Ded Moroz is the Russian winter gift-bringer who traditionally travels with Snegurochka, the Snow Maiden.
His name means “Grandfather Frost.” In modern Russian New Year celebrations, Ded Moroz brings presents to children and is commonly depicted wearing a long fur-trimmed coat, often blue, white, or red. Snegurochka accompanies him as his granddaughter.
Ded Moroz differs from the Western Santa Claus in several important ways. He is associated mainly with New Year celebrations rather than Christmas, and he is traditionally said to arrive in a troika, a sleigh drawn by three horses. Public celebrations often feature him at New Year’s trees and children’s events.
The character draws on Slavic and Russian winter folklore, while his modern public image was also shaped by literary, theatrical, and Soviet-era traditions. Snegurochka is a separate figure, not another name for Ded Moroz.