The Snow Maiden, Viktor Vasnetsov, 1899

Winter Magick ❄️

Source: lavenlay on Instagram

Paolo Sebastian Fall 2016 “Snow Maiden”

Russian opera singer Yulia Nosilova as Spring in the opera Snegurochka (1890s)

I gotta finish my comic where they turn Frosty into a girl and force him to be a body double.

Snow maiden ❄

Cold and beautiful like a little snowflake

Thanks to all creators 💙

Credits: @simandy, @simsonico, @saruin, @iowaisms, @obscurus-sims, @ksksims, @northernsiberiawinds, @flowerchamber

Companions of Christmas 19 & 20: Snegurochka and Ded Moroz!

Long ago, in the Vologda Forest in what is now Russia, a couple, unable to have children, made one out of snow, and so great was their love for each other, and their desire for a child, that the girl came to life. They named her Snegurochka, which means “Snow Maiden.”

Now, the Vologda, along with many of the eastern Slavic lands, had terrible winters, and those winters were ruled over by a fierce elemental tyrant, an ancient ice wizard named Morozko. In order to appease him, the Slavs would send their children to present him with gifts as a show of fealty, that he might have pity on them and lessen the severity of storms, and use the great chains he would forge from ice to shatter the frozen waters.

Though they were loath to send their dear Snegurochka on such a perilous journey, the couple had no choice; their neighbors all sent their children, and the couple must do likewise. So Snegurochka went, to present her gift.

Morozko had little interest in the children who would present his gifts, except as a symbol of the power of life and death that he wielded over the Slavs. But he was taken aback when he saw Snegurochka, who reminded him so of his own daughter, who had died long ago. He was so arrested by the sight of her, and so fresh was the remembered grief of his lost child, that he sent all of the children (with their gifts) away so that they wouldn’t see him weep his frozen tears.

The children were so excited to be returning with the gifts (of which the making and buying had presented such hardships to their families) that they built a fire in the woods to have a celebration before going home. They began to play a game, taking turns leaping over the fire. Little Snegurochka, as elated as her peers, joined in. And when it was her turn to leap over the fire, she did so, but no sooner had the little girl made of snow sailed over the flames than she melted away to vapor.

Morozko (who could feel all of the ice and snow in his domain) immediately felt her disappear, and he watched, helpless, as the vapor drifted into the sky. And he knew that he could not bear to lose another child of snow, even if this one was not his. 

Morozko tried to use his magic to return her to snow, but she was a creature borne of pure love, and magic alone cannot bind love. But he still tried, and drew from himself the deepest cold of all in the hopes that it would be enough - the ice that encased his frozen heart. 

Even that ancient and terrible ice was not enough to bring back Snegurochka.

But with his heart no longer frozen, the love long buried inside Morozko began to shine, and that love was all he needed to shape the vapor back into the snow maiden. 

A bit less strong, a bit less fierce, and much kinder, Morozko took Snegurochka safely back to her village, to her parents. And when he bid his farewell, Snegurochka threw her arms around him, and called him grandfather. And now this is what he is called by everyone, for “Ded Moroz” means “Grandfather Frost.” Ded Moroz never again demanded gifts, but instead brings gifts to children all over Russia and its neighbors during the darkest days of the year, accompanied by his adopted granddaughter.

Snow Maiden by Ruth Chornolutskyy (RR Photographic)

After several hours of research effort, I think that Elias could be a Leshen.

Hi anon! Well now I've fallen into the leshen/leshy rabbit hole along with you! I don't watch the Witcher and I don't know that much about Slavic folklore, so I'd never heard of this legend before. I can see from Witcher fan art that there is a resemblance between Elias and the Leshen, though older images I found of Leshy don't include the skull head and antlers. And Elias has horns, not antlers.

The description of the Leshy from Wikipedia, as a deity that rules over the forest and the hunt, includes many qualities that fit Elias:

The Leshy is masculine and humanoid in shape, is able to assume any likeness and can change in size and height. In some accounts, Leshy is described as having a wife and children. He is known by some to have a propensity to lead travelers astray and abduct children, which would lead some to believe he is an evil entity. He is, however, also known to have a more neutral disposition towards humans, dependent on the attitudes and behaviours of an individual person, or local population, towards the forest. Leshy could take children who were cursed by their relatives (in particular, parents) away to the forest people. Some would therefore describe him as more of a temperamental being, like a fairy.

I can see it.

Leshy Costume design for the opera Snow Maiden by N. Rimsky-Korsakov, 1885.

Everyone is welcome to share their theories about Elias. What kind of creature is he, where did he come from, why is he trying so hard to act human?

(via White mohair dress designed by SuperTanya, ready to ship, size XS-S)

New SuperTanya collection

Let's get ready! Last day of 2023! 🎊

Kuroo and kenma in grandfather frost and snow maiden outfits ❄️❄️

Slavic fairytale vibes again. Cannot think about anything else when it's snowy and we're hiking in the cold with Baruch. I'm wearing a modern headband inspired by traditional ukrainian vinok. They were traditionally worn by young women/girls. Absolutely love the way the ribbons fall, so romantic.

Winter Dreams

Paolo Sebastian Fall 2016 “Snow Maiden”

Costume design for Lily of the Valley for the opera "Snegurochka" (1881)

Mikhail Klodt (1835-1914)

As a special Christmas present for my followers and friends, here’s some of Christmas’s most iconic characters!!!