"Meet Father Frost!"

"Meet Father Frost!"

Photo credit: http://www.dzedmaroz.by/

Nobody can deny that they aren't great fans of Santa Claus, and were waiting impatiently for his arrival along with his carriage of gifts as a kid. As adults, we still look forward to Christmas & New Year for miracles to take place or happen to us all the time. In Belarus, you can return back to your wonderful memories and experience the magic of Christmas and New Year in a similar atmosphere, by visiting the Residence of Santa Claus - called "Father Frost". Here you are granted 85 wishes, which are said to come true in the future with the help of some magical objects placed exclusively in his home. We will talk about them more in our Blogger lens below...

Father Frost Residence
Knights keep watch at night! 

Photo credit: http://www.dzedmaroz.by/

The Residence of Belarusian Father Frost operates round the year, and is located 380kms from Minsk, in Brest region, close to the border on Poland. It came into existence in 2003, and is situated in the oldest national reserve - "Belovezhskaya Pushcha", which is one of the heritages of the UNESCO. The place was an ideal location chosen for such a legendary and fabulous figure as Father Frost. Father Frost liked the residence a lot that he decided to settle down in "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" permanently. In earlier times, he use to frequently visit the area but at that time he had a problem of finding a suitable shelter for himself so he had to sleep under a fir-tree, in a haystack or in a snowdrift but now that was no longer the case as he has a residence built for him. Father Frost spent many years living alone in the forest. He could talk only with animals, birds, trees and bushes in a special language of nature, on which Father Frost is a great expert. People invited him to their homes, once a year during New Year and Christmas time, and always demanded gifts from him. But nowadays, while living in his kingdom, he has many visitors coming to him every day; kids and adults, native people, and foreigners, whom he is very glad to see in his residence any time.

At the entrance of the kingdom of Belarusian Father Frost, two wooden knights - Dub-Dubovich and Vyaz-Vyazovich, salute their guests. In the past they were huge Oak and Elm trees growing in Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Father Frost liked communicating with those trees while going for a walk through the forest all the time. Unfortunately, after some severe thunderstorm they were destroyed. Avoiding parting with his two old "friends", Father Frost asked to carve from them two wooden knights, who now guard his kingdom faithfully day and night.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs!
At the residence of Father Frost.

Photo credit: http://bp21.org.by/

After passing the entrance, the world of fairy-tails opens its doors for visitors, as you will meet Snow White and 7 Dwarfs who would be glad to see you here. All of them live close to the Well of Miracles! It is known that the Stepmother who had thrown Snow white out of the castle had a magical mirror. But the Stepmother broke it into many pieces, and threw them away when she had found out that Snow White was still alive, and living with the 7 Dwarfs' in their place. The pieces of that magical mirror are still on the bottom of the Well of Miracles. If a visitor, who has never done any bad deed in life, comes up to the Well and says: "Well, Well, let me bow down for you and drink some water!", then all the broken pieces will become again one and the magic mirror will come to the surface of water in the Well. The mirror will answer to all your questions and the water in the well will turn into healing.

Father Frost Residence!
The Complex.

The residence of Father Frost includes:

•  Beautiful two-storied wooden house of Father Frost with his throne hall, cabinet and bedroom,
•  Small wooden house of Snow-maiden, the granddaughter of Father Frost,
•  Treasure house "Skarbnica" - a storage house of gifts; children's letters, pictures, photos who write to Father Frost,
•  Museum of Father Frost with a great collection of antiquities which showcases the traditional old village lifestyle and objects of survival at that time in Belarus,
• Museum of Nature which showcases the riches of the different types of flora and fauna available in Belarus.

Father Frost Two Storied Wooden House!
Here is where Father Frost Lives.

Photo credit: http://www.embassies.mfa.gov.by

Father Frost Two Storied Wooden House! 
A view at night.  

Photo credit: http://turobzory.com/

Father Frost Two Storied Wooden! House
A view at night from a different angle. 

Photo credit: http://www.turj.ru/

The Snow Maiden House!
Here lives the Grand-daughter of Father Frost.

Photo credit: http://turobzory.com/

The Snow Maiden lives in a separate house opposite her granddad's house because it is very difficult for her to fall asleep under the loud snoring of her Father Frost. He is usually very tired after his busy days, and sleeps like a log.


The Snow Maiden's Bedroom!
Here sleeps the Grand-daughter of Father Frost.

Photo credit: http://www.dzedmaroz.by/

The Treasure House!
At the Father Frost Residence.

Photo credit: http://bp21.org.by/

Pictures on the Wall!
A collage of pictures can be seen in the treasure House.

 Photo credit: http://www.dzedmaroz.by

Museum of Antiquities in The Father Frost Residence!
Traditional Iron and Cutting Tools. 

Photo credit: http://provse.forum2x2.ru/

Museum of Antiquities in the Father Frost Residence!
Traditional Utensils and Handicraft Cloth! 

Photo credit: http://provse.forum2x2.ru/

Museum of Nature!
In the Father Frost Residence. 

Photo credit: http://turobzory.com/

Hunting in Old Times!
A scene of how hunting took place in old times in the museum of nature.  

Photo credit: http://turobzory.com/

Wildlife Species in Winter!
A showcase of wildlife species in winter in the Museum of Nature. 

Photo credit: http://turobzory.com/

Where is Dedushka Moroz
Lets go find him!

Photo credit: http://www.mostphotos.com

Hmm!...So what should we do next?
Should we knock on his door? 
There is an existing tradition in Belarus where they mention that the first thing to do when you reach the "Father Frost Residence" then you must go to his porch of his wooden house, and call him loudly by repeating his name 3 times: "Father Frost!... Father Frost!... Father Frost!" 


 View a video on How to call Father Frost?

The video is in Russian but the 3 times calling rule is very much understandable! In Russian, the people are calling out for Father Frost as "Dedushka Moroz!",. A very important thing that you will note that "Father Frost" will not come out to the people if they are not loud, happy & active about meeting him. Interesting isn't it? After this Father Frost would appear on the porch, and allow the visitors to take a tour of his wooden house with all the decoration and riches. On the ground floor there is a meeting room with solemn throne decorated with thousands of golden small light bulbs that look like precious stones. Then on the 1st floor there is a broad carved wooden bed. Usually the Snow-maiden, and the Forest Fairy make his bed, covering it with a big snow-white blanket, and putting 7 pillows over it with the biggest one at the bottom, and the smallest one on top. When Father Frost has got lots of things to do, he sleeps on the smallest pillow. And on the contrary, when he is not so busy, he has a longer rest on his biggest comfortable pillow.

Video credit: Billyjandro

Oh we forgot! - Your 85 wishes!

Photo credit: http://www.liz-green.com

But you need to know which magical objects gives them to you!
While moving around the area of the "Father Frost Residence then on your way to the main Christmas Tree, you will meet "12 Months!" - These are wooden creatures standing, and they symbolize all the months of the year. Now you should find the m onth in which you were born, then make your 1st wish while touching it! - Wasn't that easy!


Make a Wish Wooden Objects!
Each represents a month of the year!

Photo credit: http://bp21.org.by/

If you look at the above images then the picture on the left facing you is the month of April. In Belarussian, we call it "Krasavik". Then the picture that you see on the right side facing you is the month of August. In Belarussian, we call it "Zhniven". In the same manner then you will see 10 other objects that symbolize the other months. Its fun actually going around in circles searching for your birthday!

"1" Wish Granted! - 84 more to go!
How do we get the rest of the wishes?

Photo credit: http://wwwladyofthelane.com

 Moving on then we continue our journey ahead on the road which will lead us directly to the main Christmas Tree located on the grounds of the "Father Frost Residence". Did you know that this tree is considered to be the highest Christmas tree in the whole Europe, which is now already 121 years old.

During Christmas, and New Year time it attracts lots and lots of tourists from all over the world. Near the Christmas tree, you can also see some other dwellers of the residence, standing there and welcoming the oncoming guests. Who are they you may ask? One is Aunt "Snowstorm" of the snow maiden and the other two are her cousins "Snowflakes". And now comes the opportunity to grant you the second wish. Hold each others hands and dance around the Christmas tree!...Don't forget to wish doing it!!!


The Christmas Tree!
The tallest in all of Europe seen inside the Father Frost Residence. 

Photo credit: http://www.belarus.nemiga.info/

The main sight of the residence is the Christmas Tree which is higher than 40 meters. They say that the "Dry Cruel Wind" was very jealous of the beauty of the Christmas Tree, and decided to destroy her. But the Wind succeeded only in making her low branches dry. The Wind got really angry and did not stop persuing the Christmas Tree. He brought lots of fir-tree seeds, and spread them near the roots of the Christmas Tree, and said to them: "Grow fast and become much higher, and much more beautiful than your elder sister!". But they refused to fulfill the order of the Wind. Then he put a spell on them and turned them into artificial fir-trees that nowadays surround the Main Christmas Tree which is decorated with 5 thousands light bulbs.

"2" Wishes Down! - 83 more to go!

Photo credit: http://www.kauilapele.wordpress.com

More Magic and more wishes to come, keep reading!
Its been a long day but we still have many wishes to be granted. So we move ahead and arrive at "The Magic Bridge". Its here where you can make the rest of your 83 wishes come true. However, its not that simple as said. You have 83 obstacles on your way. You hear me right! 83 wooden logs which make this beautiful magical bridge. Your task! - Hmm! Thats the difficult part! After all, who said wishes can be granted so easily...

Oh i won't take much of your time so without further adieu then each wooden log has to be stepped upon but carefully and your wish is to be asked while doing so. Just remember one thing! DON"T STUMBLE! Oops! Your wish would be cancelled and you would have to start all over again. Yeah right! Actually it is a very good exercise for training your balance.
There you are! Now you have your wishes and they have been granted. Good Job! But wait! Its not over yet! There are more interesting things to see. "The Magic Mill!". They say if you touch this mill while having something heavy in your heart or having done something bad, the mill will grind it all like flour, and make your soul light again. Doesn't that sound magical and "Wonderful!"

Oh! By the way, we aren't done yet! Just close to the mill, there is a "Magical Lake!" where Princess-frog exists who is waiting for her lover to come and save her!.

The Mill in The Father Frost Residence!
Let it grind all your sorrows away! 

Photo credit: http://turobzory.com/

The Magical Mill and Bridge in The Father Frost Residence!
Now you must be wondering how to cross that Magical Bridge!

Photo credit: http://www.zagorizonti.ru/

The Frog Princess in The Magical Lake!
Waiting eagerly for her lover to come and save her!

Photo credit: http://bp21.org.by/

The Bewitched Reindeer!
Father Frost's Faithful Helper

Photo credit: http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/

There is also a faithful helper of Father Frost - a "Bewitched!" reindeer with its sledge. Only once a year Father Frost can remove this spell and use its service to deliver gifts to children all over the country.

Come lets meet Mr. Snowman!
He's Father Frosts Father-in-Law

Photo credit: http://turj.ru/

Did you know that "Father Frost" had an extended relative?...I thought so!

Well, Mr. Snowman! - Our one and only favorite winter activity, when the snow has fallen outside the window and its piled up all ready for playing then we & our children run out to meet him. Did we say meet him?...Sorry!...Build him!

We put on a nice red muffler on his neck, give him sticks as his hands and stones as his winter coat buttons. What's more then we take pictures with him for our memoirs or the next picture in our family album. Never did we think that hey that's really "Father Frosts" Father-in-law!...Yup! He sure is our one and only "Mr. Snowman!". Oh and by the way then the Snowman you see in the picture is everlasting as its made with lights and not snow. It stands inside the "Father Frost Residence" for visitors to get a glimpse of him or see the wonderful lights he twinkles in at night. Its a beautiful sight to visit!

Meeting and Greetings!
Meet Father Frost Round the Year

Photo credit: http://www.belarusprimetour.com/

"Father Frost" is glad to meet his guests both in winter and summer, as his residence works round the year, every day from 9:00 till 18:00. Close to residence, there are very nice hotels for tourists to stay in for some days.

While enjoying time in the Kingdom of Father Frost visitors have an opportunity to see an "Aurochs!" - The king of the Belorusian forests who is an endangered specie, and as also in "The Red Book". Just to let you know then the red book is a list of all the endangered animals and birds in Belarus that are highly protected from poaching or killing. The "Auroch" lives in the oldest reserve in Belarus called "Belovezhskaya Pushcha", about which you will get to know in detail in our further articles.


Contact the Father Frost Residence!
Visit the website to learn more. (Russian Language Only) 

 Address:
225063, Brest region, Kamenecky District,
village ""Kamenuki", Belarus.
Tel 1. +375 1631 56-3-98
Tel 2. +375 1631 56-3-98
Web site: http://www.dzedmaroz.by

It is possible to book an excursion to the residence of "Father Frost" through any travel agency in Minsk, the capital of Belarus.

The map of the residence of "Father Frost"

Photo credit: www.dzedmaroz.by

"Summer Garden" or the oldest garden of Saint-Petersburg

"Summer Garden" or the oldest garden of Saint-Petersburg

A real paradise in the center of the Northern Capital of Russia

Photo credit: http://www.pronebo.info/

Summer Garden is a real paradise located in the heart of St. Petersburg. It is a very special place that enchants with its extraordinary beauty. This is the place where famous talented people of art: musicians, poets, artists, and actors used to get inspiration for creating their master-pieces while wandering around the alleys of Summer Garden. 

If to be precise... Initially they could get to the park only at the invitation of Peter I. Later only decently dressed people could walk in Summer Garden. 

In  the 19th century the park became a favorite place for entertainments of St. Petersburg nobility.

Such figures of Russian culture as Aleksandr Pushkin, Ivan Krylov, Vasily Zhukovskiy, Ivan Goncharov, Aleksandr Block, Peter Tchaikovsky and many others frequented Summer Garden.

The park was a favorite place of people in love too. In fact, noble merchants' families with their daughters came to Summer Garden. Merchants' wives together with their daughters lined up on both sides of the alleys and young single merchants went about choosing brides for themselves. Every mother tried to dress up her daughter better than others did. It was a so-called competition among merchants' families. 

Saint-Petersburg celebrates its anniversary on the 27th of May every year. When it had its 300th anniversary in 2012, in the same year new reconstructed Summer Garden opened its doors in front of its residents and guests. The restoration work was for almost three years, and during that period of time restorers tried to do their best in order visitors could see Summer Garden the way it had been in the 18th century. Visiting this green island in the center of the Northern capital you can feel transported to the gone era and can get to know the city on the Neva better.

From the history of Summer Garden

The artisan Ivan Ugrumov started construction of Summer Garden under the guidance of Peter I in the year of 1704. The tsar dreamed to have his own Versailles, his own summer royal residence. Peter the Great even drew the initial project himself. He planed to create a regular architectural park with a proper layout, straight alleys, nicely trimmed trees and bushes.

Under the guidance of Peter I and Ivan Ugrumov the territory of the future park was drained. In order to fulfill it a drainage channel was dug there. Also the garden was planned in a proper way, trees were planted, the 1st fountains were built. In 1704 a small harbor was created too where small crafts came. In the year of 1705 walls of the small harbor were enclosed with stone slabs. Thereby, it became the 1st paved promenade of Saint-Petersburg.  

Summer Garden is surrounded with water from all sides. Rivers Neva and Fontanka became the only park boundary from north and east, and from south and west - the Moika and Lebyazhya Kanavka or Swan Canal. From the Neva, the central entrance three parallel-arranged straight alleys lead into Summer Garden which are crossed with perpendicular tracks. By the way, Swan Canal 648 meters long was dug there in the 1711-1719-s. It owes its name to the swans which settled there. 

Summer Garden were divided into three parts. The northern part adjacent to the palace of Peter I was known as the First Summer Garden. There in the 1710-1714-s according to the project of the architect Domenico Trezzini a small two-storeyed palace for the tsar was built that has survived until our days. It was called the Summer Palace where from 1712 till 1725 during the warm months Peter I lived  as during the cold months he lived in some other palace called the Winter Palace  about which we will tell you in our next Blogger lenses. 

The southern part from Swan Canal till Moika River was called the Second Summer Garden where they dug a pond known as "Karpiev Pond" or "Carp Pond". And the part of the south of the river was considered to be the Third Summer garden, it is modern Mihailovskiy Garden and the territory around the Mihailovskiy Palace.  

In 1712 the Dutch gardener Jan Roozen  was invited to Saint-Petersburg by Peter the Great who worked in Summer Garden till 1726. Thanks to his efforts Summer Garden acquired features of the Dutch Regular Gardens. For its decoration they brought rare trees and bushes, various flowers, marble statues to Saint-Petersburg from everywhere. 

The main alley of Summer Garden, the most beautiful and solemn, was decorated with 12 paired marble columns and its track was covered with black and white slabs. Also an ancient Greek statue of Venus, the goddess of love had been installed there that later was called Venus Tauride. It was the 1st ancient sculpture of a naked woman in Russia. But they had to put a guard near the statue as the city residents  felt embarrassed by seeing " a naked woman with snow-white face" and each of them tried to put something on her.Nowadays Venus is kept in the Hermitage.

In Peter's the Great opinion all the garden sculptures would not only have to decorate Summer Garden but also to have educational nature. With the help of their symbolic system, the tsar Peter I tried to accustom Russian people to the ancient mythology and European culture.

Peter I brought the sculptures brought for Summer Garden from Italy and he treasured them a lot. In the 18th century, there were more than 200 statues there. However, many of them were destroyed during flood. Also for 300 years the adverse climatic conditions did the trick too. Only around 90 original statues have been managed to be saved from the valuable collection which were created by great masters of the Venetian School. The saved original sculptures were shifted to some other suburban summer royal residences and to the Hermitage.

Nowadays Summer Garden is decorated with 90 sculptures-replicas of high quality made of artificial marble which are ready to tell visitors about ancient Greek gods - patrons of art, elements and human emotions. Among the statues of ancient mythology heroes you can also see busts of Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, the Roman emperors Nero and Trajan and many others and allegorical statues of natural phenomena and abstract concepts such as "Night", "Morning", "Sunset". One of the most charming statues is considered to be "Cupid and Psyche" that located near Swan Canal. 

Besides it, there were around 50 beautiful fountains built in Summer Garden. They were the 1st fountains in Russia. In order to make them work they had dug a channel and a steam-engine had pumped water from "Unnamed Erik" that was later called River Fontanka. 

Unfortunately, the severe flooding in the year of 1777 destroyed fountains and they decided not to restore them. However, during restoration of the park already in modern times they managed to restore the water supply system according to the old drawings and run fountains again.

On the bank of the Fontanka they also built a Grotto according to the project of the architect Andreas Schluter that was very similar to a fabulous cave. It looked like a rectangular pavilion with a dome. Its walls were decorated with columns and sculptures. There were three halls in the Grotto which were decorated with shells, colored stones and ground glass.At the entrance of the Grotte a gilded chariot of Neptune on a mountain welcomed its visitors and  inside under the mountain there was a languished lion. Neptune was considered to be an impersonation of Peter the Great and the lion - an impersonation of Sweden. Unfortunately, the Grotto was also destroyed during the flooding in the year of 1777. In reality, there were the two severe flooding ( in the year of 1777 and in the year of 1824) in Saint-Petersburg that caused great losses of the master-pieces in Summer Garden.  

However, in 1826 the architect Carlo Rossi erected a "Coffee House" on the same place where the pavilion "Grotto" had been.

In 1839 after numerous wars between Sweden and Russia the king Charles XIV of Sweden gave a dark red porphyry vase to the tsar Nicholas I. It was like a gesture of goodwill from the Swedish side. The big porphyry vase became a real decoration of Summer Garden. It is made of pink granite, and its height together with  the plinth is 485 centimeters. The vase was installed near the entrance from the embankment of the Moika between "Carp Pond" and the fence called "South Fence".   

By the way, the famous lattice fences appeared in Summer Garden from 1771 till 1884 according to the projects of the architects Peter Egorov and Yury Felten. And Yury Felten was a son of the chef of Peter the Great - Johann Felten.   

Also on the lattice fence of Summer Garden you can see a memorial plaque put in the same place where in 1866 a revolutionary D. Karakozov wanted to shoot the Emperor Alexander II.

 Till the middle of the 19th century tapestries existed in summer Garden too.  

In the 50-s in the 19th century they installed a monument dedicated to the Russian fablelist Ivan Krylov, the sculptor of which was Peter Klodt. The sculptor portrayed Ivan Krylov sitting on a rock and holding an opened book in his hands. The pedestal of the monument was decorated with illustrations from the most famous fables of Ivan Krylov.  

During the Great Patriotic War among centuries-old trees of Summer Garden there were anti-aircraft guns for protection of the city from attacks of Nazis. And on lawns of the park instead of flowerbeds they  created so-called kitchen-gardens which saved many lives during the Siege of Leningrad. 

The latest things in Summer Garden are the following one:

- the Archaeological Museum where you can see interesting objects found  by archaeologists during the reconstruction work in Summer Garden;

- the Small Greenhouse with Garden "Aptekarskiy";

-  the Poultry House. 

And now after getting to know the history on Summer Garden above, let's go on a virtual tour around Summer Garden. We would like to offer you to find yourself  in a paradise in the heart of  Saint- Petersburg on a sunny July day in the year of 2013. Enjoy!

The Famous Lattice Fence - The Main Gate from the Neva

River Neva

Swan Canal near Summer Garden

At the end of Swan Canal there is a reddish spot. This is the Mihailovskiy Castle. On the right you can see the House of Ivan Beckiy that is also known as the Palace of the Prince of Oldenburg. From 1791 till 1796 the Russian fablelist Ivan Krylov lived there.  He organized a printing press there too where such magazines as "The Spectator" and "The St. Petersburg Mercury". 

By the way, except writing his famous fables, Ivan Krylov was fond of playing the violin  too. But he did it in a  very eccentric way: he played the violin completely naked. And ladies who were wandering around  Summer Garden saw a completely naked man playing the violin very often as the windows of his flat were always opened. The police hat to interfere in that incident and asked the great Russian classic to draw the curtains while his enjoyment of playing the violin at least as it was impossible to walk in that part of  Summer Garden. 

The Mihailovskiy Castle

The Alleys of  Summer Garden

The Central Alley of  Summer Garden

The Summer Palace of Peter the Great

The view to Prachechnyi Bridge or Laundry Bridge on River Fontanka near the Summer Palace of Peter I

The Fountain "Tsaritsyn"

Here is the Fountain "Tsaritsyn" or "Queen's" . It is the 1st fountain that you we will see on the Central Alley of Summer Garden from the Neva side. It was named after the empress Catherine I, the 2nd wife of Peter the Great. This is the place where the empress welcomed her guests. 

The Bosquet "Menazheriyny Pond"

It was the place where they kept waterfowl. The bosquet was created in the 1720-s.  

The Fountain "Gerbovyi" on the Central Alley

The Fountain "Gerbovyi" or "Armorial"

The Legendary Statues of Summer Garden

 Ancient Greek gods - patrons of art, elements and human emotions...

  

The Poultry House

Here is the "Poultry Yard" with the "Dovecote". In the 18th century poultry yards and menageries were a mandatory attribute of any regular garden. In Summer Garden in the Poultry Yard they used to keep rare animals and birds. For example, eagles, black storks, cranes lived there, and in the "Dovecote" there were rare doves. 

Nowadays there is a small museum in this building - "The  Museum of History and Archaeology of  Summer Garden".

The Monument of Ivan Krylov 

One of the greatest Russian classics - the creator of famous fables and also an "extraordinary violinist"

  

The Fountain "Pyramid" on the Central Alley 

The Fountain "Pyramid" was created by the decree of  the empress Catherine I. It is a replica of the fountain" located in Petergof.

The Front Park Parterre and the Fountain "Koronnyi" 

or  the Fountain "Crown"

 

 

The "Small Greenhouse" and "Red Garden"

Nowadays in the building of the "Small Greenhouse" a nice cafeteria is located. 

The Pavilion "Coffee House" 

The pavilion "Coffee House" is situated opposite the fountain "Pyramid", on the embankment of River Fontanka.  It was created by Carol Rossi in the year of 1826 on the same place where the legendary pavilion "Grotto" was that had been destroyed during the severe flooding of the year of 1777. During the restoration work in 1925 they discovered  underground tunnels under it. And in the 1960-s they found out that under the "Coffee House" the old foundation of the pavilion "Grotto" has remained. 

"Karpiev Pond" or "Carp Pond"

 The Big Porphyry Vase

 The gift of the king Charles XIV of Sweden

Summer Garden is a real paradise where you can have a spiritual rest as it is considered to be the Museum of Art.  

By the way, on Sundays they usually organize various exhibitions and performance of a brass band.