Who are the Snow Maiden's parents? The origin of the Snow Maiden. History of the Snow Maiden
Snow Maiden and Santa Claus are popular characters andinvariable guests of any New Year. Heroes are invariably cheerful and benevolent - they congratulate adults and give gifts to kids. But the history of the appearance of the rite of celebration, as well as the real roles of Frost and Snow Maiden, shock the imagination with its cruelty and the abundance of bloody details.
Snow Maiden and Frost: Scandinavian Interpretation
According to the Roman chronicles, Celticpriests-druids-among other trees, especially conifer trees (spruce, pine). Green giants from sacred groves were regularly offered gifts - food, flowers, jewelry and human sacrifices. However, the latter - a fact unconfirmed, although the Russian Snow Maiden and its modern interpretation is considered a cultural borrowing from wild, unenlightened Varangians.
Where does Snegurochka come from?
The cruel spirit of winter - the Elder of the North - demandedrespectful relationship. The Snegurochka girl was needed to propitiate the deity of nature. The role of Snegurka was chosen either as an orphan, or cast lots within the settlement. Who the Snow Maiden's parents - it was completely unimportant.
The Tradition of Sacrifice Roman Historiansdescribed very colorfully and with a lot of unappetizing details - pouring ice water and ripping the belly of a young girl were mandatory attributes of Celtic celebrations, as well as decorating sacred firs with remains of people.
There is no special faith for the Roman chroniclers, since the Druids were known for their pacifism and careful attitude to all living things - trees, grasses, animals and people.
Snow Maiden: Slavic interpretation
Common roots of the peoples of the Indo-European groupallow us to draw conclusions about a single mythological space, in the light of which the characters, heroes and main motifs of fairy tales and legends are repeated and intertwined. Russian Snegurochka is an echo of the general cosmogonic concept and partial cultural borrowing. The character is found mainly in Slavic tales, in Europe there is no such image.
One of the indispensable external features andmodern New Year attributes is the crown of the Snow Maiden. This artifact, according to observations of culturologists, goes back to the image of the great-Snow Maiden - the Slavic spirit of Kostroma. Sister Kupala - Kostroma - was portrayed as a girl in white robes with a crown (perhaps the same crown of the Snow Maiden) on her head and an oak branch in her hand. Meetings and send-offs of Kostroma (the personification of spring) were accompanied by special rituals. Like a fairy-tale character, familiar to us from numerous literary works, Kostroma left people - just like the Snow Maiden in the summer. Sister Kupala for some time was "in force", and then "fell ill" and "died."
Until now it is not known how the Snow Maiden turned out from Kostroma, but it is the ancient deity of the Slavs that underlies the modern family holidays.
Is there a family in Snegurka?
The question "Who are the Snow Maiden's parents?" Answers in mythology can be found several - Winter and Lada, Spring and Winter - two mutually exclusive beginnings.
Without the interference of otherworldly forces, apparently, there was not, but the modern legend about Moroz and his granddaughter for Snegurka parents does not recognize in principle.
Where are the Snow Maiden's parents? Based on the Old Norse and Old Slavonic understanding of the holiday, the girl's parents would be "in chocolate". The eternal life was promised for the solemn sacrifice to Snegurke, and to all her relatives prosperity and prosperity were promised.
Snow Maiden and Santa Claus: the evolution of images
Traditional Santa Claus from Russian fairy tales evolved into a good old man for a long time. Pra-Moroz, who was also Morok, was a chthonic deity, and nobody would have wanted to meet him.
Lord of the snows and endless winter, Moroz-Morokwas also known for his love of deceptions, which is preserved in the numerous sayings of the Indo-European language. The favorite entertainment of the good-hearted grandfather Morok was to confuse the traveler and confuse him into the swamp or thicket where the latter perished from the cold and exhaustion. Coax Moroka was possible only with special gifts and gifts, which placed outside the door and on the roadside.
Over time, Santa Claus has become much weaker and began to not only freeze, but also gift mortals. This motif can be traced in folk and author's tales.
The pair "Snow Maiden and Santa Claus" was formed much later - at the beginning of the 20th century.
Father Frost and Snow Maiden: traditional costumes
An old man of enormous growth in a white fur coat,covered with frost - our own ancestors represented the formidable Frost. Long gray hair and a white disheveled beard with icicles are indispensable signs of the lord of winter. The Kingdom of Pozvizda-Frost was winter - at this time of the year to him and only he belonged to the whole world.
Often at modern celebrations, Grandfather comes witha staff in his hand - the same was with his ancestor. With the touch of this mighty weapon, the right-Frost could freeze rivers and lakes, turn the earth into icy plains and split mountains. Under the influence of the artifact, people and animals turned into ice blocks, so to appease the deity was vital.
Another magical artifact - a belt that can be seen in modern Morozov, he acted as a kind of amulet.
With Snow Maiden everything is much more difficult - it is not clear whothe Snow Maiden's parents, where she came from, and how her traditional costume developed. Presumably, the girl's white or blue coat speaks of her "winter" origin and ties her with the named relative - Santa Claus.
Snow Maiden: urban legends and modern "horror stories"
According to the best Hollywood traditions, in the roleThe Snow Maiden, according to the popular urban legend, was a young maid who did not know a man. This unfortunate girl was not only exposed to frost and poured with icy water, but later "decorated" her with remains of trees in the nearest forest. All these ritual actions are attributed to the Druids - the ancient Celtic eco-pacifists, who were not allowed to offend any living being by laws.
In such a desecration of sacred groves and treesthe priests of the cult believe very little. On the territory where seasonal rituals and rituals were performed, outsiders were not allowed - the more unlikely that the unknown girl could be in the sacred grove until full glaciation. Yes, and defile the ancient fir trees, the age of which could have numbered several hundred years, the druids would hardly have become.
The image of the unhappy frozen girl-Snegurochka - partly a merit of the victorious Romans, and in part - the usual scarecrows from the series "in a black, black city."
"Revolutionary" Snow Maiden from the USSR
With the change in the regime of the new government - the Soviet one -needed and new holidays. Catholic Christmas with bourgeois attributes - fat Santa and his servant elves - seemed to party leaders not ideologically self-sustained.
National traditions of the small peoples of the USSR were distributed in relatively small areas, and a huge country needed another holiday - a new, bright and absolutely unique.
"The Kremlin Tree", which went down in history as an examplepompous celebrations for the elite, became the beginning of the legend of the Soviet Snow Maiden, because in itself a strict old man Father Frost is very far from children, and many kids are still afraid of the terrible beard and unusual clothes of the New Year's guest. The invitation of the Snow Maiden to the children's holiday makes it possible to make the celebration more cozy and homely. On the question "Who are the parents of Snow Maiden?" You can answer unequivocally: the mass-workers-entertainers and organizers of the Kremlin New Year's events of the 30s.
Santa Claus and Snow Maiden: how to please the children?
Support for children's faith in the New Year's miracle is not easy. Artists do not always want and can work out a fee, which sometimes is immodest, and the scenery, on the contrary, leaves much to be desired.
For kids and their parents, a big surprise may be the fact that the young Snow Maiden weighs a good hundred kilograms, and from Grandfather Frost smells like beer.
Mass events are the best choice,because on such holidays there is not only a huge bright Christmas tree, but also the real Santa Claus, who, although it is far away on the stage, congratulates all at once.
Even better, if the role of a good magicianthe father of the family or another relative of the male is contracted. So children are guaranteed to receive heartfelt congratulations, gifts and memories of a real New Year miracle.
What will be your favorite New Year's characters?
Dynamics of images of the main characters of the people'sholiday allows you to build assumptions based on the evolution of the characters. The terrible spirits of nature for hundreds of years turned from pests to helpers and benefactors, who are waiting in every house. From a little girl Snegurka turned into a fully grown-up girl, and Father Frost from a gray-haired old-fashioned old man - into a handsome elder with graying.
The confusion between the images of Catholic Santa and the RussianFrost today leads to numerous ridiculous confusions - often on holidays you can meet Santa Claus in a Santa Claus hat or Santa accompanied by Snegurka.
Perhaps in the near future these characters will become so close that they will be completely interchangeable. However, since each of them brings a holiday and presents, it's not insulting at all.
It will be equally pleasant to celebrate the New Year with Santa, Snegurka, and Father Frost - such traditions can already be observed in some families, where there are both Catholics and Orthodox Christians.
The tree will always be a tree, gifts - gifts, and a holiday - a holiday, whoever brings them and whoever wishes for health, happiness and wealth.
New Year Father Frost and Snow Maiden, as well as Santa Claus and his elves will certainly leave no one without gifts and memories of unusual and merry holidays.
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