We all know about vampires and werewolves, or at least we think we do. The legends and myths that inspired these monsters are sometimes surprisingly different, but no less chilling. In this series of posts, Monster Monday, we’ll investigate the monsters that have informed our modern notions, as well as some lesser known monsters. Today, we talk about Snegurochka.

Snegurochka, the Snow Maiden, is a character in Russian folklore. There are many different variations on her story. One of the most popular is that she is the daughter of Spring and Winter. She is curious about mortals and grows fond of a shepherd. She is unable to love, however, because her heart is frozen. Her mother takes pity on her and grants her the ability to love, but as soon as she does, her heart warms and she melts.

Eventually, Snegurochka came to be associated with Christmas. In her modern version, she is the granddaughter of Ded Moroz (“Father Frost” in Russian), and she helps him give out presents at Christmastime. In the Soviet era, Ded Moroz and Snegurochka were part of New Year’s celebrations.