"[The 21st] being
the first official day of winter, I'd like to talk a little about Grandfather
Frost, or Ded Moroz as is his name in Russian. He
went from being a personification of winter in old folktales to being a sort of
Russian Santa Claus. He is typically shown wearing a fur hat, high boots, and
carries a long staff that holds the power of the cold. Instead of bringing
presents at Christmas, however, he comes at New Year's, and he is accompanied
by his granddaughter, the Snow Maiden; the presents are left under a decorated
tree. He was condemned by both Imperial and Soviet Russia, but was so popular
he was brought back in the mid-Thirties; Josef Stalin, however, declared he
could only be depicted wearing blue robes, so he would not be confused with
Santa Claus. More often called Father Frost in the West (for the alliteration),
he bears some resemblance to both Jack Frost and Old Man Winter." – Power of Babel, Jan.21 2008
I saw Jack Frost many
years ago as a Saturday afternoon movie; it haunted my memory for years. I also
saw The Magic Fish as a segment on Cap’n Gus. I never did see The
Snow Queen until years afterward; it is the somewhat more accurate than Frozen’s
telling of Hans Christian Anderson’s tale. All are winter-themed fairy tales
and are suitable for seasonal viewing. I haven’t actually watched The Snow
Maiden yet (though I have read a version of the folk tale) but it seemed
fitting to include it here.
Jack Frost (Father Frost)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUh-p3CHkU0
The Snow Queen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdsBqdIYwxM
At the Pike’s Behest (The
Magic Fish)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN07pQUE7j8
The Snow Maiden
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