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Karachun and Morana are Slavic deities associated with winter and cold. Karachun, also known as Moroz, is the god of cold and winter, while Morana is the goddess of winter, snow, and frost. Their culture and rituals were closely tied to natural cycles and seasonal changes, especially the arrival of winter.

Modern characters Father Frost (Ded Moroz) and Snegurochka have roots in these ancient deities. Father Frost, or Moroz Ivanovich, is the Russian equivalent of Santa Claus, but with several differences. He is accompanied by his granddaughter, Snegurochka, who represents the beauty and magic of winter. Together, they symbolize the spirit of winter holidays and the joy of gift-giving.

Snegurochka, or the Snow Maiden, has a complex origin. Some consider her an incarnation of the goddess Morana, who symbolized snow, frosty purity, and freshness. Others see her as a prototype of Kostroma—a bundle burned during the celebration of Ivan Kupala. There is a belief that she is a snow nymph appearing at the onset of winter and disappearing in spring, taking away farmers' hopes for a good harvest. Snegurochka is also compared to the goddess of spring, Lel, seeing her as a symbol of nature's rebirth.

In modern culture, Snegurochka is often associated with the image of a living snow maiden, created from snow, who can communicate with people and returns to the form of a snow maiden with the onset of winter. This image was popularized in literature and art, including works by Alexander Afanasiev and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's opera “The Snow Maiden.”

Thus, Karachun and Morana, as gods of winter and cold in Slavic mythology, laid the foundation for modern characters Father Frost and Snegurochka, who have become symbols of winter holidays and gift exchange in Russia.

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