She first appeared in ancient legends as the daughter of Father Frost and the Snow Queen. But another old tale gives a different version of events. It tells of an elderly couple who didn’t have children so they made a girl out of snow. She came alive but, wanting to experience the joys of life, jumped over a fire with other girls and melted.

However, it’s in the 19th century that Snegurochka shot to fame after a literary version of her story appeared. In the book she’s the daughter of Frost and Spring, looking for the company of humans. The story became a massive hit, despite its sad ending – Snegurochka vanished as she gave up her immortality so she could fall in love.

But while all these tales end badly for Snegurochka, winter festivities don’t. Since Soviet times she has been an essential part of winter celebrations, known as the granddaughter of Russia’s Santa – Father Frost, and helping him with his New Year duties.

The character of Snegurochka is so popular that even the advertisers decided to exploit it.
But above all, Snegurochka is a favourite children’s character.

In her Moscow residence she meets and greets children in the run-up to the New Year and works her magic. If that’s not enough, Father Frost himself can step in.

With all this magic around you, even grown-ups start believing in miracles. But no matter how well-loved Snegurochka is, her time only comes once a year. She disappears once winter festivities are over. Unlike her fairytale prototypes, though, the New Year symbol re-emerges next winter intact and ready to spread the holiday spirit.

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