№ 1060. Ded Moroz`s postage stamp.

The prototype of the modern Father Frost, the severe God of winter, ruling from November till March, the athlete of unprecedented strength, who was called Hard Frost, Frost-Red(Blue) Nose or Studenets(Severe cold) was far from being kind and didn’t give presents to anybody. He walked with stick and chained rivers with iron chains. Icicles were his tears and snow clouds were his hair. People were afraid of him and worshiped him. According to legend a wicked old woman Zima(winter) – from the ancient “hima” that means “witch doctor”, “sorcerer”, “wasting decease”- was his wife. They were in charge of all winter disasters. Snowstorms, blizzards, winds and wolves were considered to be their true servants. In order to insinuate the Old Man on the Eve of Christmas or of the New Year the oldest person in the family took a spoonful of boiled rice with raising and honey, went to the threshold of the outer entrance hall and invited: “Moroz, Moroz! Come to eat our kissel! Don’t beat our oats, hammer in the earth linen and hemp!”