In many parts of the country, a local figure—often called the grandfather of New Year’s magic—takes center stage during the festive season. Experts from the Tutu service shared insights about eight such legendary figures, highlighting how each one embodies regional charm, myth, and warmth that families welcome as the calendar turns to a new year. These tales reflect a blend of folklore, local climate, and cultural heritage that resonates from coast to coast and beyond into North America, where communities alike celebrate old and new holiday traditions.
One enduring character is the fairy-tale wizard Kysh Babai, revered in Tatarstan and remembered through generations. He is said to guard the hearth and grant the wishes that children hold closest to their hearts. In regional lore, the Tatar grandfather is often paired with a daughter who shines in the imagination as Snow Kızı, a name that evokes purity, winter, and the magic of storytelling. The stories emphasize warmth, family, and the joy of receiving a wish fulfilled in the glow of home fires and shared meals.
A separate, well-known figure is Pakkaine from Karelia. Descriptions note that this Karelian New Year wizard is a man in the prime of life who loves travel and fashion. On festive days, he is imagined wearing a blue caftan and a red cape, moving through winter celebrations with a sense of style. Folklore also says Pakkaine was born in a sleigh on a magical night, a detail that underscores his fearless embrace of cold and adventure. Notably, Pakkaine is described without the trappings of a typical magical aid—no beard, no wand, and no gift bag—yet the legend remains rich with imagination and travel-inspired curiosity, inviting families to dream beyond ordinary gifts and more about experiences and wonder.
Other celebrated figures include Sagaan Ubgen from Buryatia and Khel Muchi from the Chuvash Republic. Each character contributes a regional portrait of winter folklore, reflecting the distinct climates and cultural landscapes that shape communal celebrations. The lore around Sagaan Ubgen, for instance, captures the spirit of northern skies and enduring endurance, while Khel Muchi is woven into stories that celebrate local customs and festive generosity. Together, these legends illustrate how regional folklore can be both familiar and unique, offering a mosaic of how communities imagine a magical season.
Ruby Father Frost, known as the Lord of Cold, is linked to a residence underground near the village of Tomtor in the heart of Yakutia, not far from the famed cold pole of Oymyakon where temperatures plunge dramatically. The legend describes Chyskhaan as half man and half bull, an image reinforced by a horned hat that crowns his head. This tale embodies the stark beauty of extreme winter and the wonder of a figure who can keep spirits warm even in the most frigid environments. The narrative emphasizes resilience and imagination, reminding readers that magic can endure even when the world is harsh and unyielding.
Further north and east, the study highlights Yamal Iri from the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and Yakshamo Atya from Mordovia as part of the top eight. These entries broaden the geographic canvas, showing how winter legends travel and morph as they move through different linguistic and cultural regions. The inclusion of these figures showcases the diversity of approaches to a shared holiday season, where each legend carries its own flavor, color, and moral thread that families may discuss around the dinner table or during a cozy storytelling night.
Another cherished name is Tol Babai, the Udmurt Father Frost. The tale describes him as a descendant of ancient peoples who chose to live underground after encounters with others. Tol Babai’s moment of awe at the natural beauty of Udmurt lands is said to have sparked his ongoing mission to perform New Year’s miracles and to advocate for love of the environment. Dressed in a purple fur coat and armed with a curved staff, he embodies a traveler’s soul and a caretaker’s heart. This story blends environmental stewardship with festive magic, inviting families to reflect on nature’s gifts as part of the holiday ritual.
Across these varied traditions, the common thread is clear: regional grandfathers and their companions symbolize the anticipation, generosity, and wonder that accompany the arrival of a new year. They are imagined guardians of homes, keepers of warm memories, and sources of inspiration for children and adults alike. While the specifics differ—from fur and horns to worn travel garb—each legend invites audiences to embrace curiosity, celebrate culture, and share moments of joy with loved ones during the holiday season.
In today’s cross-border holiday conversations, these stories also find a place in communities far from their origins. Canadian and American families often enjoy adapting familiar elements—winter motifs, gifts of imagination, and the idea of a benevolent elder guiding the festive moments—into their own traditions. The essence remains consistent: a sense of belonging, a touch of mystery, and a celebration that brings people together around the warmth of home and the promise of kindness in the year ahead. The legends, while rooted in specific regions, carry universal appeal that transcends geographic boundaries, inviting everyone to relive the magic of childhood and to create new memories that endure long after the snow has melted.