Who is better Father Frost or Santa Claus? What is the difference between Father Frost and Santa Claus? The birthplace of Santa Claus. The address of Santa Claus Why Russian children should know the differences

Where did Santa Claus come from?

Santa Claus appeared with us a long time ago. Once upon a time, even before
the emergence of Christianity in Rus', our ancestors believed that the spirits of the dead
They protect their clan, take care of the offspring of livestock and good weather. Therefore, in order
To reward them for their care, every winter people gave them gifts. On the eve of the holiday
the village youth put on masks, turned out their sheepskin coats and went from house to house,
caroled. (However, in different regions had its own characteristics
caroling.) The owners presented the carolers with food. The point was precisely
that the carolers represented the spirits of ancestors who received a reward
for tireless care of the living. Among the carolers there was often one
the “man” dressed the scariest of all. As a rule, he was prohibited
speak. It was the oldest and most formidable spirit; it was also often called
just Grandfather. It is quite possible that this is the prototype of the modern Grandfather
Frost. Only today, of course, he has become kinder and does not come for gifts, but
brings them himself.

According to another version, "great-great-grandfather"
the modern Russian Father Frost was the hero of Russian folk tales Morozko or
Frost has a red nose, master of weather, winter and frost. Initially he was called Grandfather
He was a cracker and was represented as a little old man with a long beard and stern as
Russian frosts by nature. From November to March, Grandfather Treskun was the absolute owner
on the ground. Even the sun was afraid of him! He was married to a despicable person - Winter. Grandfather
Treskun or Santa Claus was also identified with the first month of the year - mid-winter
- January. The first month of the year is cold and cold - the king of frosts, the root of winter, its
sir. It is strict, icy, icy, it’s time for snowmen. People talk about January
They also say this: fireman and jelly, snowman and cracker, fierce and fierce. Later
Grandfather Frost's granddaughter Snegurka or Snegurochka, the heroine of many Russians, appeared
fairy tales, snow girl. Yes, and Santa Claus himself has changed: he began to bring children
gifts under New Year and fulfill your deepest desires.

It’s difficult to say unambiguously where the Russian Father Frost lives, since
there are a lot of legends. Some claim that Santa Claus comes from the North
poles, others say from Lapland. Only one thing is clear, Santa Claus lives somewhere
in the Far North, where it is winter all year round. Now many children are confident
will be called the birthplace of Santa Claus Veliky Ustyug.
But this is just a tourism project that has grown from a fantastic idea into an all-Russian brand. In old Russian
in the city of Veliky Ustyug since December 1998 on the initiative of the Moscow Government
and the administration of the Vologda region, the project “Great
Ustyug is the birthplace of Father Frost."

And also, recently, November 18 in Russia officially
celebrate the birthday of Santa Claus. The date of birth of Santa Claus, they say, was invented by the children themselves, since it was 18
November on his patrimony (as is now believed) - in Veliky Ustyug - into his own rights
real winter is coming, and frosts are striking.

Origin
Santa Claus

Sometimes you can hear that the prototype
Santa Claus is Saint Nicholas. But this is a mistaken opinion. Origin
The Russian Father Frost is fundamentally different from the European Santa Claus. If
Santa Claus was real historical figure which was erected for good deeds
to the rank of saints, then the Russian Father Frost is rather a pagan spirit, a folk character
beliefs and fairy tales.

The prototype of Santa Claus is considered to be Saint Nicholas, who
lived in 4
century. WITH early childhood he was distinguished by his love for his neighbor. The fame of his deeds was
great, so while still a young man he was appointed bishop. He settled in
the city of Izmir in Greece (now part of Turkey). Saint Nicholas was rich
and helped the poor in every possible way, and always did it secretly - putting gifts in
windows.

And somehow
times, wanting to help a poor family in which there were three daughters, and whose father, because
poverty decided to sell them into slavery, St. Nicholas gave them a gift at Christmas
three bags of gold coins. (This continued until they
accumulated a sufficient dowry to get married.) But one day
all the windows in the house were locked. Then Saint Nicholas threw
bags of gold in a pipe. The gold coins he threw into the pipe ended up in
socks hanging by the stove to dry. That's why Catholics now put gifts in
socks that hang by the fireplace.

However
Saint Nicholas became famous not only for his secret gifts, but also for his miracles,
who worked both during life and after death.

Saint
Sailors and fishermen considered Nicholas their protector. He provided patronage
abducted and murdered children: found them and brought them back to life. There was
legend that on the feast of St. Nicholas the bishop distributed gifts, but only
obedient children, and punished naughty children.

Therefore on
feast of St. Nicholas, which Orthodox Church celebrates December 19th (to
new style), and Catholic December 6th, children always receive gifts from
St. Nicholas.

Of course
The climate in Greece is different from ours, so no fur coats or hats. Saint Nicholas
didn't wear it.

European settlers who settled in America in the 7th and 7th centuries
XVIII centuries, they brought with them the legends about St. Nicholas. One of the first
churches built in what was then New York was Sinter Klaas or Sint Nicholas,
later called "Santa Claus".

A modern image of a good-natured fat Santa Claus
appeared in the USA relatively recently, on Christmas Day 1822. That's when
Clement Clarke Moore wrote the poem "The Parish of St. Nicholas" in which
The saint appeared as a cheerful and cheerful elf with a round, tight belly,
indicating a passion for delicious food, and with a smoking pipe. As a result
reincarnation, Saint Nicholas got off the donkey, acquired eight deer and
a bag of gifts appeared in his hands.

The first image of Santa Claus was drawn in 1862 by cartoonist Thomas Nast. IN
for 24 years he drew it for the cover of the popular Harper's magazine
Weekly". The artist placed Klaus at the North Pole (not Lapland).
The covers were incredibly popular. Santa Thomas Nast had
one drawback - it was black and white.

The red fur coat was given to the fairy-tale grandfather in 1885 by publisher Louis Prang. He
brought the Victorian tradition of Christmas greetings to America
postcards made using the technique of color lithography. So Santa Claus changed
the furs that Nast dressed him in, to a nice bright red outfit.

Finally, in 1930, the Coca-Cola Company came up with a clever advertising trick to
their products were not forgotten either in summer or winter - an artist from Chicago depicted
Santa Claus in red and white Coca-Cola colors. This is how the modern image was born
Santa Claus.

As you can see,
Santa Claus (originally originated as a good elf) and Father Frost (originally
formerly simply Frost - the patron saint of winter) have little in common with the Saint
Nikolai. They are united only by their love for children and the custom of giving gifts.

However, the modern image of Santa Claus is so widely represented in advertising and souvenirs.
products that our children are completely confused and mistakenly call him Grandfather
Frost. Let's learn to distinguish them.

Differences between Father Frost and Santa Claus

	Father Frost	Santa Claus
Headdress	Warm hat with fur trim. Attention: none bombs and brushes! The hat can be embroidered with silver and pearls. Edge, or hall, should be trimmed with white fur with a triangular neckline made on the front part has stylized horns. The shape of the hat is semi-oval, like this The shape of the hat is traditional for Russian tsars.	Red cap with white pompom.
Beard	Beard down to the floor. White and fluffy like snow.	Short beard with a shovel.
Outerwear	Long thick fur coat. Initially, the color of the fur coat was blue, cold, but under the influence of the red fur coats of the “European brothers" changed to red. On at the moment both are allowed option. The fur coat should be long to the ground, embroidered with silver - in in the form of eight-pointed stars, jibs, crosses and other elements of traditional Russian ornament, trimmed with swan down (or any white fur). Pants should not be visible from under the fur coat!	Short jacket in red. Red pants.
Mittens	Santa Claus hides his hands in huge mittens. Classic look requires that the mittens be three-fingered white, embroidered with silver - a symbol the purity and holiness of everything that he gives from his hands. Three-fingered symbol belonging to the highest divine principle since the Neolithic.	Light gloves.
Belt	Santa Claus does not wear belts, but ties his fur coat with a sash. In extreme cases, it is fastened with buttons.	Belt with buckle.
Shoes	Santa Claus usually prefers felt boots. And it’s not surprising, because at −50 degrees (usual northern air temperature) even the Snow Master's feet are in boots will freeze. The classic look allows for silver or red embroidered silver boots with raised toes (but not black). And on a frosty day Santa Claus puts on white felt boots embroidered with silver.	Black boots.
Accessories	Santa Claus always carries a staff with him. Firstly, to make it easier make your way through the snowdrifts. And secondly, according to legend, Santa Claus, while still “wild” Morozko,” with this very staff the people were “freezing.” The staff should have a straight shape without curves. The end may have a knob in the shape of a ball or a star.	Staff Catholic bishop with a curved end. Wears glasses. Sometimes depicted with a smoking pipe. Also included: socks on the fireplace, wreaths, bells, etc.
Method of transportation	Santa Claus travels on foot, by air or on a sleigh drawn by three. He also loves to cross his native expanses on skis. Cases with the use of deer has not been recorded.	Santa Claus rides in a cart pulled by reindeer, because... Santa Claus lives in Lapland, where there are no horses, but there are reindeer.

The most important difference between the Russian Santa Claus is his constant companion, his granddaughter.
Snow Maiden. It’s understandable: alone and on far north where there are only seals
Yes, penguins, you can die of boredom! And it’s more fun with my granddaughter. Image
Snow Maidens are a symbol of frozen waters. This is a girl dressed in white clothes (or
flowers reminiscent of frozen water). The headdress of the granddaughter of Santa Claus is eight-rayed
a crown embroidered with silver and pearls.

Editor's response 0 + -

Since 2005, the official birthday of Russian Father Frost is celebrated on November 18. This date was not chosen by chance: it is believed that on this day in the homeland of Father Frost - in Veliky Ustyug - frosts come and winter comes. At the same time, the age of the old man is unknown; moreover, there are several versions of the birth of this character.

Questions and Answers Where does he live? real Grandfather Freezing?

The prototype of Santa Claus is considered to be a Slavic deity: the lord of cold and frost. The image of this spirit is reflected in Slavic fairy-tale folklore, where it is mentioned as Moroz, Studenets, Treskunets, Morozko, Zyuzya. Slavic peoples They imagined this deity in the form of an old man with a long gray beard, who runs through the fields and causes crackling frosts by knocking. Considering that Slavic mythology was formed in the process of separating the ancient Slavs from the Indo-European community of peoples in the 2nd–1st millennium BC. e., then the age of Santa Claus may exceed 2000 years.

However, the Father Frost we know is not only the lord of winter and frost, but also a kind old man who brings gifts to children. A similar image is shown in the fairy tale “Moroz Ivanovich” by Vladimir Odoevsky of 1840, in which for the first time a literary treatment of the folklore and ritual Moroz was given. Moroz Ivanovich is described as a gray-haired old man who lives in an ice house and sleeps on a feather bed made of snow. He covers the winter shoots with snow, just like “he shakes his head and frost falls from his hair.” If we take into account the inclusion of the image of Santa Claus in literary tradition, then its age is just under 180 years.

The author of works on the history of Father Frost in Russia, philologist Elena Dushechkina writes that the image of Frost created by Odoevsky is still far from the character we are familiar with. According to her, it finally took shape only at the beginning of the twentieth century, when, in addition to verbal description, it acquired a recognizable visual form. By this time, the figure of an old man in a fur coat and with a bag in his hands became popular Christmas tree toy, as well as dolls in advertising windows, carnival masks began to be made in the shape of the face of Santa Claus. It wasn't until the 1910s that people dressed as Father Frost began to appear at children's parties. If we take into account the time of appearance of the familiar image of Santa Claus, then the character is just over 100 years old. How is Father Frost different from Santa Claus? Infographics Read more

Philologist Svetlana Adonyeva, in her study of the history of the New Year tradition, notes that Santa Claus as an obligatory character New Year's holiday appeared only in the pre-war years. This image arose under the Soviet regime, which by the end of the thirties, after several years of prohibition, allowed Christmas trees again. Thus, Santa Claus has existed as an attribute of the New Year holiday for approximately 80 years.

How old is Santa Claus?

Determining the age of Santa Claus is less difficult than in the case of Father Frost. If we take into account that the prototype of Santa is Saint Nicholas, also known as Nicholas the Wonderworker, then the date of birth of the saint is taken as the date of birth of the character: 270 AD. e. Thus, Santa Claus is 1747 years old.

The date when Santa Claus became a hero is also known literary work. This happened in 1823, when the Christmas poem "An Account of the Visit of St. Nicholas" was published in New York. Its author, writer Clement Clarke Moore, composed a poem for his three daughters in which he spoke about a jolly old elf who travels on a reindeer sleigh and brings gifts to children by entering the house through the chimney. And it's all about him. 7 interesting facts from the biography of Santa Claus Read more

The image of Santa Claus entered popular culture after American cartoonist Thomas Nast created an illustration of this character for Harper’s Weekly. On January 3, 1863, this magazine published an image of a bearded old man wearing a suit painted in the colors of the American flag. It was a political cartoon that reflected events Civil War. Santa Claus in his traditional costume and holding a bag of toys can be seen in Nast's later illustrations from the 1880s.

In the early 1890s, homeless people dressed as Santa Claus began appearing on the streets of New York City, collecting donations. The money was used by the Salvation Army charity to pay for free Christmas meals for families in need. What's in Santa Claus's bag? Where did the tradition of giving sweets to children come from? Read more

So which character is older?

Considering that the exact date of appearance of the prototype of Father Frost is unknown, we cannot compare his age with the age of Santa Claus. Regarding literary images, then the description of Santa Claus, close to the modern one, was given a little earlier than the familiar Santa Claus. The visual image of the old man-donor was also first introduced to the Americans, and then to the residents of Russia.

According to the site

The older generation understands the difference between Father Frost and Santa Claus. But not all modern children see differences in them. Many guys think that this is the same character, others think that the winter wizards are brothers. Not all parents are in a hurry to dispel such myths. Some do not consider it necessary to deprive a child of a fairy tale. They say: “Let him believe in whomever he wants, let him grow up, and understand that all wizards are a figment of the imagination.” But you can't do that to children. The guys should see the difference between a Russian wizard and his Western counterpart. After all, if children are not taught this, then in the future our country will lose its history. Today we will look in detail at the difference between Father Frost and Santa Claus.

Origin of the Russian wizard

To understand the difference between Father Frost and Santa Claus, you need to know the history of these two characters. It is believed that our wizard is the spirit of frost, who was worshiped by our pagan ancestors. People brought gifts to this mystical deity, trying to appease the harsh temper of Frost. A fictional deity from folklore became the prototype for the fairy tale "Morozko". At first, this character had nothing to do with the New Year; this association came much later. After all, in Russia, Christmas has always been considered the main holiday of winter. Only during the Soviet period did the New Year acquire an all-Union scale. And the good wizard and his granddaughter became the symbol of this main holiday.

Many will be surprised, but there is also an American Santa Claus. Santa Claus is not the only hero fairy tales of Western children. Jack Frost is an analogue of our Russian wizard. But in America they consider him negative hero, he ruins the children's holiday, and it is with him that Santa Claus constantly comes into conflict. Of course, Jack Frost is not exactly our Santa Claus, he smokes, drinks, and looks very repulsive.

The history of the appearance of the Western wizard

Well, now let’s look once again at the difference between Father Frost and Santa Claus. Saint Nicholas was taken as the prototype of the Western wizard. When the first settlers moved to live on a new American island, they had to develop their own folklore. This is how Sinterklaas was born. It was he who threw gifts to children who behaved well through the fireplace. But why did Santa Claus give gifts in such a strange way? And this fact has an explanation. They say that Saint Nicholas walked across the rooftops and threw wallets of gold down the chimneys of poor people. And since socks were dried on the fireplaces, wallets were found there.

Santa Claus gained wide popularity in 1931. It was this year that Coca-Cola released its commercial with the famous old man in a red sheepskin coat. Therefore, when thinking about who is older - Father Frost or Santa Claus, we can safely say that our wizard is in the lead here.

Where does Santa Claus live?

Everyone knows that the birthplace of the Russian wizard is Veliky Ustyug. There is the residence of Father Frost, where he welcomes his guests all year round. Our wizard cannot stand the heat, which is why he settled in the North. He has his own residence, which is located 11 km from the city. But it is accessible to everyone. It’s especially great to go there during the New Year holidays to get a dose of New Year’s spirit.

Where does Santa Claus live?

The birthplace of Santa Claus is Lapland, and specifically the city of Rovaniemi. Here is his winter residence, where the wizard greets guests and distributes gifts. Santa Claus has a beautiful palace with a wonderfully decorated façade. What can we say, the wizard has his own town, where there is a post office and a bakery is open every day.

We understood where Father Frost and Santa Claus live, and surprisingly, these wizards communicate with each other. In the early 2000s, their joint video message to the children of the planet was recorded.

Character of Santa Claus

As you know, our wizard’s character is not sugar. It is enough to remember the fairy tale “Morozko” to understand how Santa Claus treats lazy and deceitful children. Of course, the wizard doesn’t freeze all the kids. Only the most notorious pranksters suffer such a fate. And Santa Claus brings gifts to the rest of the children. The wizard gives gifts to some children, those who have especially distinguished themselves by their good behavior and academic performance, in person, at the governor’s Christmas tree in Moscow. Santa Claus gives presents to other children at matinees in kindergartens and schools. Well, for those children who study poorly and do not please their parents with good behavior, the wizard brings nothing.

Santa Claus character

The Western wizard is also distinguished by his obstinate character. He may not be as strong in witchcraft as his Russian prototype, but he can still do mischief to children. Instead of gifts for children who have behaved badly during the year, New Year's Santa Claus pours ash into a sock.

Unlike the Russian wizard, the Western one does not have a healthy lifestyle. He loves to eat delicious food and smoke a pipe. As you know, people with a big belly have an eccentric but kind character.

Santa Claus clothes

Today European and Russian fashion no different, but this was not always the case. And since Santa Claus is not a hero of our generation, his clothes are already morally outdated and look a little out of date. But this does not mean that it does not suit my grandfather; on the contrary, he looks regal in it. On his head, Santa Claus has a hat trimmed with white fur. You can often see embroidery in the form of frosty patterns on it. Santa Claus is dressed in a fur coat that reaches to his toes. It is belted with a belt embroidered with gold or silver. Yes, it can also be applied to a fur coat interesting drawing. The Russian wizard has felt boots on his feet. These are the most appropriate shoes for a person who lives in the North. Mittens protect the hands of Santa Claus from wind and snow. And his face is adorned with a long white beard. And of course, a red nose. The nose, by the way, can be blue. Everything will depend on the color of the fur coat. IN lately Santa Claus increasingly wears red outerwear, paying tribute to Western fashion. But still, the Russian wizard does not disdain wearing both a blue and a white fur coat. Santa Claus carries a staff in his hands. He casts a spell with it, and he relies on it. Still, my grandfather is getting old and sometimes it’s difficult for him to walk. As the wizard leads healthy image life, he can often be seen skiing. But most often, Santa Claus uses eight white horses as a means of transportation, which he harnesses to a luxurious sleigh.

Western Wizard's Clothes

The Santa Claus costume is different from the Father Frost outfit. The fur coat of the European wizard is short. In a long one it would be inconvenient to climb smoke shafts. Santa Claus has red pants and black boots on his feet. His head is crowned with a nightcap with a pompom, and his face is adorned with a short white beard. White gloves protect your hands from cold and wind. The Western wizard's belt is wide and leather. Santa's suit is red and he has one.

The Western wizard is not without human weaknesses, which is why you can see a smoking pipe in his hands. Although, since anti-tobacco campaigns began in Europe, even Santa Claus has given up smoking. It is not surprising that in a few years the legend about the old man will change, and it will turn out that he was never interested in smoking a pipe. Old age forces the Western wizard to wear glasses. But it’s worth remembering that Santa Claus doesn’t look much like a person. He looks more like an elf. His short stature and round belly, which add charm to the old man, unite the grandfather with pointy-eared creatures.

The birthplace of Santa Claus is Lapland. It takes a long time to get there on foot, so he moves around western wizard on a sled with reindeer. These animals even have their own names, and some of them can talk. Elves often hang bells on the antlers of deer.

Santa Claus's assistants

The Russian wizard does not work alone. He has an assistant - his granddaughter Snegurochka. It is not entirely clear how this girl appeared, but by default it is generally accepted that she was left an orphan, and Santa Claus took her to live with him. It is surprising that there are no analogues of the Snow Maiden in any country in the world. This girl accompanies her famous grandfather on all his trips, helps him give gifts to children, and it is she who spends most of the matinees. Children love Snegurochka for her beautiful appearance and kind disposition. But it’s not only the granddaughter who helps the Russian wizard. In addition to the horses harnessed to his harness, you can see titmice, bunnies and squirrels in various illustrations. These cute animals are Santa Claus' companions and friends.

Santa's Helpers

The Western wizard has a whole team that prepares gifts for children for Christmas. It consists of elves. These little people sew clothes and make toys day and night. Santa Claus also has a wife. Mrs. Claus does not accompany her husband on trips, but she always waits for him at home and supports him in all his endeavors. Santa Claus travels with his reindeer. They are his friends. The Western wizard talks to them, and it is they who help him get out of various troubles that the fat and clumsy old man gets into.

Why Russian children need to know the differences

Naturally, every person should know his history and the history of his country. It is thanks to her that we exist. Of course, history can be rewritten, but you cannot rewrite the past. And if you forget it, you can make the same mistakes in the future. It seems, what does the comparison of Father Frost and Santa Claus and the future of our country have to do with it? But it turns out there is a connection. After all, every child should know the folklore of their country. Thanks to folk tales Each nationality has its own unique flavor. For example, have you ever wondered: in Germany, Father Frost or Santa Claus wishes children a Happy New Year? It turns out that it is neither one nor the other. The Germans have their own wizard, and his name is St. Nicholas. And this is true in any country. Cheerful or menacing, but always fair old men, with hundreds of years behind them, congratulate children on the holidays. What if these wizards didn’t exist? If all countries celebrated New Year and Christmas the same way, it would not be interesting. After all, you must admit, it’s nice to come to a foreign country and look at the strange and mysterious rituals that are performed in this foreign world. I want to try wonderful national cuisine and appreciate completely new entertainment. This is what makes a person travel. And perhaps this is due to the preservation of traditions and national heroes and holiday symbols. And for Russia, the main characters of the New Year are Father Frost and Snow Maiden.

Since 2005, the official birthday of the Russian Santa Claus celebrated on November 18th. This date was not chosen by chance: it is believed that on this day in the homeland of Father Frost - in Veliky Ustyug - frosts come and winter comes. At the same time, the age of the old man is unknown; moreover, there are several versions of the birth of this character.

The prototype of Santa Claus is considered to be a Slavic deity: the lord of cold and frost. The image of this spirit is reflected in Slavic fairy-tale folklore, where it is mentioned as Frost, Studenets, Treskunets, Morozko, Zyuzya. The Slavic peoples imagined this deity in the form of an old man with a long gray beard, who runs through the fields and causes cracking frosts by knocking. Considering that Slavic mythology was formed in the process of separating the ancient Slavs from the Indo-European community of peoples in the 2nd-1st millennium BC. e., then the age of Santa Claus may exceed 2000 years.

However, the Father Frost we know is not only the lord of winter and frost, but also a kind old man who brings gifts to children. A similar image is shown in the fairy tale “Moroz Ivanovich” Vladimir Odoevsky 1840, in which for the first time a literary treatment of folklore and ritual Frost was given. Moroz Ivanovich is described as a gray-haired old man who lives in an ice house and sleeps on a feather bed made of snow. He covers the winter shoots with snow, just like “he shakes his head and frost falls from his hair.” If we take into account how the image of Santa Claus enters the literary tradition, then his age is just under 180 years.

Author of works on the history of Father Frost in Russia, philologist Elena Dushechkina writes that the image of Moroz created by Odoevsky is still far from the character we know. According to her, it finally took shape only at the beginning of the twentieth century, when, in addition to verbal description, it acquired a recognizable visual form. By this time, the figure of an old man in a fur coat and with a bag in his hands had become a popular Christmas tree decoration, as well as a doll in advertising windows; carnival masks began to be made in the shape of the face of Santa Claus. It wasn't until the 1910s that people dressed as Father Frost began to appear at children's parties. If we take into account the time of appearance of the familiar image of Santa Claus, then the character is just over 100 years old.

Philologist Svetlana Adonyeva in his study of the history of the New Year tradition, he notes that Santa Claus as an obligatory character of the New Year holiday appeared only in the pre-war years. This image arose under the Soviet regime, which by the end of the thirties, after several years of prohibition, allowed Christmas trees again. Thus, Santa Claus has existed as an attribute of the New Year holiday for approximately 80 years.

How old is Santa Claus?

Age determination Santa Claus causes less difficulties than in the case of Santa Claus. Considering that the prototype of Santa is Saint Nicholas, aka Nicholas the Wonderworker, then the date of birth of the saint is taken as the character’s date of birth: 270 AD. e. Thus, Santa Claus is 1747 years old.

The date when Santa Claus became the hero of a literary work is also known. This happened in 1823, when the Christmas poem "An Account of the Visit of St. Nicholas" was published in New York. Its author, writer Clement Clarke Moore, wrote a poem for his three daughters, in which he talked about a jolly old elf who travels on a reindeer sleigh and brings gifts to children, entering the house through the chimney.

The image of Santa Claus entered popular culture after the American cartoonist Thomas Nast created an illustration of this character for Harper's Weekly. On January 3, 1863, this magazine published an image of a bearded old man wearing a suit painted in the colors of the American flag. It was a political cartoon that reflected the events of the Civil War. Santa Claus in his traditional costume and holding a bag of toys can be seen in Nast's later illustrations from the 1880s.

So which character is older?

Considering that the exact date of appearance of the prototype of Father Frost is unknown, we cannot compare his age with the age of Santa Claus. As for literary images, the description of Santa Claus, close to the modern one, was given a little earlier than the familiar Santa Claus. The visual image of the old man-donor was also first introduced to the Americans, and then to the residents of Russia.

The streets gradually begin to dress up in colorful garlands; shop windows strewn with fluffy fake snow encourage passers-by to buy gifts; and in social networks The hashtag #ng is appearing more and more often. If this only reminds you of the approaching main holiday of all times, then it’s definitely time to wake up and start planning a trip to the most New Year’s place on the planet.

In fact, there are two of them - Veliky Ustyug and Lapland. In both cases, magic simply hovers in the frosty air, creating a “holiday mood” that most people stop feeling at the age of 30 or earlier. And it’s up to you to decide who to go to stay with - the Russian Father Frost or the foreign Santa Claus. We will only help you not to get lost in the wilds of their fairytale forests.

Find 10 differences

For many it is still not entirely clear who real symbol New Year and Christmas and where to go so as not to make a mistake. But you are unlikely to be disappointed, because Father Frost and Santa Claus are two interpretations of the same phenomenon that arose on the basis different cultures. They are very similar and only in some points show significant differences. Let's list the main ones so you can choose the one you like best.

1. Where I was born, I came in handy there.

Tower of Father Frost in Veliky Ustyug

To the question “Where does Grandfather Frost live?” Most children will answer - in a fairy tale. So it is, only she has a specific address: Vologda region, the city of Veliky Ustyug. 20 years ago, the authorities of our state decided that the main New Year's wizard was born there and would live permanently.

Santa is registered in polar Lapland, in the Arctic north of Finland, where his residence is located. In it, he spends a whole year working on making gifts for obedient children together with his army of gnomes.

2. Who is who.

This grandpa smokes a pipe

In addition to the fact that Santa Claus’s nose and cheeks turn red from the cold, you can also notice that he is very handsome, stately, aged, but not quite old man. A real retired Russian hero, strong and tall. His hair is gray and straight, his beard is curly, white and long - to the waist or even to the floor. The voice is bassy, booming, pleasant.

But Santa looks older and stockier: he is short and has a heavy belly. The hair and beard are white, curly, and the length of the latter is no lower than the waist. You can see glasses on his nose - old age is not a joy. And this grandfather smokes a pipe. His cheeks are as red as apples, and in general he gives the impression of a kind and pleasant, funny old man who loves to say “Ho-ho-ho” in a low and loud voice.

3. They greet you by their clothes.

Let's warm ourselves up with Santa Claus

In the Russian North you can’t be spoiled, so Father Frost has a long (to his toes) fur coat, with the fur turned to the body, and the outside covered with brocade, red, blue or white. There is a wide and long sash on the belt, fur mittens on the hands, and presumably pants on the legs (not visible due to the long hem). In theory, they, like the shirt, should be snow-white. The head is warmed by an expensive fur hat, shaped like an old boyar hat, decorated with embroidery and precious stones.

But his colleague would not exchange his suit for anything, consisting of a red light jacket with white fur trim and pants made from the same fabric. Santa Claus is belted with a black leather belt with a heavy metal buckle. As a headdress he uses a red cap with a fur pompom at the end, and warms his hands - wearing black or white gloves.

4. So as not to leave your legs.

Santa style

Initially, Santa Claus' feet were depicted in red leather boots, with curved toes and patterns on the tops - real royal boots. And now, more and more often, he chooses good old folk boots, white and embroidered with precious threads.

Santa Claus does not change his style and wears high, warm boots made of black leather.

5. Give me a point of reference.

Staff - Santa Claus's magic wand

In the hands of Santa Claus you can always see a long staff with carved patterns. At the upper end there is a knob or an asterisk. This is not just a means of maintaining stability on slippery ice or in deep snowdrifts, but also a kind of magic wand. Our hero uses it when the time comes to plunge nature into hibernation. According to legends, Moroz more than once helped the Russians defeat the enemy with the help of his miracle staff: what is it worth just for Napoleon’s flight from frozen Moscow.

But Santa Claus does not need tools for witchcraft. He uses his stick, bent at one end, for its intended purpose - to lean on while walking. It is usually decorated with red or green stripes.

6. Eh, I’ll give it a ride!

Santalet: gifts delivered to your home

Three white horses - December, January and February - serve as a means of transportation for our Grandfather. He harnesses them to a sleigh and travels across the country to light... New Year trees. Sometimes he walks or even skis - apparently, in his youth he was a sporty guy.

It’s not appropriate for Santa Claus to travel on earth - it probably takes too long, traffic jams and so on, so he travels through the air on a sleigh harnessed to a whole herd of reindeer. All nine animals have names, but the leader has always been Rudolph, who gallops at the head of the team and sets the pace of movement.

7. Hacking rules.

The one who visits people's homes is Santa Claus

The whole family is waiting for Santa Claus, and he comes through the front door: hiding is not his style. Gifts are given in person or placed under the tree.

Klaus prefers secret visits to his fans and, under the cover of darkness, goes down chimneys into houses. Presents are placed in socks specially hung over the fireplace.

8. Retinue.

Gnomes are always at hand

The Russian wizard is supported by his granddaughter Snegurochka. Usually she does not appear at the holiday with her grandfather, which is not surprising, because they live in different cities. The Snow Maiden’s homeland, as it turned out, is Kostroma.

And Santa Claus is helped along the way by his constant companions - the gnomes, but he usually “falls into” houses alone.

9. About roots.

Karachun - lord of frost, cold and darkness

The appearance of the image of Father Frost in Russian folklore was inspired by the pagan beliefs of our ancestors. So they worshiped several winter deities at once: Karachun, Treskun, Student and the Bogatyr-blacksmith. Initially, they were evil and cruel: they only strove to harm people. But then the result of their unification in one person was rethought and began to be seen in a positive light.

And the origin of Santa Claus is closely connected with Christianity: his prototype was St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (Santa is a saint, Klaus is Nicholas). He, in turn, became famous for secretly and absolutely selflessly providing assistance to poor families with children.

10. Job responsibilities.

No differences. Both Grandfather Frost and Santa Claus were invented to bring joyful moments into the lives of children and adults.

Now let's talk about what awaits you in the homeland of each of them. This will be especially useful if you go on a trip on your own.

To Veliky Ustyug: where your eyes light up

Santa Claus Mail

The place for the permanent residence of Father Frost was not chosen by chance and not only because Ustyug is Veliky. This is one of the oldest cities in the Russian North, with a rich history, ancient architecture, a lot of attractions and stunning nature, especially in winter. Favorite fairy tale character fit perfectly into its surroundings.

The residence of Father Frost can be visited in Veliky Ustyug itself. In it you will find mail, where letters arrive from all the enthusiastic little ones of our country. From this point they send greeting cards to your loved ones: they bear the signature and seal of the main symbol of the New Year.

There you will also be able to visit the throne room and Santa Claus’s shop. If you have time, it's worth visiting the museum New Year's toys on the territory of the Church of the Myrrh-Bearing Women, and also look at the Nativity scene, the Cathedral of Procopius the Righteous and stroll along the embankment of the Sukhona River.

And you still need to get to Moroz’s Estate: it is located somewhat away from the bustle of the city (a little more than ten kilometers). Travel there can be organized through one of the local travel agencies or you can get there on your own: by taxi or bus number 122.

Sleigh is a favorite pastime of Santa Claus's guests

The best time for the trip is morning, as there are not too many people yet - they usually flood the estate around lunchtime. In the evening, so many people gather there that it is difficult to move around without stepping on others’ toes. Again, visiting the Estate in the dark will leave much more impressions than during the day: as if with a wave of a magic staff, everything will suddenly begin to sparkle, move, and dance. At such moments, the eyes light up not only in children, but also in adults.

Winter attractions, ice skating and snow slides, rides on horses, snowmobiles and buns, a fascinating excursion along the Trail of Fairy Tales - this is just the minimum program, which is difficult to complete in one day. You will definitely want to return there again to warm yourself near the fire of the 12 month-brothers, to look into the light of grandmother Aushka and Zhitny’s grandfather in the hut. We bet that you don’t even know some of the named characters - the more useful the trip to Veliky Ustyug will be.

If you are offered to join a group of tourists, we advise you not to refuse. IN different points The estate provides folk entertainment for guests, and it is always noisy and fun when you play in a crowd. One of brightest moments The trip will include a visit to a fairy-tale tower, during which its owner magically appears under the snow falling straight from the ceiling. At this moment you begin to believe that Santa Claus is real, and miracles exist!

He's real!

How to get there

When planning a car trip, keep in mind that the navigator may not believe in fairy tales, so instead of the Estate of Father Frost, set the route to the village of Medinskoye, Vologda Region. By train and plane from most Russian cities you will have to get to Veliky Ustyug with transfers.

Where to stay

Early booking is the key to successful and inexpensive accommodation. Now all the tidbits have already been snapped up (some very prudent people begin to do this in the summer). From mid-December until almost the end of January, in Moroz’s homeland, prices skyrocket, and hotels are packed to capacity (and where is this not the case at this time?). Look for the option of moving into private houses and cottages within the Votchina itself and in the surrounding villages.

To Lapland for childhood

Welcome to Santa Claus Village

The foreign brother of our Father Frost settled not far from the capital of Lapland, Rovaniemi - in a village with the funny name Joulupukki. This territory is known as a fabulous province, where incredible nature and unique culture merge together and create an atmosphere of celebration, fun and homeliness. Children are especially interested in visiting places that were so colorfully described by their favorite writers. And possible frosts of -50 do not frighten thousands of tourists who annually travel to the Finnish north to look at Santa’s house and life.

According to legend, Klaus had to create his current Village because people gradually began to learn about his secret laboratory for the production of gifts on Mount Korvatunturi. And he chose Joulupukki not by chance - because there is a thin earth’s crust, which allows the planet’s rotation to slow down so that the wizard can fly around the whole world in one night.

In fact, the residence appeared in the middle of the last century after his wife visited these places American President Roosevelt. Since then, the settlement has only grown. In it, the owner receives visitors, reads letters and prepares for the next “New Year’s Eve.”

In Santa’s village you will find his “headquarters”, guest houses, Santa Park, many souvenir shops, shops and cafes, as well as a real deer farm - where would you be without it? On the main square you can go down the slides and admire the Christmas tree with decorations in the form of miniature copies of flags different countries. And not far from the fabulous residence there is an entire entertainment center.

On the wizard's lap

To fulfill your lifelong dream of sitting on Santa’s lap, you need to get into his office (free admission) and stand in a long line. Klaus gives gifts to the most obedient children, and for a photo with him you need to pay to the gnome cash desk.

Just like us, we have our own post office branch where you can order a letter to any corner of the world. They will even help you compose it, write it, pack it, and immediately send it to in the right direction, not forgetting to stamp it with a magic seal.

And everyone is also amused by the ritual of crossing the Arctic Circle border. Those who dare to jump over the symbolic line are even given certificates confirming their heroic deed.

In addition to all of the above, there are many more interesting things to do in the village of Santa Claus, from riding on all possible winter species transport, continuing with cooking master classes from Mrs. Claus herself and ending with overnight stays in ice houses. Children learn elf literacy, communicate with animals and just fool around in the snow - in Lapland they don’t have to be under 30.

Have you tried to dig up your childhood in a snowdrift?

How to get there

Finland is good because it has a common border with Russia. Therefore, getting to Santa’s house from St. Petersburg, for example, will not be difficult and will not take much time. This can be done either by car or by train. Rovaniemi has a train station as well as an airport serving international flights.

Where to stay

There are usually no problems with housing. You can live next door to the Klaus family, rent a room in one of the Rovaniemi hotels or a cottage in nearby towns. You need to book in advance: the closer to the New Year, the more expensive the trip will cost you.

Hey coachman, turn north!

Soon, soon the whole world will start talking about new hopes, plans, blank slates and other banalities. And this is what we will advise you: give up this matter and go ahead - have a blast in the Russian or European north. Ultimately, the citizenship of the main New Year's wizard is not important. It’s just that to travel abroad you will need more documents and, possibly, money. But regardless of the chosen direction, do not forget to take warm clothes with you!