I would venture to say that the average Russian knows more fairy tales and fairy tale characters than they do Slavic deities and practices. I know there are historians and casual enthusiasts who know a great deal about it, and there are definitely practicing pagans in Russia today. Um, do Russians know of their pagan past? I certainly can't speak for the country as a whole. I found this journey (from wicked pagan god to giver of treats to children) absolutely fascinating, and I wondered what would go through such a character's mind as he was making that transition over the centuries. He evolved over the years from a pretty powerful deity to sort of a wicked fairy-tale creature, and finally (after some European influence) to Ded Moroz, the Russian Father Christmas. What I found interesting about this character though is he has his mythical roots in slavic paganism, as a dark god of winter and death called Chernobog. He features in multiple fairy tales …more So, Morozko is the name of the Russian Jack Frost, a winter demon who is sometimes benevolent and sometimes cruel. Katherine Arden So, Morozko is the name of the Russian Jack Frost, a winter demon who is sometimes benevolent and sometimes cruel.
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