Cossack Ded Moroz from the Stavropol region taught guests of the National Centre RUSSIA to protect nature
Cossack Ded Moroz from the Stavropol region arrived at the 'Winter Wizards' festival at the National Centre RUSSIA on 7 December. His visit to Moscow was not simply a festive show, but a true lesson in ecological wisdom presented as an immersive performance, both informative and engaging for audiences of all ages.
Cossack Ded Moroz arrived at the National Centre RUSSIA in great sorrow. He explained that people had stopped caring properly for the environment.
"I always believed that people were the guardians of nature, its friends and helpers. But every time winter comes, I emerge from my cave, climb to a snowy peak, look around and see how my beloved land is suffering. I have cast spells, spoken to people, cast more spells, visited them in their dreams and written them letters. But this year I came out of my cave and realised that nothing was helping. I no longer believe in magic or in people!" the winter wizard from Stavropol admitted bitterly.
His despair was so great that Cossack Ded Moroz cast an icy fog upon the land, so that people would feel the cold they had created through their own actions.
"Let the frosty nights make them gather together and think about what they are losing. I want them to remember their roots and that nature is a gift that must be cherished. I do not wish them harm — on the contrary, I want to bring them back to respect and love for this world. People must understand: nature is their home, the source of life. And if they do not start caring for it, the consequences will be dreadful," he explained his stern action.
A brave and determined girl named Aina, along with the audience themselves, helped save the celebration and restore the wizard's faith. Together they embarked on an interactive journey to heal nature. Alongside the main characters, the children cleared the littered Stream, planted a new forest together with the Weeping Willow, and restored strength to Shubin, the Spirit of the Mountains, by recalling the names of precious stones.
The performance served as a reminder that all living things in nature are interconnected, and that true miracles happen when the kind impulse of one person is joined by the efforts of many. As the Stream, brought back to life, said: "To care for nature means to care for yourself, and you can start small: simply tidy up the rubbish around you."
When the cold fog lifted, Cossack Ded Moroz saw how the world had been transformed, and his heart thawed.
"What wonderful people you all are! You have saved not only the celebration, but our shared home! Now I believe in magic once again! In the magic of collective effort!" he exclaimed, and invited everyone to join in the merry traditional dance 'Pleten' (The Wicker Fence).
The 'Winter Wizards' festival is organised by the National Centre RUSSIA with the support of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives. Theatrical performances for Muscovites and visitors to the capital will continue until the end of December on weekends in the 'Book of Fairy Tales' exposition space (the Fairy Tale Terem). This coming Saturday, 13 December, audiences can look forward to a colourful production based on the legends of the winter wizards Pakkayne, Talvi Ukko and Halla from the Republic of Karelia. Further performances will take place according to the following schedule:
14.12 – Theatrical performance based on the legend of Yakshamo Atya from the Republic of Mordovia;
20.12 – Theatrical performance based on the legend of Yamal Iri from the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area;
20.12 – Theatrical performance based on the legend of Sook Irey from the Republic of Tuva;
21.12 – Theatrical performance based on the legend of Ded Moroz from the Vologda region;
27.12 – Theatrical performance based on the legend of Tol Babay from the Udmurt Republic;
27.12 – Theatrical performance based on the legend of the Ryazan Ded Moroz from the Ryazan region;
28.12 – Theatrical performance based on the legend of Kysh Babay from the Republic of Tatarstan.
Following all performances, young guests are invited to take a guided tour of the "Journey Across Russia" exposition. Everyone who completes the tour and passes the quiz will receive sweet treats.
Event photobank
Participants of the first intake of this new educational project, who successfully passed the competitive selection process, shared their stories of discovering the School and their fresh impressions from the classes.
The date was chosen for a reason: it was on 2 March 2018 that the decree establishing the "For Mentorship" award was signed.
