The National Centre RUSSIA invites visitors to the "Winter Wizards" festival
Theatrical performances, encounters with the legends of Russia’s peoples, and meetings with unique characters united by the spirit of winter and tradition await Muscovites and guests of the capital at the National Centre RUSSIA. Starting from 15 November, the "Winter Wizards" festival will be held at the Centre every weekend.
All 19 winter wizards will gather at the National Centre RUSSIA to share their legends and speak about the values underlying their images. The festival will feature 18 theatrical performances revealing the stories of these characters through the prism of traditional moral and spiritual values that form an important part of the country’s cultural legacy.
The culture of Russia’s peoples is rich in winter figures — from Mytyn Dada of North Ossetia to Chyskhaan of Yakutia. Each wizard embodies the unique cultural code of their region, serving as a guardian of traditions and a bearer of special symbolism.
The festival will open with a theatrical performance featuring Sagaan Ubgen, the winter wizard from the Republic of Buryatia. Guests will learn an ancient legend about his origins — he is one of the eldest among the winter wizards, whose story dates back to the pre-Buddhist period. Ues-Dade from the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic is also known from traditional folklore.
Other performances will introduce audiences to the stories behind each of the winter characters. Many of these images are rooted in ancient folklore, while others are of more recent origin. For instance, Ekhee Dyyl from the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) was created in 1999 by writer and biologist Gavriil Ugarov, based on the tale of the old man Dyyl, who always arrives together with the Bull of Cold.
The youngest heroes include the Cossack Ded Moroz or Father Frost (Stavropol region), Pakkayne (Karelia), Yamal Iri (Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area), Tol Babay (Udmurt Republic), Kysh Babay (Tatarstan), the Ryazan Ded Moroz, and, of course, Ded Moroz from Veliky Ustyug. Despite their relatively recent appearance, each of them is linked to regional legends and mythology.
As part of the festival, a children’s quiz based on the "Journey Across Russia" exposition will also take place. Young visitors will be invited on a 30-minute tour before answering questions about the exposition and receiving sweet prizes.
The "Winter Wizards" festival is supported by the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives (PFCI).
