January 30 - Santa Claus and Snow Maiden Day: history and traditions of the holiday

Every year on January 30, Russia celebrates an unusual holiday - Ded Moroz and Snow Maiden Day, which has its roots in Slavic mythology and Christian tradition. In 2025, the date falls on Thursday. About the history of the main characters of the New Year, as well as the meaning of the celebration read in the material "Izvestia".

Day of Santa Claus and Snow Maiden - 2025: Christian tradition

Ded Moroz and Snow Maiden are the main symbols of the New Year. A kind old man in a red coat with a gray head and his granddaughter personify the fairy tale and the fulfillment of wishes. These images have been formed over the centuries, they are collective and combine elements of pagan and Christian customs.

In the Christian tradition, the prototype of the elder who secretly leaves gifts on New Year's Eve (Ded Moroz in Russia and Santa Claus in Western countries) is considered to be St. Nicholas the Good.

According to legend, the saint learned that a bankrupt merchant was planning to give his three daughters to a brothel to pay off his debts. Taking pity on the maidens, he secretly gave them three bags of gold. One of the gifts accidentally fell into a stocking lying on the floor. The family was saved from ruin, and a new tradition appeared in Europe - to put presents in stockings and socks.

Images of Santa Claus and Snow Maiden in Slavic mythology

In Slavic mythology, the figure of the New Year wizard dates back to the times when our ancestors worshiped the pagan gods Veles and Perun.

It is believed that Veles, one of the most revered deities in the Slavic pantheon, the god of fertility, wealth, knowledge and wisdom, may be the prototype of the "protagonist" of the New Year holidays. He was worshipped, asking for prosperity and good luck. He also granted protection to travelers and creative people: poets, writers and musicians.

Another prototype of modern Santa Claus is the pagan spirit of winter Morok. Initially, he appeared to our ancestors as a gloomy and intimidating old man in linen clothes and boots, who wandered through the forests and froze all living things.

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It is from his name came the expressions "to freeze the head" and "to faint". To placate the winter spirit, Slavs left gifts (kutya, pancakes and milk) on the threshold of the house or at the edge of the forest.

Over time, the image of Morok changed, he turned into a more good-natured Frost, Treskunets in a rich coat with a staff in his hands, decorated with a symbol of good luck - a bull's head.

Our ancestors believed that Frost's wife was the Queen of Snow, and they had a daughter who was named Snezhevinochka or Snegurochka. Once she fell in love with a man and did not return to the North in the spring, as she melted with the arrival of warmth. This legend in different variations was reflected in Slavic fairy tales.

Ded Moroz and Snegurochka - heroes of the New Year in Russia and the USSR

In 1867, ethnographer Alexander Afanasyev published fairy tales about Snegurochka, and in 1873 Alexander Ostrovsky presented a play where Vesna-Krasna and Ded Moroz became her parents. Later, the popularity of this image increased thanks to the opera by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, which enshrined the Snow Maiden as a symbol of winter.

In the 30s of the twentieth century, with the beginning of New Year celebrations in the Soviet Union, the figures of Santa Claus and Snow Maiden took on a new meaning. In 1937, they first officially appeared together in the Column Hall of the House of Unions during the celebration of the first Kremlin Christmas tree. Moreover, Snegurochka appeared already in the role of granddaughter of Santa Claus, which made their images more logical and close to children.

Initially, she appeared in the image of a girl, which is noticeable on early Soviet images of New Year's heroes and on postcards. However, it later transformed into a young girl with a long braid.

Day of Santa Claus and Snow Maiden - 2025: traditions of the holiday

Slavs believed that in order for the winter to be mild and generous, Santa Claus and his family should be presented with gifts in the form of pancakes, grain or bread. People left them in the forest under a large tree, most often under an oak or spruce, as they were believed to be connected to the spirits of nature.

There was also a tradition to gather the whole family and tell tales about Frost, his good and formidable deeds.

To protect their homes from harsh cold weather and evil spirits of winter, people performed special rituals, sprinkled the house with "conspired" water, decorated the windows with patterns and symbols that resembled snow pictures, hung protective amulets, such as small bags of grain or coins, symbolizing abundance.

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On this day they organized fun folk amusements, sleigh rides, which were considered a way to "awaken the earth" and call spring. Snowmen, Frost's "helpers", were also molded. They were decorated with ribbons or fruits to attract good luck.

It was believed that this was the day to ask Frost for prosperity and fulfillment of wishes.

The traditions of this day also symbolized the preparation for spring. Slavs believed that a benevolent attitude to the winter spirits would help speed up the arrival of warmth.

In our days, the celebration of the Day of Santa Claus and Snow Maiden is a continuation of the succession of New Year's holidays. Fairytale New Year's heroes can be found on the streets and in the parks of cities, in shopping centers and cultural institutions. In schools and kindergartens can be held performances, contests and shows associated with the Day of Santa Claus and Snow Maiden.

Earlier "Izvestia" told about the traditions of celebrating the old New Year in Russia.