Winter always makes me a bit melancholy, and this is a tale that fits the mood.
Snegurochka (The Snow Maiden)
Ice Maiden by Dark Spider
The story begins with a childless old couple, who long desperately for a child, and one winter while the children from the village are playing, they make a child out of snow, use two blue beads for her eyes, and a red ribbon for her lips. To their amazement the child comes to life. There appear to be two different endings to the story. In one, the snow child is lonely when spring comes, and stays inside the house. Her parents, concerned, tell her to go out and play with the other children. When she leaves the house, she melts away and never returns. In another story, Snegurochka grows quickly into a beautiful young woman, who has a suitor named Lal, but her heart is ice. She's granted the ability to fall in love, and when her heart warms to Lal, she melts away.
Modern interpretations of the folktale say that Snegurocha is the daughter or companion of Father Frost (Russian Santa) and the Snow Queen (or Winter), and helps her father deliver presents to children.
Origins of the tale of Snegurochka are tied to pagan traditions symbolizing the transition of winter to spring. In some places, the change in seasons is still marked by the burning of a straw effigy dressed as a woman (Maslenitsa). This tradition is associated with rites performed to honor Kostroma, a pre-Christian East-Slavic fertility goddess.
Folktales:
- The Snow Maiden
- The Snow Maiden (Selection of translated stories from various countries)
- Original Story (In Russian)
- Snegurochka (General information)
Region of Origin: Russia
I almost hate to say it, but the folktale reminds me of Frosty the Snowman, minus the jolly. I much prefer the Snow Maiden.
Thumpitty, thump thump, thumpitty thump thump, look at Snegurochka go.
That picture is pretty spellbinding, but her right hand kinda freaks me out.
It is pretty wicked looking now that you mention it...
Reading this reminded me of your "Two Sisters" story...
Was this a source of inspiration, or is that a happy coincidence?
Total coincidence. I hadn't read about the snow maiden before last week ;)
Thanks for sharing this. I'd never heard this tale before, and now my mind is bouncing in a hundred different directions for short story ideas. Love folklore for that.
Maybe we'll see some #FridayFlash out of it? :)
You'd think they'd melt an ice sculpture in effigy. Darned hippies, never putting in the effort.
Apparently they drown the straw figure in other places, but I agree, an ice sculpture would be more appropriate lol
She reminds me a lot of the Grimms' version of Snow White.
I'm not familiar with the non-disney version of Snow White, but I can see how the story might have spread to Europe and changed along the way.