Ded Moroz (Дед Мороз)

It seemed this week that most Metro stations in the centre of Moscow had an officially appointed Ded Moroz ("Old man Frost") and helper Snegurochka ("Snow Maidan").  As legend has it, she is his granddaughter.  More on Wikipedia if you're interested in the evolution of the 'Slavic Santa Claus'.

Santa Claus was banned in the USSR in 1917 following the Bolshevik Revolution (no religious symbols allowed, etc) but revived as Ded Moroz in 1935 in a Soviet tradition.  Consequently, he is also still celebrated in most of the former Soviet countries.  

Ded's big night is of course tomorrow night, New Year's Eve.