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Because of Father Frost“Propaganda”: Russia will ban Santa Claus
Since Father Frost, rather than Santa Claus, gives presents to children in Russia, a member of parliament is pushing for a ban. Other politicians also want to take action against the figure.
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Vitaly Borodin will ban Santa Claus in Russia.
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He sees the figure as a threat to Russian values.
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The MP claims that the West is using Santa Claus for propaganda.
Christmas is just around the corner, and with it the season of Santa Claus has begun again (see box for the difference). While in some communities in Switzerland people chase after Chlaus for fun, the situation is serious, at least from the perspective of a Russian Duma member. As the Russian exile newspaper “Meduza” reports, Vitaly Borodin wrote a letter to the Prosecutor General and asked that the figure of Santa Claus be declared a “foreign agent”.
This would mean that the figure would be effectively banned in Russia – at least since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Borodin has repeatedly sought such declarations, including against Putin's competitor Boris Nadezhdin.
This is how the ban is justified
Borodin, who heads the state project for security and anti-corruption, justified this by saying that the figure was particularly popular in unfriendly countries. That's not all: these countries are also said to be undermining “traditional values” by using Santa Claus.
In contrast to the recurring criticism in the West that Santa Claus is increasingly being misused for commercial purposes, Borodin sees the relevance of Father Frost in particular as being in danger. The figure, which comes from Slavic mythology, is the personification of winter and brings presents to Russian children on New Year's Eve. Father Frost is also widespread in other Eastern European countries.
Santa Claus and Santa Claus
While the terms “Santa Claus” and “Santa Claus” have been used interchangeably in this article, there are differences.
That's how it is Santa Claus Common in Switzerland and parts of southern Germany and Austria, it is based on the figure of Saint Nicholas, a bishop from Myra (modern-day Turkey) who lived in the fourth century and was known for his charity. It traditionally comes on December 6th and is accompanied by the Dirtli.
The Santa Claus Instead is a secular figure who is now known in various countries. Its modern depiction dates back to the 19th century and is heavily influenced by advertising, such as the well-known Coca-Cola spots. Santa Claus traditionally comes on Christmas Eve or Christmas.
Westen is supposed to finance Santa Claus propaganda
Borodin, who claims there are $1.6 billion worth of Santa Claus trademarks, warns that it is “very likely that foreign companies are financing the image of Santa Claus in Russia in order to undermine traditional values.” While the fairy-tale character Father Frost traditionally wears a gray-blue fur coat, the Santa Claus-like depiction in red has become increasingly popular in recent decades – Borodin does not provide any evidence that there is a Western strategy behind this.
Other politicians also suspect that the West is deliberately spreading Santa Claus symbolism in Russia in order to weaken the government. “Its ubiquity in shop windows is not a coincidence, but the result of a targeted marketing strategy that loses the true spirit of the holiday and destroys our values,” recently complained Mikhail Ivanov, a deputy in the Bryansk region.
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