 Snegurochka on a Soviet postcard, 1990 | |
| Creature information | |
|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Snow Maiden, Snegurka, Snyahurka, Snihuronka, Karhiliw, Kharchaana, Qar Qızı, Ayaz kyz |
| Similar entities | Zwarte Piet,Knecht Ruprecht,Krampus |
| Family | Ded Moroz (Grandfather) |
| Origin | |
| Known for | being the companion ofDed Moroz |
| Country | Russia (before:Soviet Union,Russian Empire) |
| Region | Northwest Russia,Siberia,Central Russia,Eastern Europe,Caucasus,Central Asia,North Asia,Volga Region,Ural |
| Habitat | Northwest Russia |
Snegurochka (diminutive) orSnegurka (Russian:Снегу́рочка (diminutive),Снегу́рка,IPA:[sʲnʲɪˈɡurət͡ɕkə,sʲnʲɪˈɡurkə]), orSnow Maiden, is aNovy God character originating fromRussian fairy tales.
She has no apparent roots intraditional Slavic mythology and customs, having made her first appearance in Russian folklore in the 19th century.[1]
Since the mid-20th century under theSoviet period, Snegurochka is known for being depicted as the granddaughter and companion ofDed Moroz during theNew Year.[1]
Tales of the Snegurochka type areAarne–Thompson type 703* The Snow Maiden.[2] The Snegurochka story compares to tales of type 1362,The Snow-child, where the child's appearance is attributed to the mother swallowing a snowflake, as a deception to explain away her pregnancy.[3]
A version of a folk tale about a girl made of snow and named Snegurka (Snezhevinochka; Снегурка (Снежевиночка)) was published in 1869 byAlexander Afanasyev in the second volume of his workThe Poetic Outlook on Nature by the Slavs, where he also mentions the German analog,Schneekind ("Snow Child"). In this version, childless Russian peasants Ivan and Marya made a snow doll, which came to life. This version was later included byLouis Léger inContes Populaires Slaves (1882).[4] Snegurka grows up quickly. A group of girls invite her for a walk in the woods, after which they make a small fire and take turns leaping over it; in some variants, this is onSt. John's Day, and a St. John's Day tradition. When Snegurka's turn comes, she starts to jump, but only gets halfway before evaporating into a small cloud.Andrew Lang included this version as "Snowflake" inThe Pink Fairy Book (1897).[4]
In another story, she is the daughter of Spring the Beauty (Весна-Красна) andDed Moroz, and yearns for the companionship of mortal humans. She grows to like a shepherd named Lel, but her heart is unable to know love. Her mother takes pity and gives her this ability, but as soon as she falls in love, her heart warms and she melts. This version of the story was made into aplayThe Snow Maiden byAleksandr Ostrovsky, withincidental music byTchaikovsky in 1873.
In 1878, the composerLudwig Minkus and theBalletmasterMarius Petipa staged a ballet adaptation ofSnegurochka titledThe Daughter of the Snows for theTsar'sImperial Ballet. The tale was also adapted into anopera byNikolai Rimsky-Korsakov titledThe Snow Maiden: A Spring Fairy Tale (1880–1881).
The story of Snegurochka was adapted into two Soviet films: an animated film with some of Rimsky-Korsakov's music, calledThe Snow Maiden (1952), and the live-action filmThe Snow Maiden (1968).Ruth Sanderson retold the story in the picture bookThe Snow Princess, in which falling in love does not immediately kill the princess, but turns her into a mortal human, who will die.
In February 2012, the Slovenian poetSvetlana Makarovič published aballad fairy tale, titledSneguročka ("Snegurochka"), which was inspired by the Russian fairy tale character. Makarovič has had great passion for Russian tradition since childhood.[5]
Artist and authorJonathon Keats's short story "Ardour" is a modern adaptation of this fairy tale, featured inKate Bernheimer's 2010 anthology of contemporary tales based on classic archetypes,My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me.[6]
In the lateRussian Empire Snegurochka was part of Christmas celebrations, in the form of figurines to decorate the fir tree and as a character in children's pieces.[1]In the early Soviet Union, the holiday of Christmas was banned, together with other Christian traditions, until it was reinstated as a holiday of newly-independent Russia in 1991.[7] However, in 1935 the celebration of theNew Year was allowed, which included, in part, the fir tree andDed Moroz. At this time Snegurochka acquired a role of the granddaughter of Ded Moroz and his helper.[1][8] In this role, she wears long silver-blue robes and a furry cap[9] or a snowflake-likekokoshnik. During the usual scripts of New Year celebrations for children, Snegurochka's appearance is preceded by the audience screaming "Sne-gu-roch-ka" while waiting for her.[10][11]
Nowadays, Snegurochka is a strongly capitalized figure inRussia, being an important part of the New Year's celebrations, culture and almost always used as the companion of the Ded Moroz.[12][13] In 2020, a man from Russia tried to sueCoca Cola for bringingSanta Claus into their Russian ad instead of Ded Moroz and Snegurochka.[14]
The tribunes chanted: "Sne-gu-roch-ka! Come out!" Snegurochka came out with a whip and a hat
