Travel to the fairy-tale tower of the Snow Maiden in Kostroma. Do you know where the Snow Maiden and Father Frost live? What interests you: where does the Snow Maiden live? Google

There is no doubt that the most favorite characters of the New Year holiday are Father Frost and Snow Maiden. The image of Father Frost in Russian folklore has evolved over many centuries. Historians are inclined to believe that the prototype of our Father Frost was the East Slavic spirit of cold Treskun, or, as he was also called, Studenets. The character of ancient fairy tales Morozko is more like our Father Frost, in later versions - Moroz Ivanovich, Moroz Yelkich. This is the Spirit of Winter - strict, sometimes angry, grumpy, but fair. He favors and bestows good people, but he can freeze bad people with his magic staff. By the 1880s, a certain character with a bag of gifts near the Christmas tree had established itself in the public consciousness. True, they called him differently: the Christmas old man, the Christmas grandfather, or simply the Christmas tree grandfather. In literary adaptation, Moroz Ivanovich appeared in 1840 in the collection “Children's Tales of Grandfather Iriney” by V.F. Odoevsky. This kind, gray-haired old man gives the Needlewoman a “handful of silver coins” for her good work, and teaches Sloth a lesson by giving her an icicle instead of silver. In Nekrasov’s poem “Red Nose Frost,” the main character is evil, who loves to “freeze the blood in the veins and freeze the brain in the head.” In children's poetry of the late 19th century, Father Frost is a good wizard. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the image of Father Frost as a kind giver of Christmas trees and gifts was finally established. Traditionally, Father Frost is dressed in a long, ankle-length red fur coat trimmed with white fur. At first his fur coat was blue (indicating the northern, cold origin of the character); on pre-revolutionary postcards you can also find a white Santa Claus. Nowadays, Santa Claus most often comes in a red suit. His hat is semi-oval to match his fur coat. The children's favorite has mittens on his hands. In one hand he holds a staff and in the other a bag of gifts.

The image of the Snow Maiden also took shape in the 19th century. In 1860, G.P. Danilevsky published a poetic version of a Russian folk tale about a revived snow girl. The official date of birth of the Snow Maiden was 1873, when A.N. Ostrovsky translated this folk tale in his own way in the play “The Snow Maiden”. So the Kostroma region began to be considered the birthplace of the winter beauty, where, on the Shchelykovo estate, the writer came up with a new plot for an old fairy tale. In 1874, “The Snow Maiden” was published in “Bulletin of Europe”, then an opera appeared, the music for which was written by N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov. It is interesting that upon first reading, Ostrovsky’s poetic dramatic tale did not inspire the composer. Five years later, in the winter of 1879, Rimsky-Korsakov “read The Snow Maiden again” and clearly saw its amazing beauty. I immediately wanted to write an opera based on this plot, and as I thought about this intention, I felt more and more in love with Ostrovsky’s fairy tale. The attraction to ancient Russian customs and pagan pantheism that had gradually manifested itself in me now flared up with a bright flame. There was no better plot for me in the world, there were no better poetic images for me than the Snow Maiden, Lel or Spring, there was no better kingdom of the Berendeys with their wonderful king...” The first performance of The Snow Maiden took place on January 29, 1882 at the Mariinsky Theater during a benefit performance of the Russian Opera Choir. Soon “The Snow Maiden” was staged in Moscow, at the Russian Private Opera of S.I. Mamontov, and in 1893 at the Bolshoi Theater. The opera was a huge success.

The image of the Snow Maiden both as a daughter and as a granddaughter of Frost was developed in children's and adult literature, in the visual arts. But it was thanks to Ostrovsky’s beautiful fairy tale that the Snow Maiden fell in love with many and soon became the constant companion of Father Frost. Only their family ties underwent some changes over time - from a daughter she turned into a granddaughter, but she did not lose her charm because of this. The appearance of the Snow Maiden 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 light sundress and a headband; a long white snow robe, lined with ermine, a small fur coat. Before the revolution, the Snow Maiden never acted as a presenter at the Christmas tree festival.

In the twenties of the last century, the country embarked on the path of combating “religious prejudices.” Since 1929, all church holidays have been abolished. The Christmas day off became a working day, but “secret” Christmas trees were sometimes held. Santa Claus has become “a product of the anti-people activities of capitalists” and “religious trash.” The Christmas tree holiday was allowed again only on New Year's Eve 1936, after Stalin uttered the significant phrase: “Life has become good, comrades. Life has become more fun." The New Year tree, having lost its religious context, has become a symbol of the holiday of happy childhood in our country. From that time on, Santa Claus was fully restored to his rights. The Soviet Father Frost brought bags with the same gifts for all children in a bag. In 1937, Father Frost and the Snow Maiden first appeared together at the Christmas tree celebration in the Moscow House of Unions. The Snow Maiden became Father Frost's permanent companion, helping him in everything (the tradition was broken only in the 1960s, when the Snow Maiden's place on the Kremlin Christmas tree was taken several times by an astronaut). So then it happened: a girl, sometimes older, sometimes younger, with or without pigtails, wearing a kokoshnik or a hat, sometimes surrounded by little animals, sometimes singing, sometimes dancing. She asks questions to Santa Claus, leads round dances with the children, and helps distribute gifts. For many years now, Father Frost and the Snow Maiden have been decorating any New Year's holiday, be it a corporate party or a children's party. These fairy-tale characters are an integral part of the New Year, just like a beautifully decorated Christmas tree and gifts.

There are so many questions for this blue-eyed beauty with a long brown braid - the constant companion of Santa Claus! How is she related to the famous New Year's wizard? Where does he live? Does she have children? And what do you do when it’s summer? Does it melt under the sun or hide somewhere in a cold place?

We will try to sort out some of these issues together with the leading Internet search resource www.4banket.ru.

Tell me, Snow Maiden, where you have been

The Snow Maiden's personality is full of contradictions and secrets. This makes her seem even more magical and beautiful. Take, for example, her family ties with Santa Claus - who is she to him? Daughter, granddaughter or wife? Popular rumors say different things. And for sure, definitely no one knows anything. You have to believe literary sources.

In the fairy tales and legends of the ancient Slavs, the Snow Maiden is a creature molded from the snow by anyone. Both a childless couple and young people welcoming spring could have a hand in its creation. The picture became clearer when the Russian playwright A.N. Ostrovsky wrote the play "The Snow Maiden". This happened in 1873 and since then this year has been considered the year of birth of the beauty.

This is A.N. Ostrovsky - the godfather of the Snow Maiden, because he not only told her fairy-tale story, but also indicated her place of birth and residence address - the settlement of Berendeyevka, which was hidden in the Kostroma region.

Note: the writer outlined the external characteristics of his main character. The visible appearance of the Snow Maiden was presented by artists, great Russian painters - Vasnetsov, Vrubel and Roerich. This is how a blue fur coat, trimmed with snow-white ermine, a light embroidered sundress and a headband appeared.

Tell me, Snow Maiden, where you live

The Snow Maiden spends most of the year in her Berendey kingdom, preferring the forest. But for receiving guests and various official events, she has a carved wooden tower of fabulous beauty. It is located in Kostroma.

It is worth saying that Snegurochka lives a busy social life when she is not busy distributing New Year's gifts. Firstly, she receives numerous guests who come to her from all over Russia all year round, even in summer.

And they do the right thing, because in the summer heat the Snow Maiden is more comfortable in her ice chambers - a special room where everything is made of ice and the temperature is always minus 15 degrees.

So, if you are going to visit the Snow Maiden, dress warmly! Although the hospitable hostess took care of the comfort of the guests - she gives them warm clothes for an excursion around the tower and treats them to tea from a samovar or tincture from ice glasses.

They say that in the Snow Maiden’s mansion there are many different magical objects, wonderful and extraordinary. For example, a swing that makes a wish come true, all you have to do is swing on it. And the Snow Maiden also gives each guest a gift - a magical amulet. With this, it’s not scary to go into the next New Year 2018 - Yellow Earth Dog.

Cat Bayun and Domovoy and Domovikha help Snegurochka entertain the guests.

Tell me, Snow Maiden, how are you doing?

Snegurochka is an advanced girl. She has her own page on social networks - “VKontakte”. On it, she actively communicates with her fans and talks about important events that happen in her fabulous life: where she went, with whom she did round dances, when she is going to Veliky Ustyug to visit Grandfather Frost. For example, she never misses his birthday - November 18, and always congratulates the New Year's wizard.

The Snow Maiden is friends with Kikimora Vyatskaya, and with Tutaev’s sheep, and she has friendly relations with Baba Yaga, and with the Mouse King. And all because her character is kind and gentle. This girl was born for joy and light, and her calling is to give people a holiday. She does just that! And this New Year, expect her to visit with gifts!

New Year is always associated with a beautiful Christmas tree, the arrival of Father Frost and Snow Maiden and gifts.

Much is known about Father Frost, for example, that he comes from Veliky Ustyug, Vologda region. Lives in a fabulous large mansion. Father Frost's birthday is November 18th. There is no exact information about its age, but it is known for certain that it is more than 2000 years old. From November 18, frosts hit Veliky Ustyug, and winter is already fully coming into its own.

On New Year's Eve, Santa Claus arrives on three horses and makes children's dreams come true. But the Snow Maiden, who travels with him, is the most famous and at the same time the most mysterious girl in Russia.

Legend has it that the birthplace Snow Maidens - Berendeevo kingdom in the Kostroma region. In the Yaroslavl province, which borders the Kostroma region, there is the village of Berendeyevka. According to legend, this is where the Snow Maiden lives. About her age says that she is always sixteen, although her passport does not show it.

Every year, regularly, before the New Year holidays, the Snow Maiden appears in the company of Father Frost.

Relatives of the Snow Maiden?

According to some reports, he is related to the Snow Maiden. Some consider them husband and wife, others consider them grandfather and granddaughter. But everyone is wrong. In fact The Snow Maiden is the daughter of Father Frost. Today it is customary to call a person who has grandchildren a grandfather. And before in Rus', someone who was revered and respected was called grandfather. Since then, the good wizard has been called Grandfather Frost.

So, we’ve sorted out the Snow Maiden’s dad, and who's mom? According to some unverified information, this is Spring.

If you delve into relatives, you can find grandma– winter, and even my paternal uncle - Morozko - the spirit of winter. He is the younger brother of Grandfather Frost.

They say that Morozko walks the streets with a magic club and beats on the windows of houses. Hence the expression - glass cracks due to frost. And this, it turns out, is all Morozko’s tricks. He also loves to draw beautiful patterns on glass.

The Snow Maiden also has distant relatives. Bannik is the spirit of the Russian bathhouse, the brownie and even Baba Yaga. Here is an interesting family tree for our Snow Maiden.

And recently, the Snow Maiden’s birthday has been celebrated on the night of April 4-5. This confirms the version that the Snow Maiden’s mother is Spring.

It is known that Snegurochka owns real estate in Kostroma - a two-story mansion with a park, a magic stone, on which there are inscriptions familiar to everyone from childhood: if you go to the left, you will be full; you go to the right - magical you will find sleep; If you go straight, you will find yourself in a fairy tale. There is an ice room inside the tower. This is the owner's favorite place. She is very interested in collecting Christmas trees, which can be made from anything. Particularly interesting specimens are made from pencils and pasta. There are even Christmas trees made from irons and CDs. These are real works of art.

About the Snow Maiden’s occupation, we can say that while she lived in the forests, she worked temporarily, only on New Year’s holidays. I traveled with Santa Claus to cities and villages, wished children a Happy New Year, and gave them gifts.

And since the Snow Maiden acquired a mansion, guests have been drawn to her, who come even in the summer. Knowing about her love for collecting Christmas trees, many of the guests bring her souvenirs, homemade Christmas trees made from various available materials. So her fabulous mansion became a real museum. And she is happy to see everyone, greets all guests warmly, and treats them to delicious pies. So the Snow Maiden works in the fairy-tale field all year round. Neither the poor thing can rest nor melt.

Soon, on the eve of the New Year, the Snow Maiden and Father Frost will once again bring people happiness and joy and give them gifts.

Happy New Year!

Evgeniya for Women's magazine "Prelest"

In Russia, not a single New Year is complete without the Snow Maiden. This fabulous beauty is the embodiment of purity, youth, fun and makes the winter holiday brighter and more joyful.

Since childhood, we have become accustomed to seeing her next to Santa Claus at all New Year's events, but few of us have wondered where the Snow Maiden's parents are. Let's try to figure it out!

• Who is the Snow Maiden and where did she come from?
• Who are the Snow Maiden's parents and where are they now?
• Who is the author of the fairy tale about the Snow Maiden?
• How is the Snow Maiden related to Santa Claus?

Who is the Snow Maiden and where did she come from?

Folklore has long mentioned three fairy-tale heroes who take a direct part in New Year's festivities - Father Frost, the Snowman and the Snow Maiden. And if the kind old man has his prototypes in many other countries of the world, then the sweet fair-haired girl has no such prototype either in mythology, or in the legends and fairy tales of other peoples.

The Snow Maiden is an original Russian treasure, a kind of angel who can persuade even a shy child not to be shy in front of Santa Claus and recite a poem or sing a song.

There are several versions of the origin of the Snow Maiden. One of them is associated with the ancient Slavic ritual of the funeral of Kostroma, a ritual character symbolizing fertility. According to another version, the origins of the appearance of the snowy beauty go back to pagan beliefs about the mythological god of waters and the night sky - Varuna, who in some legends is the prototype of Santa Claus.

It is believed that the Snow Maiden is the embodiment of ice-bound river waters, concealing the onset of warm spring days.

Who are the Snow Maiden's parents and where are they now?

Although the Snow Maiden was known in folklore back in pagan times, people first started talking about her throughout the country in the second half of the 19th century, when a fairy tale about a girl Snegurka, or Snowflake, fashioned from snow was published in Russia. According to this story, once upon a time in a Russian village lived a peasant Ivan and his wife Marya. Peace and love always reigned in their home, but the two of them lived together until old age, never being able to have children.

One winter, a lot of snow fell in their village. Ivan and Marya went out into the yard and began to sculpt a snow doll. Suddenly, the Snow Maiden began to move as if alive, and the married couple accepted this miracle as a blessing from God, who had sent them a child. The fairy tale has a sad ending: jumping with her friends over the fire, the snow girl melted.

However, over time, her image took root in the popular consciousness, and from the end of the 19th century it began to be actively used in scenarios on New Year trees. Since Ivan and Marya were ordinary people, they died when they grew old, so Snegurochka is now an orphan.

Who is the author of the fairy tale about the Snow Maiden?

For the first time, the tale of the Snow Maiden and her old parents was recorded in 1869 by the outstanding Russian folklore collector Alexander Afanasyev in his works “Poetic Views of the Slavs on Nature.”

The author also has a pagan version of the appearance of the winter heroine, according to which the Snow Maiden is a snow nymph. She is born at the beginning of winter from the snow, and with the arrival of spring days she evaporates and takes with her the desires of the villagers.

In 1873, playwright Alexander Ostrovsky, impressed by Afanasyev's stories, created the play "The Snow Maiden", in which he described the winter beauty as a pale-faced girl with blond hair, dressed in a fur-trimmed fur coat, hat and mittens. In this work, the author presented the Snow Maiden as the 15-year-old daughter of Father Frost and Vesna-Krasna, who released her to the people in the Berendeyevka settlement under the supervision of Bakula the Bobyl.

As in Afanasyev’s tale, in Ostrovsky’s play the Snow Maiden melted, but for a different reason - from a bright ray of sunlight, which was directed at her by the vengeful and evil god of fertility Yarilo.

How is the Snow Maiden related to Santa Claus?

If you believe Ostrovsky’s play, then Father Frost is the Snow Maiden’s father, but in 1935, after the USSR officially allowed to celebrate the New Year, they began to be mistaken for grandfather and granddaughter. In pedagogical manuals for holding New Year's events, the young beauty acts as an assistant to the old man and his mediator in games with the kids on the Christmas tree.

Who came up with the idea of ​​calling the Snow Maiden Moroz’s granddaughter is still unknown, but their first joint appearance took place in 1937 in the Moscow House of Unions, and since then it just so happened that the kind old man is the girl’s grandfather.

Birthplace of the Snow Maiden

Legend says that the birthplace of the Snow Maiden is the Berendey kingdom in the Kostroma region. In the Yaroslavl province, which borders the Kostroma region, there is the village of Berendeyevka. According to legend, this is where the Snow Maiden lives.

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 tower, made in the “onion” style according to the design of Kostroma craftsmen. This is wrong.
Children from all over Russia send letters with 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.
It is not recommended to enter the kingdom of ice without outerwear - you can 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, very cold 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 tower 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 the VKontakte social network, 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, the Snow Maiden visited Grandfather 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 children,” says Elena Tsvetkova, head of the excursion and educational department of the 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, as well as Father Frost from Veliky Ustyug and fairy-tale characters - Kikimora Vyatskaya, the Mouse King, Tutaevskaya Sheep, Baba Yaga and many others come to Kostroma for the Snow Maiden’s birthday. 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 at different times tried to find references to 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, celebrating the New Year was 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 to write
Snegurochka's postal address: 156000, Russia, Kostroma, st. Lenina 3. Email address: [email protected] and vk.com/k.snegurochka.
Postal address of Grandfather Frost: 162390, Russia, Vologda region, Veliky Ustyug. Email address: [email protected]