Professional holiday of Santa Clauses

The Wizard Santa Claus was created in 1931 by Michigan artist Haddon Sundblom to advertise the Coca-Cola drink. The prototype of the main character of Catholic Christmas was St. Nicholas the Wonderworker - a white-bearded Christian saint who secretly enters the homes of the poor and leaves gifts for children and adults. The fabulous Father Frost, the closest “relative” of Santa Claus, appeared thanks to the poetess M. Polezhaeva in 1912. Although long before that, the characters Moroz Ivanovich and Morozko were mentioned in the fairy tales of A. Afanasyev and V. Odoevsky. From 1916-1917 an old man in a red caftan with a staff and a bag of gifts became a welcome guest in the homes of thousands of children living in the Russian Empire. The fight against the remnants of the bourgeois system and religion, which the Country of Soviets waged in the first years of its existence, led to the abolition of traditions associated with the celebration of the New Year and Santa Claus. So the young state eradicated pagan superstitions and Christian customs. Father Frost was returned to Soviet children with gifts by I. Stalin, who abolished the existing bans in the early 1930s. The role of a fairy-tale wizard for children who believed in fairy tales and miracles was played by fathers, uncles, other relatives and family friends. Professionals were invited to the main Christmas tree of the country in the Kremlin. Some are on a permanent basis. Thus, the Moscow Art Theater actor Roman Filippov, known for his role as the poet Lyapis Trubetskoy in “12 Chairs,” played the role of Father Frost from the early 70s for 20 years. The birthday of the country's main wizard is considered to be November 18 - by this time the territory of most of Russia is covered with snow. This date appeared after a children's vote that took place in 2005. November 18 is the day when frosts come to the homeland of Father Frost in Veliky Ustyug. The professional holiday of the performers of the role of the good wizard is celebrated on the last Sunday of August. In Soviet times, New Year's celebrations for artists of capital and provincial theaters were a way to improve their financial situation. There is a widely known anecdote about a certain actor who, on New Year’s Eve, was left without a wife or money, but refused to work with Spielberg for a fee that was impressive for the 1990s. Filming in Hollywood was scheduled to take place from December 25 to January 10. Having heard this information, the actor, who was betting on the annual “hack job” in the role of Santa Claus, refused: “Well, no... I can’t. I have a Christmas tree.” The residence of the country's main wizard is located in Veliky Ustyug, the oldest city in the Russian North. It was from there that the tradition of celebrating the Professional Holiday of Santa Clauses began. For the first time it took place in the summer of 1998. The time for the celebration was not chosen by chance, because in the winter Santa Clauses work actively, visiting kindergartens and schools, performing at city Christmas trees and other events. The holiday is designed to attract the attention of people of all ages to Russian fairy tales and oral folk art. On the last Sunday of August, fairs and festivals are held in many cities across the country, and processions dedicated to Father Frost, the Snow Maiden and his other helpers are organized. These events pay tribute both to Russian culture and long-standing traditions, and to the professionals, thanks to whom a fairy tale comes to every home on New Year's Eve and miracles happen.