Yesterday evening, when the cities plunged into twilight, all of a sudden, as if by magic, colorful lights were lit Christmas trees of the country. Streets and avenues sparkling with bright illumination and LED strips. And all because on the eve of the New Year, the main characters of the winter holiday - Ayaz Baba and Garpamyk went on a fabulous journey across Turkmenistan.
A favorite of children and even adults, Santa Claus is an irreplaceable New Year's wizard! And, although different countries of the world have their own New Year's Grandfather, everyone will certainly expect New Year's miracles and gifts from him.
As we know, the name of the Turkmen Father Frost is Ayaz Baba. The name Ayaz is of Turkic origin and literally translates as "frost". In Turkic mythology, Ayaz is the god of winter. The Turkmen New Year wizard wears a traditional headdress - telpek, a long, embroidered white coat, belted with a sash and a white bag with gifts. In his hands is a staff, which serves as a magic wand and is a means of support when walking.
Ayaz Baba's granddaughter, Snegurochka-Garpamyk, is also dressed in a white coat. On her head she has a girlish takhya embroidered with silver jewelry, and her long hair is braided into neat braids.
Corbobo, Noel Baba, Joulupukki, Per Noel and Zyuzya - all these are also the names of Santa Clauses, which they are called in Uzbekistan, Turkey, Finland, France and the Republic of Belarus.
One of the most famous winter wizards in the world is American Santa Claus, dressed in a red and white fur coat, and on his head is a characteristic gnome cap. He travels on a reindeer team that travels through the air and makes his way through chimneys to houses to bring New Year's surprises to children.
Another interesting name of Grandfather Frost is Kysh Babai, as he is called in Bashkiria and Tatarstan. For the holiday, he dresses up in a blue or green caftan with national ornaments, and instead of a hat wears a shaggy skullcap.
Far away in the mountains of Georgian Svaneti lives Tovlis Babua - Georgian Santa Claus. He wears a chokha (outerwear for men made of cloth, widespread in the past among some peoples of the Caucasus) with a white cloak, and his headdress is called a Svan hat.
The Kazakh winter wizard Ayaz Ata is wearing a national blue caftan and leather boots. Akshakar's granddaughter, also dressed in a warm caftan, and a traditional fur dress, a beryk, is helping the elder.
Russian Santa Claus has deep pagan roots. In the old days, the Eastern Slavs represented the winter cold in the form of an old man with a long gray beard and called him Treskun-Studenets. This folklore character received a literary name in the fairy tale "Moroz Ivanovich" by Vladimir Odoevsky.
But no matter what names the main character of the New Year holidays is called, in all cities and countries, children and adults are looking forward to his appearance. After all, this Grandfather again and again gives the opportunity to believe in New Year's miracles and helps to fall asleep in a magical winter fairy tale.
