Inga Mayakovskaya
Reading time: 13 minutes
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We are accustomed to the name and image of our main New Year's Wizard - Santa Claus, with a bushy beard, in a long beautiful fur coat. But it is curious that such a character in old Rus' was negative - they frightened children.
With the development of Soviet cinema, Santa Claus was provided with positive qualities and a good soul, thanks to which, he is for everyone New Year, along with its granddaughter, Snow Maiden , brings gifts to children on a troika of horses and attends children's holidays, congratulating them on the New Year.
It is known that the children of Australia, America and some European countries at the New Year celebrations expect gifts from Santa Claus
- the most famous brother of our Santa Claus, who dresses up in a red suit with white trim and rides a reindeer sleigh through the sky, delivering gifts. What other winter wizard brothers do these two have?
Meet the brother of Santa Claus from Tatarstan - Kysh Babai
Kind grandfather Kysh Babai, with whom his snowy granddaughter, Kar Kyzy, always comes, congratulates the kids on the New Year in Tatarstan. This winter wizard's suit is blue. Kysh Babai has a white beard, sly eyes and a very kind smile.
New Year's events with the participation of Kysh Babai in Tatarstan are accompanied by the presence of characters from Tatar folk tales- Shurale, Batyr, Shaitan. Kysh Babai, like our Santa Claus, gives gifts to children - he always has a full bag of them. 
Yul Tomten is the little brother of Santa Claus in Sweden
This winter wizard is very vertically challenged, and his name in translation sounds like "Christmas gnome." This character settled in the winter forest, and has a faithful assistant - the snowman Dusty.
Yul Tomten can be visited in winter forest- unless, of course, you are afraid of the dark forest, on the paths of which little elves run. 
Brother of Santa Claus in Italy - Babbe Natale
The Italian winter wizard comes to every home. He does not need doors - he uses a chimney to go down from the roof into the room. In order for Babbe Natale to eat a little on the road, children always leave a cup of milk by the fireplace or stove.
Gives gifts to children in Italy Kind fairy La Befana, and mischievous people get embers from the fabulous evil sorceress Befana. 
Uvlin Uvgun - Father Frost's brother from Mongolia
On New Year's Eve, Mongolia also celebrates the Shepherd's Day. Uvlin Uvgun walks with a whip, like the most important shepherd in the country, and on his belt in a bag he carries the main items for shepherds - tinder and flint.
Uvlin Uvgun's assistant is his granddaughter, the "snow girl", Zazan Ohin. 
Father Frost's brother - Sinterklaas from Holland
This winter wizard is a lover of navigation, because every year on New Year's Eve and Christmas he sails to Holland on a beautiful ship.
He is accompanied by many black servants who help with his travels, as well as with preparations for the festive New Year celebrations. 
Joulupukki in Finland is the brother of our Santa Claus, who lives in the mountains
The name of this winter wizard is translated as "Christmas grandfather". Joulupukki's house stands on a high mountain; his wife, kind Muori, also lives in it. A family of industrious gnomes help with the household chores of Joulupukki.
Joulupukki himself wears a jacket made of goatskin, wide belt made of leather, as well as a red cap. 
Yakut Ehee Dyyl - the northern brother of Santa Claus
Ehee Dyyl has a wonderful and strong assistant - a huge bull. Every autumn this bull comes out of the ocean and tries to grow big horns. The longer the horn of this bull grows, the stronger the frost will be in Yakutia.
Oji-san is the Japanese brother of Santa Claus
Oji-san wears a red sheepskin coat and looks very much like Santa Claus. This winter wizard brings gifts to children on a ship across the sea. 
St. Nicholas from Belgium - the oldest winter brother of Santa Claus
Saint Nicholas is considered the very first, eldest Santa Claus. He is dressed in a snow-white episcopal robe and miter, this magician rides a horse. Saint Nicholas congratulates children in Belgium and gives gifts, he is accompanied everywhere by the Moor Black Peter, in whose hands are rods for mischievous people, and behind his back is a bag with gifts for obedient children.
Each family that shelters St. Nicholas at home will receive a golden apple as a gift from him. 
Korbobo - Uzbek brother of Santa Claus
The kind grandfather Corbobo, who brings gifts to the kids on New Year's Eve, always travels accompanied by his granddaughter Korgyz. He rides on a donkey, and therefore can come even to the most distant villages. 
Per Noel - brother of Santa Claus from France
This winter wizard from France is extreme. He roams the roofs of houses and enters houses through the chimneys of fireplaces and stoves to put gifts in shoes for children. 
Yamal Iri - Father Frost's brother from Yamal
This winter wizard has a permanent residence permit in Yamal, in the city of Salekhard. Although Yamal Iri came out of the ancient legends of the indigenous Northern peoples, today he lives a completely modern life, uses the Internet and telephone.
Beating his magic tambourine, Yamal Iri drives away evil forces. If you touch the magic staff of Yamal Iri, then all your wishes will come true. The clothes of Yamal Iri are the traditional attire of the northern peoples: malitsa, kitties and jewelry made of mammoth bones. 
Pakkaine - Karelian brother of Father Frost
This - younger brother Santa Claus, because Pakkaine is young and does not have a beard. He has a permanent place of residence not far from Petrozavodsk, in the chum.
pakkaine has dark hair, he dresses in white clothes, a light sheepskin coat, a red cape and blue mittens. Pakkaine gives gifts, sweets to the children of Karelia and scolds the most mischievous ones for disobedience. 
Father Frost's brother in Udmurtia - Tol Babai
The Udmurt giant Tol Babai, the youngest in the family of giants, is fluent in the languages of animals and birds, he studied the benefits of plants for many decades and became the main guardian of the nature of this beautiful region.
Tol Babai comes to people not only on New Year's Eve, he always meets with them, 365 days a year, giving gifts and talking about the nature of Karelia. Tol Babai carries gifts for children and adults in a birch bark box behind his back. 
Sook Irey from Tuva - another northern brother of Santa Claus
This winter wizard walks in a richly decorated, very beautiful national costume fairytale heroes Tuva. This Tuvan winter wizard has his own residence - in the near future a cultural and entertainment center will be built next to it.
Sook Irey is accompanied by mother winter named Tugeni Eneken. Chief Grandfather Frost of Tuva gives gifts to children. He distributes sweets, he also knows how to restrain frosts and give people good weather. 
Yakut brother of Santa Claus - powerful Chyskhaan
The winter wizard from Yakutia has a peculiar costume - he wears a hat with bull horns, and the clothes simply amaze with the luxurious decoration. The image of Chyskhaan - the Yakut Bull of Winter - combined two prototypes - a bull and a mammoth, symbolizing strength, wisdom and power.
According to the legend of the Yakut people, in autumn Chyskhaan comes out of the ocean onto land, bringing cold and frost with it. In the spring, Chyskhaan's horns fall off - the frosts weaken, then the head falls off - spring comes, and the ice carries the body into the ocean, where it is miraculously restored until the next autumn.
The Yakut Chyskhaan has his own residence in Oymyakon, where guests can come to him and receive cold and frost as a gift. 
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Here comes the end of another year. Very soon, the chores and preparations for the New Year will begin. Therefore, a series of articles about this, everyone's favorite holiday, will probably come in handy. And we will start it with a character with whom the magic and miracles that occur on New Year's Eve are associated - this.
Good Wizard , who comes on New Year's Eve and Christmas with gifts and fabulous miracles - the character is mysterious and has its own history.
In ancient pagan Rus', when people worshiped the forces of nature, the ruler of snowstorms, snowstorms and snowfalls was called Moroz, Moroz Morozovich or Morozko. Under such names, he is shown in epics and oral legends. This is a stern and even angry old man with a large white beard, who strives to spin a snowstorm, send blizzards, snowfalls and crackling frosty cold. And this old man does not give any gifts.
During the reign of Peter 1, when the calendar was updated in Rus' and the custom of celebrating the New Year and Christmas was introduced, this character becomes an indispensable participant in the festivities. Only now he has become a kind wizard, bringing gifts to good and obedient children.
The reason for this metamorphosis is quite understandable. Russian is a close relative of such characters, who are simply called by other names (, Vaikhnachtsmann, etc.).
And the prototype of these good winter wizards is considered to be a very real person - Bishop Nikolaus (Saint Nicholas), who lived in the city of Mira (now the Turkish city of Demra).
The legend tells that one Christmas evening, passing under the windows of a very poor house, Nikolaus heard a conversation between three sisters. The older sister offered to sell herself into slavery in order to buy a dowry for her two younger sisters with the proceeds. But each sister began to offer to do the same for the sake of the other two. Hearing this conversation, the bishop threw a purse of gold out the window, which was just enough for a dowry for older sister. A year later, on the same Christmas evening, he threw a purse for the middle sister.
The following Christmas turned out to be very fierce, and the windows of the houses were tightly closed. Then Nikolaus threw the wallet down the chimney. As if by magic, he landed in one of the stockings that younger sister hung to dry (hence the European custom of putting gifts in socks and stockings).
Since then, every Christmas in the poor families of the city of Mira found gifts that got to them in some magical way. And it should be noted that for a long time Nikolaus managed to do these good deeds in secret. But one day, while making another such campaign, he came across a night watch. After checking what was in the bag with the strangely dressed old man, the patrol recognized him as the good wizard Bishop Nikolaus. Since then, people called him the Christmas Father, and after his death, for all good deeds and miracles Christian church elevated him to the rank of saint.
For the first time, the image of St. Nicholas was transformed into the image of a good grandfather, who gives gifts to everyone at Christmas, in Germany, and then spread to other countries where Christianity is practiced.
IN different countries ah good winter wizard has different names and guise.
For example, American - this is a mischievous and cheerful grandfather, with an impressive belly, in a short red coat and a red hat. He rides on a reindeer sleigh and arranges gifts in shoes and stockings, which are specially left by the fireplace.
Per Noel brings Christmas and New Year gifts to French children, Babbo Natale to Italian children, Weichnachtsmann to German children, and Joulupuki to Finnish children.
After the introduction by Peter 1 of the custom to celebrate Christmas and New Year according to the European calendar, the image of St. Nicholas - Santa Claus merged with the image of the pagan Morozko and turned into the well-known Santa Claus. This is a solid, tall grandfather, with a long and fluffy white beard, in a long fur coat and a red hat, with a staff and a bag of gifts. Russian Santa Claus moves on a fabulous reindeer sleigh. He is strict and kind at the same time, cheerful and fair, loves winter fun on a frosty sunny day.
As a literary character in fairy tales, Santa Claus is very young, he was born 160 years ago. Exactly
then Konstantin Odoevsky published the fairy tale "Moroz Ivanovich". In Russia, there is even a holiday - the birthday of Santa Claus. It is celebrated on November 18, exactly at this time in the homeland of Father Frost, the city of Veliky Ustyug, winter is firmly established with snow, frost and snowstorms.
Relatively recently, my grandfather had a granddaughter Snegurochka. And in the city of Veliky Ustyug, a museum of New Year and Christmas toys has been operating for 4 years. But more on that in the next article.
And now I will introduce you a little to the contents of my new New Year's set; And
to those who wish to download the material and study and play on it with their children, give some recommendations: first of all, very
I want to ask you to print first
(I deliberately post the material a little in advance in its entirety, so that it would be convenient for everyone to change everything for themselves, although initially there was an idea to post it daily according to the scenario of one day, but then I realized that everyone has their own chores and affairs, that someone might miss a day or two wizards can be considered in a day, or perhaps smaller participants will want to consider someone for two days))) and read everything yourself, correcting in some places the name of my child in the name of yours
(on some sheets I left a place to write the name, but in the so-called "manual" I no longer had time to correct anything). When reading the material, you may want to change, correct, supplement or omit something, so it’s better to think things through a little looking ahead than to get into an uncomfortable position in front of the child.
So, what is my set "New Year's wizards, or 9 days of waiting with Santa Clauses from different countries?"
First of all, this is a material that will introduce your child to 9 New Year's wizards! Of course, all the children know Santa Claus, so they will have to tell them more about him, but YOUR assistant, snowman Morozik, will tell them about the other 8:
I still couldn’t think of a suitable name for him, so for “Frost” I want to say thanks to Marina!
Personally, I cut it out to make it more convenient, and it didn’t look like just a card)).
It is Morozik who will help you figure out what your child knows about Grandfather Frost (and mine also about Zyuz) and introduce your kids to such wizards as:
- Santa Claus
- Father Christmas
- Segatsu-san
- Yolupukki
- Yul Tomten
- Pascual Pascual
- Sinter Klaas
- Fairy Befana
which I specially drew all these days for cards and some games, so that it would be more interesting to "work"! Initially, I planned to download photos or pictures on the Internet so as not to waste time, but I didn’t find anything worthwhile at all - either photos of people in Santa Claus or Santa Claus costumes are everywhere, or some primitive cartoon characters, so I decided to try to draw them myself , borrowing images from the book "Santa Claus, Joulupukki, Befana and others" (I really liked them!).
For my niece, I also drew a paper game, because such small children, probably, will not be able to tell very much about Grandfather Frost (besides the fact that the beard “made of cotton wool” also carries gifts)))))), but it will probably be interesting for them to find a suit and they will immediately determine which outfit of all the proposed Santa Claus:
Also, thanks to Morozik, children will find out when and which wizard delivers gifts to children, where he puts them and what transport he travels on.
I plan to start on December 22 and in the so-called "manual" I tried to write a script-text for the snowman Morozik, for which you will need to prepare a card with the appropriate wizard for clarity (so that the child imagines what a wizard from another country looks like, with whom the snowman introduces him ) and a letter from him in an envelope with some kind of request or game:
Requests are mainly directed to creative activity, and games, as usual (in my spirit)) - paper:
for example, a walking game where Belarusian Santa Clauses need to get to the American Santa Claus as soon as possible, collecting guests from all continents along the way)):
- "Transport of wizards":
On December 25 we have Christmas, we are leaving and therefore we omit the day of acquaintance with some New Year's hero, so it is more convenient for someone, it will probably start from December 23!
Also, please note that we live in Belarus and at the very beginning someone will definitely have to change the script a little.
In addition to what is included, you will need another map of the world
to stick on it a sticker of the character Morozik will talk about (everything is described in detail in the training manual), and some surprise
for the 8th day, to be given to the child by the dwarf Yul Tomten.
Thus, you also work out with the map!
In general, read, print, cut, glue, play, and most importantly - learn new things with interest!
You can receive the kit, as usual, by writing me your email address!
P.S. I will be very, very pleased if you write your opinion about this kit, and if you later write somewhere else about how your informative days of waiting went, and write a link here below (in order for the link to be active, you just need to copy and paste when writing your comment this:
inserting, where necessary, your link and the name of the blog, site or diary), believe me, I will be very happy to read your version!
New Year characters different countries of the world
Photo:
Andrey Gutskov
New Year is not complete without Santa Claus and
Snow Maiden - in Russia, Santa Claus and Rudolph the reindeer - in English
countries and Joulupukki - in Finland. About what other New Year's
wizards come to visit children - in our material
Grandfather Mikulash and grandfather Ezhishek
Children are the first to receive their Christmas gifts.
in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Local Santa Claus - St. Mikulash - comes to
guests 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 coat, a high hat, and in his hands
he has a staff, only instead of a bag with gifts, he carries a box behind his back. At
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
An angel and a shaggy Devil, who tell the old man which of the kids
to give an orange, an apple or a candy, and to someone - a piece of coal or
potato. The angel carries with him a list of obedient and good children,
who studied diligently and helped their parents, and Damn - a list with
surnames of children-pranksters. However, little mischievous people have long learned
circle St. Mikulas around the finger - it is believed that if you sing to him
a song or tell a rhyme, the kind old man will be touched and will hand
treasured gift.
Second
Santa Claus - Hedgehog - visits houses on Christmas Day, December 25th. About him
practically nothing is known, since no one has ever seen him. By
according to one legend, he is the brother of grandfather Mikulash, and they are very similar,
only grandfather Ezhishek is very modest, according to another - gifts under the Christmas tree in
Christmas is thrown by the baby Jesus himself. Be that as it may, but Hedgehogs
carefully watching so that no one sees him while he tosses
gifts to children's homes, but always informs about
his visit with the gentle ringing of bells, which invariably
Christmas trees and houses are decorated in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Babbo Natale and Fairy Befana
IN
Italy, as in many other European countries, has two Grandfathers at once
Frost, one of which comes at Christmas, and the second, or rather
say, the second - 6 January. New Year's Eve in Italy is not usually celebrated with
in scope, therefore they don’t have a character bringing gifts on this day,
but it is customary 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
twig."
The Italian Santa Claus is called Babbo Natale, which means Christmas Father.
There are two legends about its origin. The first links Babbo Natale
with Saint Nicholas, who lived in the 3rd century AD. According to the second
versions - the Christmas fairy-tale wizard is borrowed from the Americans.
In any case, outwardly, he is not much different from Santa Claus - usually
he is depicted as a plump man in a red coat trimmed
white fur, and with a gray beard, sometimes he even wears glasses. Like
american Santa Claus Babbo Natale travels through the air in a sleigh,
harnessed by deer, and enters houses through the chimney. All Italians
know that Father Christmas is a big lover of milk, so always
leave a cup of milk and sweets on the table. However, he visits only those
children who wrote him a letter in advance asking him to fulfill them
cherished desires - for this, they even install on the streets and in stores
special mailboxes for letters to Italian Santa Claus.
A
On January 6, children are looking forward to visiting the fairy Befana. She usually
depicted as an old woman on a broom, with a hooked nose and large
teeth, dressed in all black. Behind her back is a bag with gifts and
embers. There are several legends about the sorceress at once: according to one of
them, the fairy Befana remained in Italy after the Magi did not take her to
journey to the newborn Jesus. Since then, she has been looking into houses for
little Italians to give gifts to obedient children and punish
hooligans. Another says that the sorceress herself refused to visit
Bethlehem and since then has been looking for its cradle in Italian homes. Alone
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 is also a lot of talk about how a fairy moves.
legends. Someone believes that the stars bring the fairy, and someone that she
moves on a small donkey, and someone - that from roof to roof she
moves by jumping on a broomstick. It is customary for Fairy Befana to leave treats for
mantelpiece - a glass of wine and a saucer with food. There is a belief that if
the sorceress liked the treat, before leaving she will certainly sweep
floor. On January 6, on the day of Saint Epiphany, the fairy Befana is symbolized by a doll,
it is carried on a cart around the city, after which it is burned in the main square.
Perhaps this tradition is due to the fact that Befana has long been considered
evil witch.
Melchior, Baltasar, Gaspard, Olentzero and Tio Nadal
Spanish
children do not believe in Santa Claus. Instead of the traditional New Year's
magician, 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.
the day before
Day of the Three Kings, it is celebrated in Spain on January 6, in all cities and
In the villages there is a large colorful procession of the Kings. At the end
Melchior, Balthazar and Gaspard make a solemn speech, which
invariably ends with the words: "This year all children will receive
gifts!". Kings occupy each of their thrones, often installed in
the center of the city, after which they call the kids and personally hand them
treasured gift.
IN
the same time in the Basque Country and the province of Navarre gifts to obedient children
presents Olentzero, local Santa Claus. About its origin goes
several legends - according to one of them, he comes from giants
Gentilak and was the first to know about the birth of Jesus Christ
and brought the news to the people. According to another - when Olentzero was a baby,
a fairy found it and gave it to an elderly couple. When adoptive parents died
Olentzero began to make toys that he gave to neighbors.
kids. He died in a fire saving children, but the fairy gave Olentzero
eternal life. Usually Olentzero is depicted in the national homespun
clothes. This good-natured black-bearded fat man loves a good treat and
never refuses good wine - for this he even carries with him
flask.
IN
In Catalonia, the place of Santa Claus is occupied by a magic log named Tio
Nadal. Little Catalans carefully look after the log - they feed during the day and
cover for the night. In gratitude for their care, a log puts them
small edible souvenirs - sweets, nuts or fruits. At all
The Catalans believe that if a log is burned on Christmas Day and all the ashes are kept
year, it will protect them from evil spirits.
Yolasveinars
Icelandic
Yolasveinars have nothing to do with either the Russian Father Frost or
Saint Nicholas, better known as Santa Claus. According to legend in the family
giantess-eaters Grila and lazy-couch potatoes Leppaludi appeared 13
sons - Yolasveinarov, translated from Icelandic Christmas tales
or Christmas boys. Modern Christmas Traditions
represent them in the form of mischievous joker gnomes, but before the beginning of the XX
centuries, the "fraternity" was considered nothing more than evil trolls, delivering
a lot of trouble for the inhabitants of the "ice country".
According to the legend,
the offspring of mother Grila appeared in the villages two weeks before Christmas,
December 12, and they began to harm in every possible way - they stole cattle and food, beat
dishes, made a mess in the house, and sometimes kidnapped children. Not to be
eaten by the Icelandic children all year before Christmas
behave well and obey their parents.
With the passage
time, the images of the Yolasweinar were transformed - now these good-natured
gnomes leave gifts in the shoes of obedient children, but not one, but
thirteen, and to the same mischievous people as themselves, they give bumps of coal,
a potato or even a stone. It is believed that the gnomes alternately come from
sides of the mountains and linger in each house for 13 days, after which they also
one by one they go back to their cave.
At the same
time is still in genuine horror Icelandic babies are driven by mothers
Grila and pet of the Yolasveinars - huge, the size of a bull,
black Yule cat. On Christmas Eve they
sometimes they come to cities and villages, where they lie in wait for naughty children
or lazy people who did not have time to buy a woolen new thing for Christmas time. IN
In 2010, one of the news agencies stated that the volcanic eruption
Eyyafyadlayokyudl is the work of the insidious cannibal Grila.
Maulana Karenga
WITH
60 years of the last century, the black population of the United States spends
African American Kwanza Festival, which runs from December 26 to 1
January. The main purpose of the holiday is to support and preserve
African traditions introduced in the USA in the 17th-19th centuries, along with
Negro slaves. Kwanzaa or First Fruit Festival was invented by the leader of the wrestling
for African American Rights, Professor at the University of California, Dr.
Maulana Karenga, Ph.D. He offered to give up Christmas holiday,
which he considered "the religion of the whites" and return to the "roots". However, with
time, blacks in the United States who profess Christianity, with
both Christmas and Kwanza are celebrated with pleasure. In addition, holiday
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, he also proposed the "seven postulates of Kwanza", according to
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
must be guided in his life by a black man to achieve
progress.
IN
according to tradition, adults and children decorate their homes, put on
bright national clothes and participate in festive ceremonies - a game on
national musical instruments, chants, dances, "bloodless"
sacrifice, reading prayers and, of course, a feast.
The doctors
Karenga can be safely called the New Year's magician 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
The New Year is celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar, which was adopted in
land of the rising sun in 1873, although the traditional Japanese date
between January 21st and February 21st. The tradition of celebrating this holiday
preserved from ancient times - the New Year is here invariably
108 tolls of the bell announce. However, after the end of World War II
war, the Japanese borrowed 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 Mr. New Year or Mr. January, dressed in
green or sky blue kimono. According to legend, a week before
New Year's Eve, he leaves his home in the small town of Shiogama
on the island of Honshu and begins to bypass the inhabitants of Japan. This week in the people
called "gold". By his arrival, gates are built in front of the houses from
bamboo sticks and pine branches, set dwarf trees
pine, plum or peach. 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 house. There is a belief that together with him on the night of December 31
On January 1, the people of Japan are visited by the Seven Gods of Luck who sail
on a magical ship - especially for them, children leave on pillows
images of sailboats.
Second
Santa Claus, Oji-san, appeared in Japan relatively recently - with
penetration into the country of American traditions. "Young Colleague"
Segatsu-sana - the Japanese version of Santa Claus - copes with his
duties in just one night. Oji-san moves, dressed in
red sheepskin coat and cap, by sea, with him he brings gifts for everyone
the inhabitants of the islands. Recently, little Japanese have adopted the tradition
write letters to their Santa Clauses with cherished desires, according to statistics,
more and more, they choose Oji-san as the addressee, who is sure to
fulfills their wishes.
Ayios Vassilis
Greek
Santa Claus has nothing to do with our traditional ideas about
New Year's wizards. Even his name is not St. Nicholas, but St.
Basil - Agios (Agios) Vasilis, in honor of Orthodox saint,
born in 330 and during his lifetime received the nickname the Great.
Saint Vasilis lived only 49 years, during which he helped
poor and needy, and he lived very modestly. He died on January 1, 379
year, since Greek Orthodox Church celebrates this day
memory of St. Basil the Great. He was a tall and thin man with
pale skin and a long black beard with grey.
Despite
to the fact that in modern Greece, Ayios Vasilis is portrayed as
Santa Claus - in a red fur coat with a gray beard - in a traditional
in the performance, he wears a costume resembling a priest's cassock, and on his head
he has a tiara. Saint Basil comes to houses not from the North Pole, but
from his hometown of Caesarea Cappadocia. Another important difference -
Agios Vassilis does not carry a bag of gifts, as throughout
His main gifts in life were the word and faith of Christ.
WITH
the name of the Great Basil of Caesarea is associated with another New Year's
tradition - Vasilopita. This is a cake that no one can do without.
celebration in Greece and Cyprus, where the saint is also greatly revered. According to one of
legends to rid your hometown of invaders wise Ayios
Vasilis ordered the locals to bring all the most valuable things from the house. Enemy
retreated, and all the collected valuables were baked into pies, which were treated
all residents of the city. These pyros
New godgi were called Vasilopity. Their
they invariably bake on January 1, and inside there is always a coin "for
happiness".
Shan Dan Laozhen
IN
China, as in other countries of East Asia, the onset of the New Year
celebrated according to the lunar calendar and marks the arrival of spring. According to
according to ancient beliefs, on the first day of spring, nature awakens and comes to life
earth, and the mythical animal Nian comes to Earth, which devoured
livestock, grain, as well as children and villagers. Since then in China
it is customary to leave food on the threshold of houses - it is believed that the beast will be satisfied and
leave people alone. There is another belief: somehow Nian
frightened child in red hanfu, since New Year's Eve
it is customary to decorate their dwellings with red lanterns and scrolls in order to
scare away the animal.
His
The Chinese call Santa Claus Shan Dan Laozhen, there are others
interpretations of the name - Dong Che Lao Ren, Sho Hin and others. Like the Russian Grandfather
Frost, he wears a red robe and doesn't like to walk,
preferring to go around their possessions on a donkey. Shan Dan Laozhen boldly
can be called the busiest new year's eve Santa Claus - children in
There are a lot of China, but he always looks into every house and leaves
lacy - an envelope with a small amount of money for happiness. The Chinese believe that
their New Year's elder studied the philosophy of Confucius, mastered wushu and aikido.
It is also believed to ward off evil spirits.
Khyzyr-Ilyas
IN
Muslim countries celebrate two New Years at once. The first one
comes on the first day of the month of Muharram, but as in Islamic countries
use moon calendar, the holiday is shifted 11 days ahead.
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
Gregorian). Santa Claus is called Khyzyr Ilyas here and he appears
homes of good and righteous people only at the beginning of May. He is usually portrayed
gray-haired old man with a long gray beard, he wears a green embroidered
a dressing gown and a red turban, and with him he has a bag with gifts.
On
in fact, Khyzyr and Ilyas are two prophets whose names have long been
be perceived as a whole. According to Tatar beliefs, Khyzyr drank
living water and received immortality. It is believed that he travels
light, helps the needy and punishes the greedy people. Until now, the Tatars
believe that it is impossible to offend someone you meet on the road or look into
the old man's house, as it may be Khizir himself.
According to
other legends, Khyzyr and Ilyas are brothers, they meet only once in
year to bring Spring back to earth. On this day, Hederlez is celebrated.
According to tradition, on the eve of the holiday, all houses are carefully cleaned, as
New Year's wizard will not look into the dwelling of a slut. Housewives also believe
what if on a festive night all caskets, purses and pots of food
left open, you can get the blessing of Khyzyr-Ilyas on
prosperity in the family.
Anna Likhova. TVC.RU
May your most cherished wishes come true!
Every country has its own magician who grants wishes. The greatest wizard in our country is the All-Russian Santa Claus from Veliky Ustyug.
And yesterday, December 8, Santa Claus - the great winter wizard of Russia, the creator of New Year's miracles and Christmas tales, the fulfiller of the most cherished desires, for the first time received his brother in his Moscow estate in Kuzminki - Norwegian Santa Claus Julenissen.
He did not arrive alone. He was accompanied by an assistant - the dwarf Fyumpenissen, who is always next to Yulenissen and wears a bag with gifts on his shoulders.
Dear guests at the very gates were cordially greeted with bread and salt by the hostess of the estate - the Snow Maiden. Then, having talked about the most cherished desire of Muscovites - about the snow that covered the capital the day before, after exchanging gifts and kind words, Father Frost showed the guests his fiefdom - a manor filled with magic, mysteries, beautiful frosty patterns and all sorts of gifts from winter wizard-loving children. He showed his tower, the granddaughter's tower - the Snow Maiden, the Post Office, where numerous letters from children come.
Visiting Santa Claus
Julenissen sat in the Frost chair, where children like to sit in the absence of a wizard to make a wish, as well as on the Frost feather bed, where Santa Claus rests from everyday worries and worries. Grandfather Frost promised his Norwegian brother that when he comes to visit him in Norway, he will give a blanket - magical, with secrets, hiding behind which, you can see the most beautiful dreams. The most important miracle in Moroz's tower is a fabulous mirror. With his help, the Wizard learns about the gifts that children want to receive for the New Year, as well as about all the cherished desires that he has to fulfill.
In the house of the Snow Maiden
The Snow Maiden herself told about her tower. There is a large chest in the corner of the room. soft toys donated by children. The granddaughter of Santa Claus admitted that she always enjoys gifts and loves to play with toys. She also told that Russian fairy tales are stored in a large closet, and a mirror hangs on the wall, but not simple, but magical: if you look into it in the morning and smile, then all desires will come true.
Morozov mail
At the Morozova Post Office, we were met by its keeper, the main assistant of Santa Claus for letters. According to her, a lot of letters come to the Wizard, and he treats them carefully: he folds one on top of the other, and then ties it with a red ribbon and puts it in a chest.
Children love the winter Wizard, warm, kind words congratulate him on the upcoming new year holidays wish you health, happiness and good luck. They don’t ask for any special gifts - they basically want “parents to live peacefully and amicably”, but on next year Thank you for your wish fulfilled. “Dear grandfather,” writes a boy from Zelenograd, Moscow Region, “thank you very much. All year dad listened to mom and behaved well. Grandfather Frost, give him a normal lantern, otherwise, no matter how much you give, everything is not right. Please donate." “To me, Grandfather Frost,” writes another boy, “give a horse, and give my mother a groom.”
Children not only write letters, but also send gifts - the whole mail room is covered with them, and everything is done with their own hands. “Here is a sweet Christmas tree made of sweets sent by guys from the Moscow region to make the life of Santa Claus a little sweeter, because he is very tired on New Year’s Day,” says the postal keeper. - There is a Christmas tree made of pasta - the children from the city of Balashikha did their best.
Winter wizards confessed that the fulfillment of desires is not always easy. “One young couple asked for snowdrops – they had to do some magic to get them out from under the snow,” says Father Frost. Julenissen, in turn, admitted that it was also not easy to fulfill the desire of one of the Norwegian girls, who dreamed of getting an elephant.
Holiday in Savalen - the residence of Julenissen
The Norwegian magician told that in his wooden two-story house, located on the shore of the lake, surrounded by wooded hills in the town of Savalen, there is a study. It contains letters and drawings from children all over the world. There is also a magical machine that transforms the desires of children into gifts.
There is also a festive tree decorated with baby nipples sent by babies. In exchange for the pacifier sent, they receive a special diploma.
In addition to children and their parents, Santa Clauses from around the world come to Julenissen every year in January for the Winter Olympics. Santas compete in speed wrapping presents, lighting fires, sleigh races, and sorting children's letters. Winter wizards also love to go skiing and snowmobiling, go fishing, swim in the ice-hole, ride a sleigh with the breeze. The main thing is to create an atmosphere real fairy tale waiting for both adults and children.
New Year's surprise for children from the orphanage
A real surprise was waiting for the kids from the Maryino social shelter for children and teenagers. Winter wizards with New Year holiday mood and sweet gifts came to visit them and wish them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year . Happy children thanked Father Frost and Yulenisson New Year's poems, songs, wishes of health, happiness and kindness.
How wishes come true
At parting, good wizards told in secret that in order for cherished desires to come true, you need to want to be a wizard. It’s not difficult: you need to constantly, day after day, do at least one good deed, it’s better to do several - to work small miracles - at least just to warm someone kind word. After all, a gentle smile, words of support, an approving look given after - all this is a little magic that each of us can do every day.
By doing good, we bring ourselves closer to the great mystery of magic, opening the door of which, a miracle happens in our life. The path of kindness will never go unnoticed: a fairy tale, bursting into your life, will surely come true!
