From Kysh Babay to Mytyn Dada: wizards from different regions of the country will gather at the National Centre RUSSIA

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From 15 November to the end of December, the "Winter Wizards" Festival will be held at the National Centre RUSSIA on weekends. The guests will enjoy theatrical performances, learn the legends of the peoples of Russia, and meet unique characters who are united by the spirit of winter and regional traditions of New Year's Eve celebrations.

19 winter wizards will come to visit the National Centre RUSSIA — from North Ossetian Mytyn Dada to the Yakut Chyskhaan. All of them are part of the unique cultural code of their regions, guardians of traditions and bearers of special symbolism. The festival will feature 18 theatrical productions that will reveal the stories of the formation of the original images of each winter wizard through the lens of traditional spiritual and moral values, as well as cultural and historical heritage.

The festival will open with a theatrical performance featuring the winter wizard Hel Muchi from the Chuvash Republic. The guests will learn the legend of his origin. This winter wizard is known from the popular Chuvash folk tale titled "The Golden Bag". 

Many images of winter wizards have their roots in ancient folklore, although there are more modern characters. For example, Ekhee Dyyl from Yakutia was created by writer and biologist Gavriil Ugarov in 1999 based on folk tales about the old man Dyyl, who comes with the Bull of Cold, a Yakut mythological character who personifies winter and frost. Among the "youngest" characters are Cossack Ded Moroz (Santa Claus) from the Stavropol region, Pakkayne from Karelia, Yamal Iri from Yamal, Tol Babay from Udmurtia, Kysh Babay from Tatarstan, Ryazan Santa Claus, and of course, Ded Moroz from Veliky Ustyug. However, despite their relatively recent appearance, they are all closely linked to regional legends and myths.

The programme of the "Winter Wizards" festival also includes a children's quiz on the "Journey Across Russia" exposition. After having a 30-minute guided tour, young guests will have a chance to answer questions about the exposition and receive a sweet gift.

The full programme of theatrical performances is as follows:

15.11 — Theatrical production based on the legend of Hel Muchi, the winter wizard from the Chuvash Republic;

16.11 — Theatrical production based on the legend of Sagaan Ubgen, the winter wizard from the Republic of Buryatia;

22.11 — Theatrical production based on the legend of Kodzyd Pol, the winter wizard from the Komi Republic;

23.11 — Theatrical production based on the legend of Ues-Dade, the winter wizard from the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic;

29.11 — Theatrical production based on the legend of Yushto Kugyz, the winter wizard from the Republic of Mari El;

29.11 — Theatrical production based on the legend of Chyskhaan, the winter wizard from the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia);

29.11 — Theatrical production based on the legend of Ekhee Dyl, the winter wizard from the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia);

30.11 — Theatrical production based on the legends of Chyskhaan and Ekhee Dyyl, winter wizards from the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia);

07.12 — Theatrical production based on the legend of Cossack Ded Moroz, the winter wizard from the Stavropol region;

07.12 — Theatrical production based on the legend of Mytyn Dada, the winter wizard from the Republic of North Ossetia — Alania;

13.12 — Theatrical production based on the legends of Pakkayne, Talviukko, and Halla — winter wizards from the Republic of Karelia;

14.12 — Theatrical production based on the legend of Yakshamo Ata, the winter wizard from the Republic of Mordovia;

20.12 — Theatrical production based on the legend of Yamal Iri — the winter wizard from the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region;

20.12 — Theatrical production based on the legend of Sook-Irey, the winter wizard from the Republic of Tyva;

21.12 — Theatrical production based on the legend of Ded Moroz, the winter wizard from the Vologda region;

27.12 — Theatrical production based on the legend of Tol Babay, the winter wizard from the Udmurt Republic;

27.12 — Theatrical production based on the legend of Ryazan Ded Moroz, the winter wizard from the Ryazan region;

28.12 — Theatrical production based on the legend of Kysh Babay, the winter wizard from the Republic of Tatarstan.

The "Winter Wizards" Festival is organised by the National Centre RUSSIA with the support of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives (PFCI).