What on earth is happening with "Russia's GPS"?, Dec 1, 2009 by Julia Ioffe". Fortune. Archived from the original on 13 September 2010 . Retrieved 20 November 2010. Estonia/Russia: Santa Claus Shakes Hands With Father Frost, Jan 1, 2006". Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty . Retrieved 25 November 2010. Under the influence of Orthodox traditions, the character of Ded Moroz was transformed. Since the 19th century the attributes and legend of Ded Moroz have been shaped by literary influences. The play Snegurochka by Aleksandr Ostrovsky was influential in this respect, as was Rimsky-Korsakov's Snegurochka with libretto based on the play. [2] [8] By the end of the 19th century Ded Moroz became a popular character. [ citation needed]

Tivodar, Blanka, & Andreja Vezovnik. 2010. Cooking in Socialist Slovenia: Housewives on the Road from a Bright Future to an Idyllic Past. In: Breda Luthar & Maruša Pušnik (eds.), Remembering Utopia: The Culture of Everyday Life in Socialist Yugoslavia, pp. 379–406. Washington, DC: New Academia Publishing, p. 396. This specially produced shaker tub has the ability to evenly spread the salt from the bottom on the tub, it’s easy use, with no requirement for a scoop. Christmas Customs in Eastern Europe: Eastern Europe's Traditional Christmas Celebrations by Kerry Kubilius". About.com. Archived from the original on 31 December 2010 . Retrieved 26 November 2010. a b "Croatia Christmas Traditions: Christmas in Croatia by Kerry Kubilius". About.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011 . Retrieved 26 November 2010. In Slovenia, the name Ded Moroz was translated from Russian as Dedek Mraz (literally, "Grandpa Frost"). Dedek Mraz is depicted as a slim man wearing a grey leather coat, which has fur inside and is decorated outside, and a round dormouse fur cap. This version of the character is based on traditional imagery, especially as depicted by Maksim Gaspari in images commissioned in 1952. [47] Although the name was translated literally from the Soviet figure, other names for the character were also considered: Sneženi mož ("the Snow Man") and oca Triglav ("Daddy Triglav"). [47] A female figure named babica Zima (Grandma Winter) was also proposed. [47] Initially he was said to live in Siberia, but with the Informbiro crisis and the schism between Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union his home was relocated to Mt. Triglav, Slovenia's (and also Yugoslavia's) highest peak. Public processions featuring the character began in Ljubljana in 1953. [47] The notion of Grandpa Frost was ideologically useful because it served to reorient the December/January holidays away from religion ( Saint Nicholas Day and Christmas) and towards the secular New Year. [47] After the ousting of Communism at the beginning of the 1990s, two other "good old men" (as they are currently styled in Slovenian) reappeared in public: Miklavž (" Saint Nicholas") is said to bring presents on 6 December, and Božiček ("Christmas man"; usually depicted as Santa Claus) on Christmas Eve. St. Nicholas has had a strong traditional presence in Slovenian ethnic territory and his feast day remained celebrated in family circles throughout the Communist period. Until the late 1940s it was also said in some areas of Slovenia that Christkind (called Jezušček ("little Jesus") or Božiček) brought gifts on Christmas Eve. Slovenian families have different preferences regarding their gift-giver of choice, according to political or religious persuasion. Slovenian popular culture depicts Grandpa Frost, Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus as friends [48] [49] and has also started blending attributes of the characters, for example, mention of Santa's reindeer is sometimes mingled into the Grandpa Frost narrative at public appearances. Due to his non-religious character and strong institutionalization, Grandpa Frost continues to retain a public presence. [50] Tajikistan [ edit ]a b Karen Petrone, Life Has Become More Joyous, Comrades: Celebrations in the Time of Stalin, Indiana University Press, 200, ISBN 0-253-33768-2, Google Print, p.85

In East Slavic cultures, Ded Moroz is accompanied by Snegurochka ( Russian: Снегурочка, Snegurochka; Belarusian: Снягурка, Sniahurka; Ukrainian: Снігуронька, Snihurońka; "Snow Maiden"), his granddaughter and helper, who also wears long silver-blue robes and a furry cap [3] or a snowflake-like crown. [4] She is a unique attribute of Ded Moroz, since similar characters in other cultures do not have a female companion. Since the breakup of the USSR, and especially in recent years, there has been a shift from Did Moroz ( Ukrainian: Дід Мороз), who came to be associated with the Soviet-era heritage, to the more traditional Saint Nicholas (Святий Миколай, Sviatyi Mykolai), who is more popular in Western Ukraine. [54] With the onset of the military intervention of Russia in Ukraine there were rumors that Did Moroz imagery was discouraged by the authorities; however, the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture had refuted this. [55] Uzbekistan [ edit ] For almost 160 years of influence Dzmer Pap and Dzyunanushik have hardly changed their appearance or behavior: they come in red, blue or white winter fur coats and, bringing presents to children, expect them to sing songs or recite poems. They are parts of New Year and Christmas matinées and shows in Armenia. In the recent decades well-off parents have developed a tradition to invite Dzmer Pap and Dzyunanushik to their children.Many ethnic minorities have for linguistic reasons other names for Ded Moroz or even have their own culture-equivalent counterparts to Ded Moroz. For example, in Bashkir Ded Moroz is known as Ҡыш бабай ( Qïš babay, literally: "Winter Old Man"), in Tatar it has the similar spelling Qış Babay ( Кыш бабай) with the same meaning. In Nenets he is known as Yamal Iri ("Grandfather of Yamal"). [22] The Yakut indigenous people have their own counterpart to Ded Moroz, which is called Chys Khaan ("Master of Cold"). [23] International relations of Ded Moroz [ edit ] Santa Claus in Croatia: The Croatian Santa Clause Tradition by Kerry Kubilius". About.com. Archived from the original on 26 December 2010 . Retrieved 26 November 2010. The residence of Ded Moroz in Russia is considered to be the town of Veliky Ustyug, Vologda Oblast. [2] The residence of the Belarusian Dzyed Maroz is said to be in Belavezhskaya Pushcha.