THE MOSCOW BALLET DANCERS ARRIVE HOME IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR WITH FAMILY
January 7, 2020
Do you wonder how the Moscow Ballet dancers celebrate Christmas and the New Year when they are on tour? Do not feel sorry for them! The Russian Eastern Orthodox Church uses a totally different calendar than the rest of the Russia—the Julian one, which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. This means that Christmas Eve and Day celebrations take place on January 6 and 7, almost a week after the dancers arrive home!
Russian Christmas traditions include the folk character Ded Moroz who emerged at the end of the 19th century. One of the first major cultural introductions of this character was in the 1873 play The Snow Maiden, by Alexander Ostrovsky, one of the most important playwrights in Russian history. (The first Nutcracker performance occurred in 1892.) It was written as a fairytale and eventually rewritten as an opera, which has been performed many times.
The play included the characters of Snegurochka, or Snow Maiden, and her grandfather Ded Moroz. He was based on a very old character in Russian mythology. Ded Moroz, which translates roughly as “Grandfather Frost,” has a long white beard, wears a fur-lined hat, has an sleigh pulled by animals, and delivers presents to well-behaved children. Ded Moroz was a good omen, because he was associated with particularly brutal winters, which, in Russian folklore, means a good harvest the following year.
learn more about us
Harmonies of Art and Love: The Kinzikeev-Dymovska Story
"Harmonies of Art and Love" is the extraordinary tale of the Kinzikeev-Dymovska family, whose collective passion for the arts has enchanted audiences worldwide. Viktoria Dymovska, known as Viktoria Kinzikeeva, and Adel Kinzikeev, two ballet stars, joined their lives...
The History of Ballet and Its Global Influence
Wherever ballet is taught in the world today, regardless of the country and the languages spoken, all ballet classes start with plies- the French word that means “to bend.” The establishment of a dance vocabulary in 16th century France allowed ballet to spread from...
Behind the Curtain of Creativity: Discover the Visionaries of Talmi Entertainment
Step into a world of enchantment and artistic brilliance with Talmi Entertainment's “NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet” For over four decades, Talmi Entertainment has been captivating audiences with its exceptional productions, showcasing the beauty and grace of...