Now almost every kindergarten kids gather around the Christmas tree, then are Santa Claus and his lovely granddaughter, and with the help of a magic staff and the cheers of the kids: "Herringbone, light!" - In a smart fluffy tree lights are lit.
The historical aspect of the problem
course, the question of how much the Snow Maiden years, more interested in the conventional Pap (just kidding), but if you approach the problem of pure science, you first have to understand, when the Russian Empire, the custom of celebrating New Year, using attributes,familiar to us from childhood.
In fact, this custom has not always existed and is not even a native Russian: in these latitudes more venerated other trees - birch, linden, oak.Christmas tree has long adorned the Germans - with them the tradition and "moved" to the East, which is not surprising: the Romanov dynasty heavily involved in the German blood.The first Christmas tree in the capital staged Empress Maria Feodorovna, and it happened in 1817.
Thus, answering the question of how many years the Snow Maiden, we must bear in mind that the (in any case, especially for New Year's character) must be no more than two hundred.Fashion entered the Empress, was widespread around 1830: the beginning of Christmas trees set richer people, then - average income.
Church, by its conservative nature, with "German pampering" struggled.The Holy Synod forbade even to arrange a holiday in schools, however, success is not achieved: Christmas tree coveted adults and children, and because of its harmlessness, the struggle of the holy fathers looked so very offensive.
Ded Moroz - a naturalized foreigner, and the Snow Maiden - primordially Russian
little later appeared Grandfather Frost.This image is linked on the one hand, with the figure of St. Nicholas, popular in the West, and on the other hand - the Russian folklore character who at first on good Granddaddy was not particularly like: the tale of Jack Frost, severely punished sloth, we all remember.Santa Claus red nose from Nekrasov's works, too, was not harmless: just today in school studying heavily abridged version.
way or another, but the fairy tale character in a fur coat and his staff also seems to be "not entirely ours."But Maiden - only Russian woman.Analogues anywhere in the world does not exist.
This image first appeared in folklore, so the question of how old Snow Maiden exactly, no one will answer.Folk tale says that a childless couple, a doll from the snow-blind, witnessed a miracle: the girl alive.Overjoyed parents decided their newfound baby warm, which ended very sadly.
Maiden art
Inspired dramatic story, Ostrovsky wrote the play in 1873, in its own way to interpret, as the Snow Maiden years: if in a fairy tale featured a girl no older than 12-13 years, then it is a play about a young girl,that melts not only by sunlight, but from love.
first production work, it must be said, has failed miserably.The public reacted to the suffering of snow maiden mockingly on playwright hail showered laughter and epigrams.More surprising, when Rimsky-Korsakov opera of the same name created with the same plot, the same people bathed in the glory of it - and in fact it took only 9 years after the play!Indeed, the audience - being windy and changeable.
Now the question is how many years, the Snow Maiden, every holiday is solved individually.Some children's groups provide a granddaughter of Santa Claus "of his."The most sweet and / or brisk girl enjoys playing the role of the Snow Maiden.If this character is needed as a means of fabulous Santa, preference is given to an older lady: still alone with the kids a lot easier to handle than alone.
Return celebration people
There is evidence that in the late nineteenth century Maiden already existed: the toys in the form of snow girls decorated Christmas trees in many homes.But as an assistant and cousin of Santa Claus image it has settled after the revolution of the 17th year.
I must say that at first no custom of decorating a Christmas tree, no matter how many years, the Snow Maiden, nor fabulous outfits grandfather followers of the great Lenin was not interested: it was decided that the "old regime" tradition of the Soviet people to anything.Communist activists diligently eradicated all that has been associated with Christmas.Only in 1935, the party leadership decided that the bad would have to return to their fellow citizens at least some joy of life, and re-established tree with just one stroke of the pen (after publication in the "truth" of the relevant article, signed by a member of the Political Bureau of the tradition back in a few days).
In 1937, a great New Year's celebration was held at the House of the Soviets - it first appeared with Santa Claus and "Snow Girl": the question of how many years the Snow Maiden, was resolved in favor of the "older generation".It was only in the 40s it was granted official status related: In the standard scenario of the New Year holiday began to write what it is - a granddaughter of Santa Claus.
today in the fight for the right to be home to a fabulous girls won Kostroma, which exploits the image of Maiden with the good in order to attract tourists.In these places, Ostrovsky wrote his play, filmed near the same film.Later moved to Kostroma scenery, the park is organizing a "Berendeevo kingdom."Here in a beautiful mansion on the banks of the Volga, and lives a fantastic Maiden, a visit to which visited by numerous lovers of fairy tales.
hostess happy to receive guests: conducts a tour of the house, introduces his friends and sprinkles snow goodbye "for good luck."In late March - early April, a big Kostroma celebrates birthday character beloved by many (this is where, perhaps, we can find out how many years is now Snow Maiden).The tradition began in 2009, and since then, it is only developing.The holiday festivities take place, fairs, competitions, theatrical performances - a few days the city is transformed into a buzzing hive of joy, inviting its residents and visitors alike enjoy the atmosphere of a magical holiday.
