The prototype of winter wizards from different countries - Father Frost, Santa Claus, Per Noel, Joulupukki - was St. Nicholas of Myra. He was born at the end of the 3rd century on the territory of modern Turkey near Antalya and was a priest.
Initially, a kind grandfather in red robes, who gives gifts to children on New Year's Eve, was an evil and cruel pagan deity. The progenitor of this image was the Great Elder of the North - the lord of the blizzard and the icy wind. Russian classic Nikolai Nekrasov in the poem "Frost, Red Nose" writes that he froze people and collected sacrifices - he stole children and took them away with him in a bag. Under the influence of Orthodox traditions, the character of the character gradually changed. In later folk tales, Frost (Morozko, Moroz Ivanovich, Grandfather Studenets) was still stern and picky, but he no longer stole children, but gave gifts to the most worthy of them. Finally, the image of a good old man with gifts and sweets was assigned to Santa Claus only in Soviet times. In December 1935, Pavel Postyshev, a member of the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR, published an article in the newspaper Pravda. In it, Stalin's comrade-in-arms proposed organizing mass celebrations for the New Year for children. On his instructions, a children's New Year's party was held in Kharkov, where Father Frost and his granddaughter Snegurochka became the guest of honor.
1. The history of Santa Claus began in ancient times. No one knows exactly how old Santa Claus is.
The prototype of Santa Claus is the ancient Slavic god Treskun, also known as Morozko or Studenets. This deity was believed in 2 thousand years ago.
2. In Russian folklore, Morozko is a strong hero who chains the water with his "iron" frosts.
3. The image of that New Year's old man whom we know is closely connected with Saint Nicholas of Myra, known in Rus' as Nicholas the Wonderworker.
4. And our kind old man with a bag of gifts appeared about 150 years ago.
5. The first mention of Santa Claus in literature was made by V. Odoevsky. In Russia in the 19th century, the fairy tale "Moroz Ivanovich", recorded and published by Prince Vladimir Odoevsky, was very popular.
6. Grandfather Frost's great-great-grandfather is Morozko.
7. The arrival of Santa Claus to children with gifts began in the days of Tsarist Russia.
8. Santa Claus has long been a symbol of the Russian winter and the main giver of New Year's gifts. Usually he is accompanied by his granddaughter Snegurochka.
9. It is believed that Santa Claus lives in Lapland (Northern Europe) and in Veliky Ustyug (Russia)🧑🏻‍🎄🤶.