the night of December 5-6, on the eve of the celebration of St. Nicholas Day. It is known that he is dressed in a long red fur coat, a high hat, and in his hands he has a staff, but instead of a bag of gifts, he carries a box behind his back. The good wizard has many friends: a chimney sweep, peasants, hussars, even Death. It is believed that Mikulas is accompanied on his journey by a snow-white Angel and a shaggy Devil, who tell the old man which of the kids should give an orange, apple or candy, and which should receive a piece of coal or a potato. The Angel carries with him a list of obedient and good children who studied diligently and helped their parents, and the Devil carries a list with the names of mischievous children. However, little mischief-makers have long learned to trick St. Nicholas - it is believed that if you sing him a song or tell him a poem, the kind old man will be moved and give him the treasured gift.

The second Santa Claus - Hedgehog - visits homes on Christmas Day, December 25th. Almost nothing is known about him, since no one has ever seen him. According to one legend, he is the brother of grandfather Mikulas, and they are very similar, only grandfather Jerzyshek is very modest, according to another, the baby Jesus himself throws gifts under the tree at Christmas. Be that as it may, Jerzyshek carefully makes sure that no one sees him while he throws gifts into children’s homes, but he always announces his visit with the gentle ringing of bells, which invariably decorate Christmas trees and houses in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Babbo Natale and fairy Befana

In Italy, as in many other European countries, there are two Santa Clauses at once, one of whom comes at Christmas, and the second, or more correctly, the second, comes on January 6th. In Italy, it is not customary to celebrate the New Year on a grand scale, so they do not have a character who brings gifts on this day, but it is customary to go to visit with clean water, there is even a saying: “If you have nothing to give to the owners of the house, give new water with olive water.” a twig."

The Italian Santa Claus is called Babbo Natale, which means Christmas Father. There are two legends of its origin. The first links Babbo Natale with Saint Nicholas, who lived in the 3rd century AD. According to the second version, the Christmas fairy tale wizard was borrowed from the Americans. In any case, in appearance he is not much different from Santa Claus - he is usually depicted as a plump man in a red sheepskin coat trimmed with white fur, and with a gray beard, sometimes he even wears glasses. Like the American Santa Claus, Babbo Natale travels through the air in a sleigh drawn by reindeer, and enters houses through a chimney. All Italians know that Father Christmas is a big fan of milk, so they always leave a cup of milk and sweets on the table. However, he visits only those children who have written him a letter in advance asking him to fulfill their cherished wishes - for this purpose, special mailboxes are even installed on the streets and in shops for letters to Italian Santa Claus.

And on January 6, children are looking forward to visiting the fairy Befana. She is usually depicted as an old woman on a broom, with a hooked nose and large teeth, dressed all in black. Behind her is a bag of gifts and coals. There are several legends about the sorceress: according to one of them, the fairy Befana remained in Italy after the wise men did not take her on a journey to the newborn Jesus. Since then, she has been looking into the homes of little Italians to give gifts to obedient children and punish hooligans. Another says that the sorceress herself refused to visit Bethlehem and has since been looking for its cradle in Italian houses. Some New Year's legends say that Befana unlocks the doors of any house with a small golden key, according to others, the sorceress enters the house through the chimney. There are also many legends about how the fairy moves. Some believe that the fairy is brought by the stars, others that she travels on a small donkey, and others that she moves from roof to roof by jumping on a broom. It is customary for the Befana fairy to leave a treat on the mantelpiece - a glass of wine and a saucer of food. There is a belief: if the sorceress liked the treat, she will certainly sweep the floor before leaving. On January 6, the day of Saint Epiphany, the fairy Befana is symbolized by a doll, she is carried on a cart around the city, after which she is burned in the main square. Perhaps this tradition is due to the fact that Befana was considered an evil witch for a long time.

Melchior, Balthazar, Gaspar, Olentzero and Tio Nadal

Spanish children don't believe in Santa Claus. Instead of the traditional New Year's wizard, three Kings come to visit them at once, whom we used to call the Magi - without exaggeration, the oldest Christmas characters written about in the Bible.

On the eve of Three Kings Day, which is celebrated in Spain on January 6, a large colorful procession of Kings takes place in all cities and villages. At the end, Melchior, Balthazar and Gaspard give a solemn speech, which invariably ends with the words: “This year all children will receive gifts!” The kings occupy each of their thrones, often installed in the center of the city, after which they call the kids to them and personally present the treasured gift.

At the same time, in the Basque Country and the province of Navarre, gifts are given to obedient children by Olentzero, the local Santa Claus. There are several legends about his origin - according to one of them, he comes from the Gentilak giants and was the first to learn about the birth of Jesus Christ and bring this news to people. According to another, when Olentzero was a baby, a fairy found him and gave him to an elderly couple. When his adoptive parents died, Olentzero began making toys that he gave to neighborhood children. He died in a fire while saving children, but the fairy gave Olentzero eternal life. Olentzero is usually depicted in national homespun clothing. This good-natured black-bearded fat man loves a good treat and will never refuse good wine - for this he even carries a flask with him.

In Catalonia, the place of Santa Claus is taken by a magic log named Tio Nadal. Little Catalans carefully look after the log - they feed it during the day and shelter it at night. In gratitude for their care, the log gives them small edible souvenirs - sweets, nuts or fruits. In general, Catalans believe that if they burn a log at Christmas and keep the ashes all year, it will protect them from evil spirits.

Jolasveinar

The Icelandic Jolasvejnars have nothing in common with either the Russian Father Frost or Saint Nicholas, better known as Santa Claus. According to legend, the family of the cannibal giantess Gríla and lazy lazybones Leppaludi had 13 sons - Jolasweinars, translated from Icelandic as Christmas bros or Christmas boys. Modern Christmas traditions present them in the form of mischievous prankster gnomes, but until the beginning of the 20th century, the “lads” were considered nothing more than evil trolls, causing a lot of trouble to the inhabitants of the “ice country”.

According to legend, the offspring of mother Grila appeared in the villages two weeks before Christmas, on December 12, and began to do all kinds of harm - they stole livestock and food, broke dishes, made a mess in the house, and sometimes kidnapped children. To avoid being eaten, Icelandic children behaved well and obeyed their parents all year before Christmas.

Over time, the images of the Jolasweinars have transformed - now these good-natured gnomes leave gifts, not one, but thirteen, in the shoes of obedient children, and they give a lump of coal, a potato or even a stone to mischievous people like themselves. It is believed that the gnomes come one by one from the mountains and stay in each house for 13 days, after which they also go back to their cave one by one.

At the same time, Icelandic children are still terrified by mother Grýla and the Jolasweinars' pet - a huge black Yule cat, the size of a bull. On Christmas Eve, they sometimes come to cities and villages, where they lie in wait for naughty children or lazy people who did not have time to buy new woolen clothes for Christmas. In 2010, one news agency stated that the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano was the work of the insidious ogress Grýla.

Maulana Karenga

Since the 60s of the last century, the black population of the United States has held the African-American festival Kwanzaa, which lasts from December 26 to January 1. The main goal of the holiday is to support and preserve African traditions established in the USA in the 17th-19th centuries along with black slaves. Kwanzaa, or the holiday of the first fruit, was invented by the leader of the struggle for the rights of African Americans, professor at the University of California, Dr. Maulana Karenga. He proposed abandoning the holiday of Christmas, which he considered a “white religion,” and returning to his “roots.” However, over time, black residents of the United States who profess Christianity happily celebrate both Christmas and Kwanzaa. In addition, the holiday has gained popularity in Canada, where it is celebrated by everyone who is interested in African-American culture.

Karenga, as the ideological leader of the holiday, proposed the “seven postulates of Kwanzaa,” one for each day - unity, self-determination, teamwork and collective responsibility, cooperation, purposefulness, creativity and faith. Maulana Karenga himself called them the principles by which a black man must guide his life in order to achieve progress.

In accordance with tradition, adults and children decorate their homes, wear bright national clothes and participate in festive ceremonies - a game at national musical instruments, chants, dances, “bloodless” sacrifice, reading prayers and, of course, a feast.

Dr. Karenga can safely be called the New Year's wizard of African Americans - this man did no less for the “black” movement in the world than Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela.

Segatsu-san and Oji-san

In Japan, New Year is celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar, which was adopted in the land of the rising sun in 1873, although the date of the traditional Japanese New Year coincides with the Chinese tradition and is usually located between January 21 and February 21. The tradition of celebrating this holiday has been preserved since ancient times - the arrival of the New Year is invariably announced here by 108 bell strikes. However, after the end of World War II, the Japanese adopted some elements of Western culture. For example, to the traditional ancient Santa Claus Segatsu-san was added a younger, modern winter wizard Oji-san.

Segatsu-san, translated from Japanese as Mr. New Year or Mr. January, wears a green or sky blue kimono. According to legend, a week before the New Year, he leaves his home in the small town of Shiogama on the island of Honshu and begins visiting the people of Japan. This week is popularly called "golden". For his arrival, gates are built in front of the houses from bamboo sticks and pine branches, and dwarf pine, plum or peach trees are installed. Despite the fact that Segatsu-san does not give gifts, but simply wishes everyone a Happy New Year, he is a welcome guest in every home. There is a belief that along with him, on the night from December 31 to January 1, the inhabitants of Japan are visited by the Seven Gods of Happiness, who sail on a magic ship - especially for them, children leave images of sailing ships on their pillows.

The second Santa Claus, Oji-san, appeared in Japan relatively recently - with the penetration of American traditions into the country. "Young Colleague" Segatsu-san - the Japanese version of Santa Claus - copes with his duties in just one night. Oji-san, dressed in a red sheepskin coat and cap, moves around the sea, bringing gifts with him for all the inhabitants of the islands. IN Lately Little Japanese have adopted the tradition of writing letters to their Santa Clauses with their cherished desires; according to statistics, more and more they choose Oji-san as the addressee, who will certainly fulfill their wishes.

Agios Vasilis

Greek Santa Claus has nothing in common with our traditional ideas about the New Year's wizard. His name is not even Saint Nicholas, but Saint Basil - Agios (Agios) Vasilis, in honor of the Orthodox saint who was born in 330 and during his lifetime received the nickname the Great. Saint Vasilis lived only 49 years, during which he helped the poor and needy, and he himself lived very modestly. He died on January 1, 379, since then Greek Orthodox Church On this day the memory of St. Basil the Great is celebrated. He was a tall and thin man with pale skin and a long black beard streaked with gray.

Despite the fact that in modern Greece Agios Vasilis is depicted as Santa Claus - in a red sheepskin coat with a gray beard - in the traditional representation he wears a costume reminiscent of a priest's cassock, and has a tiara on his head. Saint Basil does not come into homes with North Pole, and from his hometown of Caesarea Capadocia. Another important difference is that Agios Vasilis does not carry a bag of gifts, since throughout his life his main gifts were the word and faith of Christ.

Another one is associated with the name of the Great Basilis of Caesarea. new year tradition- Vasilopita. This is a pie, without which not a single celebration is complete in Greece and Cyprus, where the saint is also highly revered. According to one of the legends, to save your hometown From the invaders, the wise Agios Vasilis ordered the local residents to bring all the most valuable things from home. The enemy retreated, and all the collected valuables were baked into pies, which were treated to all residents of the city. These pies are called Vasilopita. They are invariably baked on January 1, and a coin “for good luck” is always hidden inside.

Shan Dan Laozhen

In China, as in other East Asian countries, the New Year is celebrated according to the lunar calendar and marks the arrival of spring. According to ancient beliefs, on the first day of spring nature awakens and the earth comes to life, and the mythical animal Nian comes to Earth, which devoured livestock, grain, as well as children and villagers. Since then, in China it has been customary to leave food on the doorstep of houses - it is believed that the beast will be satisfied and leave people alone. There is another belief: once Nian was scared of a child in a red hanfu; since then, on New Year’s Eve, it is customary to decorate your homes with red lanterns and scrolls to scare away the beast.

The Chinese call their Santa Claus Shan Dan Laozhen; there are other interpretations of the name - Dong Che Lao Ren, Sho Hin and others. Like the Russian Father Frost, he wears a red robe and does not like to travel on foot, preferring to travel around his property on a donkey. Shan Dan Laozhen can safely be called the busiest in New Year's Eve Santa Claus - there are many children in China, but he always looks into every house and leaves laisi - an envelope with a small amount of money for good luck. The Chinese believe that their New Year's elder studied the philosophy of Confucius and is proficient in Wushu and Aikido. It is also believed to ward off evil spirits.

Khyzyr-Ilyas

In Muslim countries, two New Years are celebrated at once. The first of them occurs on the first day of the month of Muharram, but since in Islamic countries they use moon calendar, the holiday is moved 11 days forward. The second is called Hederlez and symbolizes the beginning of a new pastoral year (usually celebrated on April 23 according to the Julian calendar and May 6 according to the Gregorian calendar). Santa Claus here is called Khyzyr Ilyas and he appears in the homes of good and righteous people only at the beginning of May. He is usually depicted as a gray-haired old man with a long gray beard, wearing a green embroidered robe and a red turban, and carrying a bag of gifts.

In fact, Khyzyr and Ilyas are two prophets, whose names have long been perceived as a single whole. According to Tatar beliefs, Khyzyr drank living water and received immortality. It is believed that he travels around the world, helping those in need and punishing greedy people. To this day, the Tatars believe that one should not offend an old man one meets on the road or looks into the house, since it could be Khyzyr himself.

According to other legends, Khyzyr and Ilyas are brothers, they meet only once a year to bring Spring back to earth. Hederlez is celebrated on this day. According to tradition, on the eve of the holiday, all houses are thoroughly cleaned, since the New Year's wizard will not look into the house of a slob. Housewives also believe that if all boxes, wallets and pots of food are left open on the festive night, they can receive the blessing of Khyzyr-Ilyas for prosperity in the family.

Yulia Ulasova
Scenario of the New Year's holiday "Ball of Fairy-Tale Heroes"

New Year's holiday scenario"Ball fairy-tale heroes» .

To the music, children enter the hall, stand in a round dance near the Christmas tree, perform movements and sing a song to the music of D. Lvov - Kompanein, lyrics by S. Bogomazov "Snow Song". Children read poetry in a circle.

1.Child:

Let's start, let's start

New Year's carnival

We invite, we invite,

All guests to the hall today!

2.Child:

There will be games, there will be dancing,

Miracles await you today,

AND heroes of a good fairy tale

They will definitely come to you.

3.Child:

Round dance, round dance

Little people are dancing

Dance by our Christmas tree

We are ready all year long!

4.Child:

Beauty, beauty!

Our Christmas tree is thick

You can't reach the top of your head

This is such beauty!

5.Child:

It's snowing, it's snowing

Hello, hello New Year!

How cheerful we are

Round dance near the Christmas tree!

Children perform movements and a song to the music of O. Ostrovsky, lyrics by Z. Petrova "Our Christmas tree". After the song, the children sit down in their places. Sounds fabulous music. Appears Storyteller.

Storyteller

Snip-snap-snurre, purre-bazelurre!

There are different people in the world: blacksmiths, cooks, doctors, schoolchildren, pharmacists, watchmen, teachers.

And here I am - storyteller.

Different people have holidays, and there are no fairy-tale heroes.

And today I decided to arrange holiday for fairy-tale heroes, they will have fun, dance, play.

Each a fairy tale will send its fairy-tale heroes to the holiday, which in fairy tale and choose.

Guys, I have a magic book fairy tales.

Let's open the first page and see What fairy tale characters are depicted on it?

Opens the book. Makes a riddle. Shows a picture.

The grandmother loved the girl very much,

I gave her a red cap.

The girl forgot her name.

Well, tell me her name!

Children's answers: Little Red Riding Hood.

Storyteller:

Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf come out from behind the Christmas tree. Dance "Little Red Riding Hood and Gray wolf» . To the music "Little Red Riding Hood's Song".

Little Red Riding Hood:

I'm wearing a red cap,

Pies in a basket.

I'm walking to grandma's

Along a forest path.

If I meet a Wolf,

I won't cry

I'm then the hunters

I'll call you loudly.

Wolf:

Rrrr, yeah, and the Hat is here?

Who will I meet on the way -

Tom on the holiday won't come!

I love little kids

Mischievous, remote.

Little Red Riding Hood:

Enough for you spoil the holiday for all of us!

Wolf:

Oooh (crying).

I won't do this again, I promise!

I will be good, submissive, I will only eat pies and cheesecakes, honestly, honestly!

And I'm also on I want a holiday for you, take me with you, please!

Little Red Riding Hood: So be it, we’ll take you to our place holiday!

Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf go behind the Christmas tree.

Storyteller opens a book. Makes a riddle.

Storyteller:

For breakfast he only ate an onion,

But he was never a crybaby.

Learned to write with the nose of a letter

And he put a blot in the notebook.

I didn’t listen to Malvina at all.

Father's son Carlo.

Children's answers: Pinocchio.

Pinocchio and Pierrot come out from behind the tree, and Malvina stands behind the tree

Pierrot:

Malvina, my bride, has disappeared,

She ran away to foreign lands.

I'm crying, I don't know where to go.

Isn't it better with puppet life breake down.

Pinocchio:

Don't worry, I'll find her

And I’ll bring you to you quickly!

Pinocchio takes Malvina out.

Malvina:

Well, let's not be sad

And let's forget about sorrows.

All friends and girlfriends

I invite you to the circle.

Dance "Pinocchio, Malvinas and Pierrot" (Game with a tambourine).Pinocchio, Malvina, Pierrot go behind the Christmas tree.

Storyteller opens a book. Makes a riddle.

Storyteller:

Smart, resourceful mustachioed friend -

Made the owner rich.

But he cannot live without red boots.

Well, guess what, guys?

Children's answers: Puss in Boots.

Storyteller:

Snip-snap-snurre, purre-basilurre.

A cat and a kitten come out from behind a Christmas tree.

Dance "Puss in Boots". To the music “Once upon a time there was a black cat...”

Puss in Boots:

Charles Perrault invented it for me

Boots on paws

My feather is sticking out

In a brave hat

I am Puss in Boots

IN I don't know fear in a fairy tale.

Kitty:

Moore, mur I'm a kitten

I'll sit by the window

I'll bend my back flexibly

I'll do a warm-up

I'll wash myself with my paws

And I’ll hide in the warmth!

A cat and a kitten go behind the Christmas tree.

Storyteller:

She was hardworking

Among sisters I am not proud,

There are ash stains on the cheeks,

And she wanted to go to balls.

Children's answers: Cinderella.

Cinderella and the prince come out from behind the Christmas tree.

Cinderella:

Call me Cinderella

I came to congratulate you

There's a ball at the palace today.

The prince organized a carnival.

Prince:

Let's all stand together in a circle,

Let's dance together!

You are my friend,

And I'm your friend

We don't stand still!

All the children get up to dance. Dance "Turn away - turn around".

After the dance, the children sit down in their seats.

Storyteller:

It seems that all the guests have gathered, but Santa Claus is still not there.

I need to call grandpa

Celebrate the New Year with us.

The name is Santa Claus

Storyteller:

Where is Santa Claus?

It's high time he was here...

Did something happen?

Santa Claus has a long path...

Music sounds, King Night and Snowflake appear from behind the tree. King Night and Snowflake perform moves to music from the novel "Harry Potter". Snowflake goes behind the Christmas tree.

King Night:

I am the king of the black night

I bring darkness and darkness.

It will be very difficult for frost

Find a path in the forest.

I bring darkness and darkness.

King Night goes behind the tree.

Storyteller:

Guys, have you heard that said King Night?

How will Santa Claus come to us in such darkness?

Who will help us?

Let's look in our book!

Snow White comes out from behind the Christmas tree.

Snow White.

I made toys

Christmas tree to dressed up for the holiday.

There are beads and balls,

And colored lanterns.

Brothers dwarves on the hunt,

Day after day they are at work,

I hear the gnomes coming,

And they dance and sing.

"Dance of Snow White and the Dwarfs"

1 gnome:

We are good forest gnomes, we come to you in fairy tales and dreams

We protect the trees in the forest and extract treasures from the ground.

2 gnome:

We are the masters of the forest, we have countless worries.

We illuminate the forest with magic lanterns.

Snow White and the dwarves go behind the Christmas tree.

Storyteller:

Dwarves, come on, dedicate

Show the way.

The gnomes walk around the Christmas tree and shine their lanterns.

Storyteller:

Look, everyone fairy tale characters fell asleep, and we cannot continue our New Year's fairy ball. We need to wake them up. And traveling musicians can do this.

Storyteller opens a book, shows illustration.

Children: The Bremen Town Musicians. Rooster. Donkey. Dog. Kitty.

Children play musical instruments to the music.

At the beginning of the Bremen Town Musicians dance heroes of all fairy tales"waking up".

Storyteller:

Night has disappeared, and its spell has fallen!

The stars sparkled brightly again.

Children stand around the Christmas tree. They read poetry.

1.Child:

Today the hall was filled with fun,

We invited everyone to fairy ball.

From favorite fairy tale heroes have come,

They brought joy and fun to everyone.

2.Child:

And we never dreamed of this:

See everyone at once here in festive hall.

And how good it is that our hall is cozy

Collected heroes from fairy tales together.

Children dance in a round dance. They perform movements and a song to the music of V. Vitlin, words by P. Kaganova"Winter Song".

Father Frost and Snow Maiden enter the hall, walk around the tree, and stop in front of the children and guests.

Father Frost:

Happy New Year to you, friends!

WITH rich holiday!

Wishes you happiness and joy

Santa Claus for the guys!

Snow Maiden (looks at the Christmas tree):

What a beautiful and elegant tree you have!

And how many colorful toys there are on it!

And there are balloons, and tinsel, and garlands, and paper candies.

Why don't the lights burn?

Father Frost:

Oh, we completely forgot about the lights!

You're right, granddaughter, it's a mess!

We need to fix it! (Addresses the children.)

Guys, let's light the lights on our Christmas tree!

Now let's all say it together “One, two, three, Christmas tree, burn!”

Children, Santa Claus, Snow Maiden, and all heroes(three times): One, two, three, Christmas tree, burn!

The lights on the Christmas tree are lit.

Storyteller:

Santa Claus,

We waited so long, we were worried.

But here you are

So let's get into a round dance,

A cheerful song

Let's celebrate the New Year!

Round dance "Little Christmas Tree".

Father Frost (addresses children):

Are you staying late, kids? Isn't it time for us to play?

Snow Maiden:

That's right, Grandfather Frost!

On the holiday is about having fun!

What game are we going to play?

Father Frost:

And my game is called "Repeat the movement".

Santa Claus plays a game "Repeat the movement". Children stand in a circle. Music is playing. The guys must repeat the movements that Santa Claus shows.

(Santa Claus shows the movements, children repeat)

Let's do everything as I do (2 claps)

(2 claps)

Everyone works together here! (2 claps)

Let's all stomp like me (2 floods)

Come on, all together, all at once! (2 floods)

Everyone works together here! (2 floods)

Let's laugh like me: "Ha ha!"

Let's laugh like me: "Ha ha!

Come on, all together, all at once! ("Ha ha)

Everyone works together here! ("Ha ha)

Let's all sneeze like me: "Apchhi!"

Come on, all together, all at once! (Apchhi)

Everyone works together here! (Apchhi)

(Santa Claus looks at the Christmas tree and loses his mitten)

Snow Maiden:

Santa Claus, you lost your mitten.

Father Frost:

Snow Maiden:

But guys, catch up!

Game "Catch up with the mitten".

1. Child.

A Christmas tree in summer is just a Christmas tree:

If you touch a branch, it hurts your fingers,

The trunk is entwined with cobwebs,

The fly agaric is standing below.

2. Child.

That's when winter comes,

The tree seems to come to life:

It will fluff up in the cold,

It will straighten up under the winds.

3. Child.

Not prickly at all

Like a fragrant flower.

It doesn't smell like dew or honey,

The tree smells like New Year!

4. Child.

Rushed with a silver blizzard

Past the fir trees and birches.

Scattering sparkling snow

Good Grandfather Frost.

5. Child.

We've been waiting for you for a long time

They came to our Christmas tree,

They got up in a merry round dance,

Dance with us.

6. Child.

Lots of interesting games

We know you brought it for us,

Because everyone knows

You are a wizard, Santa Claus.

7. Child.

Clap your hands louder with us,

Start a round dance.

And please, longer

Don't leave us

8. Child.

Grandfather Frost is a good man

Smiles like this

The beard is completely gray,

And above her is a red nose

The fur coat is so red

No, this is not Santa Claus!

9. Child.

His eyes are cunning

Laughs, smiles

And give it to all the guys

Gifts are going

And the fur coat is red, and the nose...

Hello Dedushka Moroz!

10. Child.

Oh, so good

Good Santa Claus!

Christmas tree for us holiday

Brought from the forest

The lights are sparkling

Red, blue

It's good for us Christmas tree,

Have fun with yourself!

Father Frost:

Well, dear friends, for you

I have a miracle in store.

The gifts I prepared for you,

Now, guys, I'll give it to you. (looks for a bag)

Where is my bag? Here's the secret...

Not on the right. And there is no left...

Isn’t it on the Christmas tree? And not under the tree

Snow Maiden:

Grandfather Frost, perhaps

Will music help you?

If it sounds loud -

Your bag is nearby!

Father Frost:

Well, let's try to search with music.

Music begins to sound quietly.

Father Frost:

Isn't it on the window?

Isn't it on the chair?

Suitable for parents. Santa Claus asks one of the mothers, then the fathers.

Doesn't mom have one?

Doesn't dad have one?

At this time, the Snow Maiden quietly pulls out a bag of gifts from behind the door.

The music starts to get louder.

Snow Maiden:

Santa Claus! Hooray!

I have your bag!

Santa Claus and the children approach the bag and praise the Snow Maiden.

He wants to untie the bag, but he can’t do anything.

Father Frost:

That's the knot... Uh-huh!

I can't untie it!

Snow Maiden:

Guys, let's help Santa Claus untie the bag.

Stand in a circle

Well, let's all clap together!

Let's stomp our feet!

Dance « New Year's toys» .

Father Frost (pulls the bow):

The knots are all untied

And we got gifts

Get to your places quickly

I will give gifts to everyone.

Sounds funny music. Father Frost and Snow Maiden are distributing gifts.

Snow Maiden:

That's New Year's holiday

It's time for us to finish!

Father Frost:

Much joy today

We wish you children!

Together:

Goodbye!

(Father Frost and Snow Maiden say goodbye and leave, the children are under New Year's the musical soundtrack goes to the group)

Very soon the most long-awaited holiday in every family will knock on our doors, during which even adults turn into children and often dress up in costumes of New Year's characters. Under the sound of chimes and falling flakes of snow, each of us plunges into winter's tale and forgets about all his troubles and disappointments. If the holiday has such an impact on adults, then imagine how much it means for children! New Year's characters, known to us from ancient fairy tales, are an integral part of this holiday. But how much do we know about them? After all, it is quite possible that the history of these heroes contains many interesting facts. As you probably already understood, our article today is dedicated to New Year’s characters and everything connected with them.

The main characters of the New Year holidays

When we talk about such an important holiday for every Russian person as the New Year, then images of the good-natured Father Frost in a red fur coat, the beautiful Snow Maiden, the funny Snowman and the evil one begin to float before our eyes. Snow Queen. Children and adults with the characters we have listed are a constant success. Therefore, at every holiday and corporate event you can always see one or two heroes of the winter celebration.

However, not only in our country they like to celebrate the arrival. All over the world, from the beginning of December to the beginning of January, a series of festive events lasts, where their own characters reign. Some of them echo the characters of Russian fairy tales, while others look incomprehensible and even somewhat exotic. These include the New Year's fairy Befana from Italy, the Spanish Three Kings and the Jolasweinar gnomes from Iceland. Without these New Year's characters, it is difficult to imagine giving gifts to children.

Today we decided to collect all the main characters of the upcoming New Year and tell readers their interesting stories.

The most important fairy-tale New Year's character: Santa Claus

How many names does this good wizard have! You can’t name everything even in a whole hour! However, this does not change main point holiday - without Santa Claus, children and adults will not see gifts, fun and various delicacies. However, this was not always the case, because just two hundred years ago the good wizard was not such a welcome guest in every home. He was not at all associated with the New Year's character, whom all the children in the country love and look forward to.

In fact, Father Frost looked like an unpleasant old man of short stature, roaming the vast Russian lands from November to March. He clearly did not like people and did his best to harm those who found themselves outside their home at an inopportune hour. Father Frost's favorite pastime was turning any living creatures into ice, and in his spare time he enjoyed dressing trees in snow coats and hanging funny icicles on their branches.

It is unknown how the future life of this character would have developed if at the end of the nineteenth century he had not begun to be invited to New Year’s parties. For some reason, everyone forgot about the not very good past of Santa Claus and entrusted him with the honorable mission of distributing gifts. Over time, he matured and turned into a caring wizard who enjoys communicating with children.

Who delivers gifts in Slovakia?

If we talk about New Year's characters similar to our Santa Claus, we can name Santa Claus and St. Nicholas. The first hero is quite well known thanks to American culture, but very little is known about the second in Russia. Mikulas brings gifts to Slovak and Czech children, but he comes to them not on New Year’s Eve, but in early December. It is at this time that most Europeans celebrate St. Nicholas Day, which is recognized as the real-life prototype of all winter wizards, who rewarded children for good behavior with gifts.

Saint Nicholas is very similar in appearance to our Father Frost, but he carries a box on his back, and his main assistants are the Angel and the Devil. They are the ones who keep the list of obedient children and mischievous children.

It is noteworthy that in European culture, gifts are distributed by two wizards. Each country has its own, but the first one always comes at the beginning of December, and the second one on the night of Catholic Christmas.

Snow Maiden: exploring the pedigree

Children's parties simply cannot do without this New Year's character. A cute girl in a white fur coat embroidered with snowflakes and flowers is Santa Claus's main assistant in all his affairs. She communicates with animals, loves children and is always ready to come to the rescue of the young and inexperienced New Year. However, it is still unknown who she really is to the good wizard - a daughter or a granddaughter? Let's try to lift the veil on this secret.

According to another legend, the Snow Maiden is the daughter of Father Frost and the Snow Queen. These two fell in love with each other, despite the fact that Chernobog himself was against their marriage. This deity led all the dark forces and was greatly feared in Rus'. But his daughter, the Snow Queen, turned out to be a very soulful girl, capable of love. Where the fairy-tale mother of the Snow Maiden went later is not told in any of the legends. It is only known that the girl stayed with Santa Claus and became his faithful and only assistant.

By the way, the character New Year's holidays The Snow Maiden only became Soviet times. Around the thirties of the last century, it first began to appear at Christmas trees and other celebrations.

Cute Snowman: Santa Claus's closest relative

A snowman, made from three balls and with a carrot instead of a nose, has become one of the most beloved children's New Year characters. But why exactly did he become so close to the Russian soul?

The fact is that in the old days snowmen or snowmen were sculpted everywhere and they were given sacred meaning. During the thaw period, there were always three snow women in the villages. One was given a broom in her hands, with which she was supposed to drive away winter and snow. The second was considered the patroness of the future autumn harvest, and grain was always scattered around her. The third snow woman was made smaller than the others and beautifully dressed up.

It is not known when the Snowman became a true symbol from a sacred symbol, but for many years now children have firmly associated it with the New Year and all festive events.

The Snow Queen

This evil sorceress often takes part in New Year's performances and she did not come to us from the fairy tales of the Danish writer. Almost all northern peoples had a character who commanded blizzards, snowflakes and ice. For some, she bore the name of the Queen of the Night, while for others, for example, she was called the Polar Old Woman.

It was these heroes who became the prototype of the Snow Queen. This sorceress usually comes to children's parties and does something bad. And then Father Frost, Snow Maiden and other characters correct everything that the evil sorceress has done.

Sorceress Befana: witch or fairy

When talking about the New Year holidays, one cannot help but mention the foreign characters that children love in different countries peace. In Italy, at the beginning of January, obedient children eagerly await the fairy Befana. Kids know that in essence she is a good sorceress, although she looks quite scary. She is usually depicted as an old woman with a hooked nose, riding on a broom. Behind her hangs a large bag containing gifts and coals. The fairy gives the latest to the mischievous people who have upset their parents throughout the year.

There are many legends about how the fairy Befana appeared. According to one of them, the Magi did not take her with them when they went for Star of Bethlehem. Upset, she decided to give gifts to local children, which she still does.

Italians always leave a glass of wine and some snacks on the mantelpiece. If Belfana is satisfied with the treat, she will definitely help the owners and sweep the floor.

The Oldest Christmas Characters

In Spain it is impossible to meet Santa Claus, but the Three Kings always come to good children there. Their prototypes were the same wise men who went to worship the newborn Jesus.

The day in honor of the Kings is celebrated after the New Year, however, this holiday in European culture it is not as important as in Russia, and is accompanied by colorful processions.

The holidays take place on the sixth of January, and it is on this day that all children receive their long-awaited gifts. In small towns they are distributed right in the square where three thrones are installed. Each one sits on one of the Three Kings, and children can sit on the laps of any of them.

Icelandic mischief makers

Iceland has its own traditions of celebrating Christmas and New Year. The main heroes of these days are considered to be the gnomes of Jolasweinar. They are very different from other holiday characters, as they have their own story.

According to ancient legend, the thirteen Jolasweinar are the sons of a giantess who ate people and one of the lazy men. Initially, the mischief makers were portrayed as trolls who came to local villages in mid-December. These New Year's characters committed many nasty things with their own hands, including kidnapping children. Only obedient children could avoid meeting the Jolasweinars, because they never left the house without asking their parents.

Today, the trolls have transformed into kind gnomes who lay out gifts for children living in local villages.

Japanese winter wizard

Segatsu-san, this is the name of the good spirit of the New Year in Japan, never gives gifts, but nevertheless he is expected in every home. The fact is that a week before the holiday, he goes around all the inhabitants of the country and notes those who especially prepared for his arrival. The gods of Happiness come to these families on New Year's Eve, giving people their blessing for a long twelve months.

And a little more about the New Year...

On the eve of the holidays, people spend so much energy on the New Year's surroundings that they lose the very feeling of a fairy tale. You can return it if you come up with a celebration scenario for your loved ones yourself.

Don't be shy and do something original. May your home be filled with friends in carnival costumes, children will dress up as fairy-tale characters, and the evening will turn into a series of contests and fun competitions. Perhaps after such a holiday one of the good wizards will definitely look into your house and bring happiness with them.

One hundred names of Santa Claus

Who main character New Year's holidays? No doubt - Santa Claus! He lives in every New Year's fairy tale, stands in a cotton fur coat under each Christmas tree, plays himself in cartoons...

The story of Santa Claus is long and complicated. It is believed that the first New Year's, or rather Christmas, grandfather in the world was Saint Nicholas, born at the end of the 3rd century in the city of Patara, which is on the shore Mediterranean Sea. Having become a priest and then archbishop of the city of Myra, the capital of the Lycian land, he was engaged in charity work and performed many wonderful deeds. At Christmas, according to legend, Archbishop Nicholas loved to give gifts to children. But only obedient ones! He did this secretly, traveling around the city on Christmas night with a bag of gifts, which he placed in bright stockings on the threshold of houses where poor people lived. The secret would have remained a secret, but one day Archbishop Nicholas was caught... by a night patrol that went around the streets and kept order. A lot of apples, toys and sweets were found in the “night grandfather’s” bag. And the residents of the city began to call their archbishop the Christmas Father. After his death, he was canonized and is highly revered in Russia. Perhaps, not a single saint in our country has had as many churches erected as the saint Nicholas. “Nicholas is the second intercessor after God,” people once said. However, St. Nicholas is revered all over the world. They just call it differently. For the British, this is Santa Claus (which means Saint Nicholas). American poet Clement Moore wrote the poem "The Parish of St. Nicholas" in 1822. In this fairy-tale story, Saint Nicholas suddenly turned into a cheerful and kind elf who lives at the North Pole and at Christmas rides on reindeer sleds all over the world, giving gifts to children... And so, century after century, in different countries, that same Grandfather was “born” Frost, which you guys all know very well. That is why he is a little different among all peoples, but invariably kind and cheerful. Although...

Do you know that until relatively recently - about 200 years ago - our domestic Santa Claus was not a very pleasant person? He had nothing in common with Saint Nicholas, but was a little old man with a long gray beard, evil gimlet eyes and a very capricious character. He ruled the earth from November to March, loved to play mischief, chill and freeze all living things. Don't believe me? And remember what Moroz the governor was like from the poem by N.A. Nekrasov "Frost, Red Nose":

It is not the wind that rages over the forest,
Streams did not run from the mountains,
Moroz the voivode on patrol
Walks around his possessions (...)
He walks - walks through the trees,
Cracking on frozen water
AND bright sun plays
In his shaggy beard...

The heroine of Nekrasov’s poem, the young widow Daria, never received any good deeds from Father Frost: he froze her, her heart...

And only at the end of the 19th century did the Russian fairy-tale Father Frost become kinder and began to visit children’s Christmas trees that were held at Christmas, bringing gifts... In a word, grandfather remembered that he was not an evil, prickly old man, but a kind saint. Maybe his granddaughter, Snegurochka, who unexpectedly appeared, helped with this. However, there is a special conversation about her...

How many names does Santa Claus have? Perhaps as many as there are countries and peoples in the world! You already know about English and American Santa Claus. In France, the good New Year's grandfather is called Pere Noel, which means "Father Christmas." Besides him, there is another Santa Claus in this country - Shaland, an old man with a beard, wearing a fur hat and cloak. He does not store gifts in the basket, but rods for naughty and lazy children! Swedish children also have two Santa Clauses. But both are kind: the stooped grandfather Yultomten and the dwarf with a beard Yulnissar. They leave gifts on the windowsills for Swedish children on New Year's Eve. In Cyprus, Santa Claus is called Vasily. Children sing a song: “Saint Basil, where are you, come, Saint Basil, give happiness...” In the north of Spain, in the Basque country, New Year's grandfather is called Olentzero. He does not part with a flask of good Spanish wine, but he never forgets about his main duty - to give children toys. The Czech New Year's "gift giver" is called Mikulas. And in Italy, instead of Santa Claus, there is an old woman named Befana. She flies to the house on New Year's Eve and goes down through the chimney into the room, where she leaves sweets and toys for the good children, and the bad ones get only the ash from the fireplace...

As everyone well knows, Santa Claus comes to our region in winter. Where is his homeland? Of course, you say, in the far North, where it is winter almost all year round... The Finns, for example, believe that the homeland of Santa Claus is Lapland. For many, many years he lived on the slope of a mountain called Sopka Ukho. And in our time, bored alone, he moved to a small house on the Arctic Circle itself, not far from the town of Rovaniemi. This is where letters with congratulations and requests for gifts come addressed to the Finnish Santa Claus - Joulupki...

Our Russian Father Frost has settled in the ancient city of Veliky Ustyug for several years now. This residence was invented for him in December 1996 by two governments - Moscow and Vologda. Here, in Veliky Ustyug, a wooden palace was built for Father Frost. All year round(but especially at the end of December!) letters addressed to him come from boys and girls living in different parts of our country.

And now in Moscow, in the ancient Kuzminki Park, it has been decided to build a palace for Father Frost. This is where he will live when at the beginning winter holidays, on the eve of the New Year and Christmas, will come to the capital to congratulate Moscow children on the holidays. So soon you guys, without leaving for the North, will be able to meet and talk with the real Santa Claus. And near the Frosty Palace they will put a huge mailbox for letters. Of course it will be full! The Snow Maiden will probably settle somewhere near her grandfather: what would New Year's Moscow be without her?

Do you know that life for Santa Clauses is not so easy? During all school holidays thousands are waiting for them Christmas trees in all cities of the country. In addition, every Santa Claus always has to prove that he is the best, the most real! Back in 2002, the first All-Russian Congress of Father Frosts was held in Moscow. They came from different parts of the country. We talked and decided to unite all the Santa Claus forces into a social movement" silver ring". They also suggested creating an organization “Silvers - Santa Claus’s Helpers.” You know, it’s already difficult for the Snow Maiden to help her grandfather alone...

In the same year, elections for the best Santa Claus were held on Theater Square in the capital. The requirements for him were great: Santa Claus must be the funniest, the most sociable, the most poetic, the most musical, the kindest... They found him and awarded him the main Santa Claus hat. This is what life is like for today's Santa Clauses - there is no time to rest!

Granddaughter or granddaughter?

The Snow Maiden is an obligatory character in Russian New Year's performances. But has it always been like this? Let's try to understand the pedigree of Santa Claus and his cheerful granddaughter.

Once upon a time, before the adoption of Christianity, pagan gods were worshiped in Rus'. Among them was Moroz, Morozko... God is strict, serious. His mother is the ancient Slavic goddess Storm Yaga, who over time turned into - just don't be surprised, guys! - in Baba Yaga. And Frost had a granddaughter, whose name was Snegurochka. She was kinder and more affectionate than her grandfather, sometimes she lived with people in the winter and helped them with housework. By the way, if you believe some ancient fairy tales, then the Snow Maiden was not the granddaughter, but the daughter of Father Frost, and the granddaughter of another fairy-tale character, Kashchei the Immortal, whose prototype was the ancient Slavic evil god - Chernobog! His daughter, the Snow Queen, married Frost, and they had a Snow Maiden... So, that means it’s a daughter after all?

You and I are completely confused in this fabulous family! Who is who's daughter, who's granddaughter to whom, and who's grandfather to whom... But maybe it's not so important now? The Snow Maiden began celebrating the New Year with her grandfather relatively recently, before the Great Patriotic War, at the very end of the 1930s. And before that, in all fairy tales and songs, it regularly melted with the arrival of spring under the rays of the hot sun. Remember the fairy tale by A.N. Ostrovsky?

The Snow Maiden was, essentially, only one of the Snowman’s relatives, who was sculpted from snow by both children and adults... Here is a poem about the Snow Maiden written by the poet Joseph Utkin in 1940:

My love, Snow Maiden,
There's no need to grieve.
Why are you crying, fool?
That you have to die.
Die, die without complaining
Playing and joking.
You were sculpted by playing around
The same child.
It sculpted and didn’t think,
What is not a cheerful laugh -
Breathed in a living soul
It's in the cold snow,
And what, when it opens up
This whirlwind is crazy
Only a puddle will remain
From your joys.

Poems and old fairy tales spoke about the cold heart of the granddaughter of Santa Claus. The Snow Maiden was made into a good sorceress, helping grandfather in all New Year's affairs, more than half a century ago by the authors of Soviet Christmas tree performances. And then we all - both children and adults who were also children - just got used to it! Try, imagine now the New Year without the Snow Maiden!

Snowman

This is the familiar snow woman. It must be said that in ancient times the word “baba” in Rus' meant “mother-ancestress”. It is no coincidence that ancient stone idols preserved in the southern steppes are called “stone women.”

They have been making snowmen in Rus' for a long time. They are born during a thaw, when the snow becomes soft and sticky and rolls perfectly into large balls. This is an old one winter fun akin to an equally old game - taking a snowy town or fortress. Have you guys at least once in your life participated in the construction of such a snow fortress and its assault? Then the “assault ladders”, and snowballs, and shouts of “hurray”, and various “military tricks” come into play. By the way, if the Snowman only appeared in our favorite fairy tales and cartoons, then the snow fortress became the heroine of the famous painting by artist V.I. Surikov’s “The Capture of the Snow Town”, and also served as the place where the heroes of one of the stories of the writer Arkady Gaidar about the boy Timur, “The Commandant of the Snow Fortress,” play war.

Regardless of gender, a Snowman always looks like this: three snow globes placed on top of each other. The two largest ones are the body, the third, the top one, is the head with eyes (cones, acorns or just black coals), a nose (carrot), and also “a mouth to the ears, even sewn on.” Hands are dry branches. The Snowman must have an old bucket on his head. But where can you find it in the city today? Therefore, in our Moscow courtyards, an old hat, or even a cake box decorated with a crow feather, is often put on the Snowman’s head.

As we have already found out, the Snowman is the closest relative of the Snow Maiden, which means Father Frost himself! That is why he is always given special honor. In the old days, villages often sculpted three snow women at once. One of them always held a broom in her hands - “to disperse the snow.” At the feet of another, armed with a rake, lay a sheaf of rye and grains were scattered. This is the patroness of the future harvest. The smallest snow woman was called "Roof". Sometimes the snow woman was dressed up as the Winter Boyar: they put an old skirt and apron on her, and put a hat on her head. A fence was placed around such a woman and the area was covered with hay and straw - so that “the walk would be soft.”

In modern fairy tales and cartoons, snowmen have very different professions. The snowman from the cartoons was also a watchman at the New Year tree, and a postal worker, and even the driver of a snow car in which Santa Claus drives around... In the very good old cartoon “When the Christmas Trees Light Up,” Santa Claus and the Snowman sing a funny song in duet:

We're going, we're going to visit the children,
And we bring a cartload of gifts,
Because to these children
Santa Claus is located!..

The Snow Queen

This cold lady came to us from a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. Although it is also found in old fairy tales of northern peoples. Only there she is more often called the Queen of Night or the Polar Old Woman. This ice lady is subordinate to the polar lights, huge reserves of ice, all the northern winds, armies of snowflakes, evil polar blizzards, blizzards and drifting snow... In the one hundred and fifty years that have passed since the day the great storyteller invented her, she has managed to visit heroine of films, cartoon films, characters in television and radio shows, and also take part in many Christmas tree performances as an evil sorceress, who must be defeated by Santa Claus with the help of the children gathered in the hall...

WHY ARE ALL SNOWFLAKES SIX-POINTED?

Do you guys know that among the many billions of snowflakes that fall in winter, no two are exactly alike. At the same time, no matter what shape the snow star is (and it can only be examined with a microscope), each of them is six-rayed or hexagonal. Why? Back in 1611, the famous astronomer I. Kepler published the essay " New Year's gift, or about hexagonal snowflakes." He asked the question: "Why are all snowflakes hexagonal." And he answered it like this: "This thing has not yet been revealed to me..." Almost four centuries have passed since then, but scientists still cannot solve this riddle of Nature.

To this day, I have a problem with the correct spelling of the proper name of the Russian Santa Claus. I specifically didn’t write this name.
I just can’t understand why he is Father Frost, and not just Father Frost.
So I decided to figure out these fabulous WINTER characters.
Santa Claus is the main fairy-tale character at the New Year holiday, the East Slavic version of the Christmas giver. Lord winter period of the year.
Santa Claus is depicted as an old man in a colored fur coat - blue, dark blue, red or white, with a long white beard and a staff in his hand, wearing felt boots. Rides three horses. Often he comes accompanied by his granddaughter Snegurochka, and during the USSR, it happened, and the New Year - a boy in a red fur coat and hat (on one of these items of clothing there was often a digital designation of the coming/coming year). The New Year boy acted as a kind of successor to Santa Claus; he was most often depicted on New Year's cards the late 1950s - mid-1980s, after which the popularity of this character began to decline and by now he is almost forgotten. Also, Santa Claus is sometimes accompanied by various forest animals.

SNOW Maiden is the granddaughter of Father Frost, his constant companion and assistant. During the holidays he acts as an intermediary between children and Santa Claus. The image of the Snow Maiden is a symbol of frozen waters. This is an eternally young and cheerful girl, dressed only in white clothes. No other color is allowed in traditional symbolism, although from the mid-20th century blue tones were sometimes used in her clothing. Her headdress is a crown embroidered with silver and pearls.

If we turn to the era of paganism, we can find out that the Slavs greatly revered the formidable god Frost. He was the son of Buri Yaga, who was the most ancient goddess of our ancestors. Frost himself was very stern and unsociable, but his granddaughter Snegurochka loved people very much.
According to another legend, the Snow Maiden is the daughter of Father Frost and the Snow Queen. These two fell in love with each other, despite the fact that Chernobog himself was against their marriage. This deity led all the dark forces and was greatly feared in Rus'. But his daughter, the Snow Queen, turned out to be a very soulful girl, capable of love. Where the fairy-tale mother of the Snow Maiden went later is not told in any of the legends. It is only known that the girl stayed with Santa Claus and became his faithful and only assistant.

SNOWMAN is the son of the pagan Father Frost and the Snowy Blizzard. These snow creatures were initially considered very evil and feared. The first snowmen were portrayed as fierce, huge monsters that could harm humans. It was also dangerous to build a snowman at midnight, which could be marked by bad dreams and night terrors.

Over time, the Snowman changed gender - he became the Snow Woman. Our ancestors believed that in winter natural phenomena(fogs, snows, blizzards) are commanded by female spirits. Therefore, to show them their respect, they sculpted snow women and gave them sacred meaning. During the thaw period, there were always three snow women in the villages. One was given a broom in her hands, with which she was supposed to drive away winter and snow. The second was considered the patroness of the future autumn harvest, and grain was always scattered around her. The third snow woman was made smaller than the others and dressed up beautifully - she was “responsible” for happiness under the roof of the house.

Today, the mystical meaning of snowmen and snow women has been completely lost: they have long become simply a traditional winter pastime, which adults and children indulge in with equal pleasure. Only the obligatory attributes of snow figures remind us of the connection with the past:
1. An old bucket on your head is a symbol of prosperity in the house.
2. Broom - to “drive away” very coldy and “drive” a lot of snow: then the earth will give birth better.
3. Coals and old household rubbish as facial details are a symbol of getting rid of the past.
4. And the carrot nose is a wordless request for a good harvest.