Russian Father Frost starts New Year's tour round the country

Father Frost, the main character of New Year celebrations in Russia, starts his tour round the country today. Several years ago, the Russian authorities decided to personify this popular character of Russian traditional fairy tales and make an "official residence" for him - arrange the place of his permanent residence. An Old Russian town of Veliky Ustyug in the north of the country had been chosen for this purpose. That's where the journey of "The Master of Winter" will commence. He will travel in a special road-train with a trailer filled with presents for Russian children at the end.

Father Frost will visit six cities throughout Russia. At each stop, he will participate in various fairy-tale shows and "work miracles" like, for instance, lighting the New Year's tree.

On the road, Father Frost will answer children's letters he received in his "northern domain". The majority of the letters with messages and requests have been previously sorted out in his office. According to the organisers, most of the children do not demand presents from Father Frost, they simply ask about his health, what he does when it's not wintertime; they tell him about their successes, etc. Father Frost generally receives around 70,000 letters from Russian children every year.

On December 26, Father Frost will arrive in Moscow where he will officially open the New Year festivities season.