Ded Moroz (or Father Frost*) is probably best described as the Russian Santa Claus. He’s not quite the Santa Claus we know, but similar. Differences between this guy and Santa include him delivering presents in-person during New Year Eve parties and related events, and residing in the town of Veliky Ustyug in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Whereas, Santa Claus delivers presents secretly during Christmas Eve and resides within the North Pole.
Early stories of Ded Moroz presented him as an evil sorcerer who liked to freeze people and kidnap children, carrying them in a giant sack. In order for him to give back the children, parents were to give him presents as ransom.
What a way to ruin a current-day Russian’s childhood by telling them this story. Don’t you think?
Anyway, the influence of Orthodox traditions changed the character of Ded Moroz completely, later adapting certain traits of the Dutch Sinterklass (or Saint Nicholas), who was the prototype of Santa Claus. Eventually, Ded Moroz became the version Russians know today.
The reason why Ded Moroz is in blue (though there are images depicting him in red) is so that he won’t be mistaken as Santa Claus.
Here’s a quick video of Father Frost and Santa Claus together.
This year, GLONASS will be tracking Ded Moroz for the first time as he treks during New Years Eve, similar to how NORAD tracks Santa yearly on Christmas Eve.
*Technically it’s translated as “Grandpa Frost” but nobody cares.
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