What New Year’s wishes will definitely come true? The most cherished and intimate – this is what Father Frost from Veliky Ustyug says. 

What is the secret of the eternal youth of the Ural Snow Maiden? According to her, in love. On the eve of the New Year, fairy-tale characters responsible for celebrations in every Russian family told the press about their everyday life and work responsibilities. 

In addition, they revealed the details of the work of the magic mail and their friendly team, named the names of the creators of their inimitable images, and also listed what modern children most often dream of when they are waiting for a New Year’s miracle.

There is very little left until one of the most beloved holidays by Russians. Grandfather Frost, what could you wish to the people of our country in the new year?

Santa Claus: I would like to wish all Russians health, and peaceful skies above their heads in the new year 2023 so that all people are happy and take care of their loved ones!

Q: 2022 was a difficult year, many people had desires that they wanted to fulfill especially strongly. You are an expert in these matters, so please advise what needs to be done to make this New Year’s wish truly come true? For greater effect, we usually burn notes with wishes and wait for the chimes to strike at midnight. Maybe in vain?

Santa Claus: The most cherished and secret wishes always come true, you just have to believe in it with all your heart and soul.

Q: I wonder, can Santa Claus fulfill any wish or are his capabilities still limited?

Santa Claus: The most important thing is that your wishes are good, and then I will try to do everything in my magical powers.

Q: Who does Santa Claus himself turn to to make his wish come true? He probably also has some dreams, hopes for the next year, and plans that he would like to bring to life?

Santa Claus: I make a wish with the onset of the New Year while the chimes are striking. And I wish that there would be peace on planet Earth, that all people, young and old, would be happy.

Q: What about Snegurochka? Does she also make wishes and receive gifts?

Snow Maiden: Of course, yes! I, like everyone else, dream about the main thing: that as many children as possible be surrounded by the warmth and care of loving fathers and mothers. Every year I sincerely make this wish. And Grandfather gives me gifts: he’ll decorate a kokoshnik with gems or a mirror—I can’t even dream of anything more.

Q: So, now let’s move on to the really important issues. New Year is the time for gifts! Tell us what the children, the main heroes of the upcoming celebration dream of getting for the holiday today?

Santa Claus: Cell phones, roller skates, computers and tablets – after all, the 21st century is in the yard. But the latest letters are increasingly asking for simply peace.

Q: By the way, about the letters. We know that Santa Claus Post has been operating for many years. Tell me, do all the letters come from Russia or are there requests from other countries? How many letters have you received in all the years of postal service?

Santa Claus: Letters come from all over the world. Russian communities are dispersed throughout the world; they write to me from many countries: China, America, all European countries and many others. To date, more than 4.5 million letters have been received.

Q: How many assistants does Santa Claus have? Surely one person cannot cope with such a flow of messages.

Santa Claus: There are a great many helpers! Snowmen and Snow Girls, Grandfather the Postman and the Time Keeper, Shurshik, Baba-Zhara, Uncle Laughter, Zhitny Grandfather, Post Office… Well, simple good people, I have a lot of helpers.

Q: What about the Snow Maiden? Don’t connect it to work with correspondence? In general, I wonder what exactly her responsibilities include.

Snow Maiden: I answer the children’s letters, collect gifts, and decorate the Christmas tree. I preserve the warmth of the New Year’s miracle for everyone. 

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Q: Do you use any modern gadgets in your work? Snegurochka, as a representative of the modern younger generation, you are probably an expert in this. Or are traditional methods closer to you?

Snow Maiden: Of course, we use gadgets. Grandfather even has a selfie staff. The best New Year cards are created with its help. In general, you know, it’s great that you can ask Grandpa every day how he’s doing. Find out if everything is fine in the snowy forest, and admire the new collection of snowflakes. 

Q: Forgot to specify! Grandfather Frost, of all the requests you have received lately, which one touched you, made you laugh, or touched you more than the rest?

Santa Claus: Each letter is dear to me in its own way because there are no identical letters. If I single out someone, I might offend them. I am glad to all the news that comes to me in Veliky Ustyug at my fabulous mail. 

Q: My colleagues and I noted, as it seems to us, a certain injustice: when it comes to letters of wishes, most people turn to Santa Claus, and forget about the Snow Maiden. This is understandable, because it is he, the main wizard, who is associated with the New Year. Tell me, how does the Snow Maiden feel about this? Is there envy and career struggle in the family?

Snow Maiden: You can’t even imagine how many letters and beautiful postcards come. The kids draw my portraits, make crafts and paint magical outfits themselves. What kind of envy are we talking about?

Q: Okay, then let’s move on to the New Year celebrations. This holiday is popularly considered, at least in Russia, to be a family celebration. How does the winter wizard celebrate this event? 

Santa Claus: New Year is truly a family holiday! I meet him in the circle of my friends, relatives, my fairy-tale retinue: Snowmen, brothers 12 months old, Shurshik, Zhitny Grandfather. Everyone gathers near my patterned mansion. Together with the children and adults we celebrate the New Year – our common favorite holiday.

Q: What does Santa Claus have on the table on a festive evening? How do you feel about classic Olivier and strong drinks?

Santa Claus: My favorite drink is juniper kvass, and my favorite food is mushrooms, berries… Everything that grows in the forest. 

Q: You have been in the position of Santa Claus for more than a dozen years. Tell me, how did it happen that you took this position? Is this post inherited from generation to generation, or are Santa Clauses chosen like presidents – in elections?

Santa Claus: How can you choose? I was born this way. I was also little, and since childhood, they called me Santa Claus.

Q: Many girls dream of becoming fairy-tale princesses, including Snow Maidens. Snow Maiden, what advice can you give to your little fans?

Snow Maiden: If your heart is filled with magic, don’t regret it. Give it away, that’s the magician’s share. 

Q: By the way, about magic! Forgive me, of course, for the indiscreet question, but how old is the Snow Maiden? As long as we can remember, she always looked simply stunning.

Snow Maiden: My Grandfather gave me eternal youth, and my mother gave me the warmth of my soul. ’Any creator will exclaim again: ‘The secret of youth is love.’ When you glow with love from the inside, then time has no power over you from the outside either.

Q: Okay, let’s move on from the nuances associated with work to relaxation. New Year is the peak period of Santa Claus’s workload. Do you have a vacation or are you constantly busy and simply don’t have time to relax?

Santa Claus: I don’t even go to work. I have New Year all year round. One thing ends, another begins, so there is no time to be bored.

Q: We talked with colleagues in the editorial office and tried to guess what the Snow Maiden could do in her free time from New Year’s duties. To be honest, there aren’t many options. Will you lift the veil of secrecy?

Snow Maiden: In my free time, I write fairy tales and teach children. In addition, I collect dried flowers for Dedushkina’s feather bed, and collect songs and stories, in short, I fill my life with creativity.

Q: Many people often pay attention to how great Santa Claus looks, especially when going out into the world. This, by the way, applies not only to outfits but also to the image as a whole, the condition of the beard alone is worth something. Tell us, who is responsible for all your images?

Santa Claus: I have a big fashion house – the place where outfits are sewn, of which I have more than forty! Thread and Button create them, and the fashion designer invents these outfits for me.

Q: How are things going in this regard with the Snow Maiden?

Snow Maiden: I entrust my outfits to Grandfather’s best craftsmen, and my faithful assistants, squirrels and bunnies, help me decorate them with gems.

Russian Father Frost lives in the city of Veliky Ustyug, Vologda region – his official residence is located there. 

You can contact Santa Claus in different ways, for example, you can write a letter to the New Year’s wizard at the address: 162390, Russia, Vologda region, Veliky Ustyug, ‘Santa Claus Post’. If you want your letter to be answered, be sure to write a return address on the envelope.

According to the results of last year’s survey, children most of all wanted to get new toys for the New Year (23%). The second most popular place was meeting Santa Claus (17.5%), and the third most popular was buying a pet (13%). 

The adults had other dreams. Thus, judging by another study, men and women most often wanted to receive money as a gift – 48% and 57%, respectively. The second most popular gift among women was cosmetics and perfumes (41%), and among men – smart accessories (22%). The majority of Russian residents in 2021 were willing to spend no more than 5 thousand rubles ($55) on holiday gifts.

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