Grandfather Frost: Communist Russia’s Alternative to Santa Claus
By: Esther K.H. Ng
Tags: Soviet History, Santa Claus, History, Christmas

Grandfather Frost: Communist Russia’s Alternative to Santa Claus

A history of the jolly gift-giver of Russia

Image by Sergeev Pavel on Wikipedia.

Ded Moroz, or Grandfather Frost, is the version of Santa Claus that remains ever-popular in Russia even today. Originating in Slavic mythology, Ded Moroz was a wizard of winter or snow demon that evolved to become the symbol of Russian traditions of gift-giving.

It is said that the original Russian gift-giver was Saint Nicholas, just like our very own Santa Claus. However, it seems that Grandfather Frost came to become the favored figure of Christmas in Russia, though he adopted various characteristics of proto-Santas as well as the traditions of having Christmas trees and gift-giving.

Unfortunately, the celebration of Christmas and Santa Claus was banned after the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917. Supposedly, the religious and bourgeoise connotations did not sit well with the communist leaders who espoused the goal of establishing “state atheism”.

Even so, Grandfather Frost was permitted to re-enter Russian culture by the 1930s, cementing its fate as the symbol of the Russian winter holidays.

Ded Moroz vs. Santa Claus

Though both Grandfather Frost and Santa Claus are old men with long white beards that bear great gifts with their arrival, the similarities end there.

For one, we can’t really imagine jolly old St. Nick in anything other than his red suit. On the other hand, Grandfather Frost is often seen in a blue fur coat — the result of Soviet attempts to distinguish him from Santa Claus. Ded Moroz also wears a fur-trimmed cap rather than a Santa hat and is never seen without his pikestaff.

Instead of the eight reindeers that pull Santa’s sleigh, Ded Moroz is pulled by a troika, which is a sleigh pulled by three white horses (sadly, no red-nose Rudolph).

Grandfather Frost also works with a granddaughter, Snegurochka, rather than a Mrs. Frost or some elves. Interestingly, Snegurochka is made of snow, which made me ponder over her prospects post-winter.

It is much easier to look for Grandfather Frost than it is to find Santa Claus. Rather than having to search through the North pole, Grandfather Frost lives in Veliky Ustyug — just a few hours north of Moscow. He also welcomed President Putin to his residence in 2008 for a visit. Definitely not something Santa Claus can brag about.

Most importantly, Grandfather Frost visits with gifts on New Year’s, not Christmas. This is also a remnant of Soviet rule since Stalin declared that New Year’s Day was to replace Christmas as the national family holiday in order to rid the country of Western influences and traditions.

New Norms of 2020

In any case, whether you are more familiar with Santa Claus or Grandfather Frost, it seems like winter this year will be incredibly different for many of us. Some of us will not be able to return home for the holidays. Some of us may be struggling to even get through each day — much less Christmas.

Furthermore, it seems neither Santa Claus nor Grandfather Frost will be able to bring gifts to us this year with quarantine and travel restrictions abound. So if you are able, be the gift-giver to those who need it most in your community.

Merry Christmas!