Category: English

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Official website of the State –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Eldar Ryazanov, whose Persian name combined with his Russian surname he himself called an "exotic pun," was born on November 18, 1927. His father, an employee of the Soviet trade mission in Tehran, was repressed when the boy was nine years old. This pain remained forever etched in Eldar Alexandrovich's memory, teaching him to be so sensitive to the suffering of others, and permeated all of his work.

An unexpected incident

After school, Eldar Ryazanov, by his own admission, applied to the Odessa Naval Academy—the sea beckoned him—but never received a response. He applied to VGIK by chance, along with a friend, without even hoping to get in. This chance encounter gave us not a sailor, but a director whose films will become a spiritual touchstone for millions.

It sounds surprising now, but the master of Soviet comedy initially aspired to make serious films. His first major work, the 1954 documentary "Sakhalin Island," was so unsuccessful that a desperate Ryazanov tried to destroy the negative with a hammer. Fortunately, the film was saved. This bitter lesson became his first in mastering the art of rising from a fall.

Flight of creativity

Eldar Ryazanov didn't initially plan to pursue comedy—he dreamed of serious, dramatic films. However, the then director of Mosfilm and Soviet filmmaker Ivan Pyryev managed to change the young director's mind, and this intervention proved fateful.

Few people know that Ryazanov's debut in the light musical genre wasn't the legendary "Carnival Night," but the first Soviet widescreen revue film, "Spring Voices" or "Happy Youth," starring Nadezhda Rumyantseva, co-directed with Sergei Gurov in 1955. Afterward, the talented director was offered his first independent project, to which the insightful Pyryev brought Lyudmila Gurchenko. Thus was born the legendary Lenochka Krylova from "Carnival Night," and the songs "Five Minutes" and "Song of a Good Mood" resounded across the country, becoming anthems of a new era.

Mosfilm: Golden Collection

Ryazanov subsequently directed a whole galaxy of films that became household names: the detective story about the Soviet Robin Hood, "Beware of the Car," the daring "Hussar Ballad" about the brave partisans of the Patriotic War of 1812, the symbol of March 8th, "Office Romance," the satirical "Garage" and "Forgotten Melody for Flute," the tender, lyrical "Station for Two," and, of course, the perennial highlight of the New Year's holidays, "The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!" But a special place in his oeuvre belongs to "Cruel Romance," a virtuoso adaptation of Ostrovsky's "The Dowry," which proved Ryazanov's brilliant work in the dramatic genre as well.

A whole galaxy of stars gathered on its film sets: Larisa Golubkina and Yuri Yakovlev, Andrei Myagkov and Barbara Brylska, Oleg Basilashvili and Lyudmila Gurchenko, Svetlana Nemolyaeva and Alisa Freindlich, Andrei Mironov, Anatoly Papanov, Innokenty Smoktunovsky, Yuri Nikulin, Marina Neyolova and Nikita Mikhalkov – the list is endless.

The irony of life

The legendary director, with his characteristic sense of self-irony, never hid his love of fine cuisine. He understood that he wasn't cut out for a romantic lead. He accepted the fact that he wasn't a good-looking actor, even though women loved him—he was married three times. The director had a very different view of Oleg Basilashvili—the very actor who, according to Ryazanov, perfectly combined aristocratic good looks and remarkable talent. He encouraged Basilashvili to take meticulous care of himself and tirelessly fight his natural tendency to gain weight.

But neither his waistline nor his lack of acting ambition prevented Ryazanov from shining in his own films. He created witty cameos that became the highlights of his films. His role as Professor Smirnovsky in "Garage" was particularly memorable—an unflappable character who slept through a heated meeting of a car dealership while the turmoil raged around him. These small roles became the director's calling card—a subtle, ironic, and always recognizable signature.

Man-planet

Eldar Ryazanov's creative energy extended far beyond cinema. He became the creator and host of the cult Kinopanorama program, and later created over two hundred original programs. Viewers loved his series "Eight Girls, One Me," "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Eldar Ryazanov's Parisian Secrets," and the heartfelt "Conversations in the Open Air."

The director's literary legacy is also impressive: his books "The Sad Face of Comedy, or Finally Summed Up," "These Frivolous, Frivolous Films," and the poem cycle "The Departing Nature" reveal to the reader the complex inner world of the master.

Incidentally, the title of this poetry collection became the name of Dmitry Iosifov's nostalgic multi-part melodrama about the everyday lives of Soviet filmmakers. And the creative struggles of the young Ryazanov served as the inspiration for the character in Valery Todorovsky's series "The Thaw": the young director Yegor Myachin, played by Alexander Yatsenko.

Eldar Aleksandrovich also possessed an exceptional poetic gift. He wrote the lyrics to many of the songs in his films—"Song about the Weather," "Love is a Magical Land," "Don't Be Afraid"—although, out of modesty, he often attributed the authorship to others. There's even a well-known case of exquisite directorial revenge: when Andrei Myagkov criticized one of the songs for "Office Romance," Ryazanov stripped the actor of his lines in his next film. According to the script for "Garage," Myagkov's character loses his voice due to stress and communicates through signs for most of his screen time.

In short, from the musical "Carnival Night" to the biopic "Andersen: Life Without Love," every film by Eldar Ryazanov was a revelation. He passed away on November 30, 2015, but his films continue to speak to us about the most important things: love, loneliness, friendship, and simple human happiness. And his legacy lives on—not only in immortal films, poems, and books, but also in the starry sky: one of the minor planets in our solar system bears his name.

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: November 18, 2025.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Official website of the State –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Our own Santa officially found a permanent home in 1999, when Veliky Ustyug in the Vologda Oblast was declared his birthplace. Since 2005, November 18th has been celebrated as his birthday: on this day, theatrical performances are held at the residence of the fairytale lord of winter, and fellow wizards come to visit from various corners of Russia—for example, Pakkaine in Karelia, Tol Babai in Udmurtia, and Yamal Iri in Yamal.

Magical contract

It's worth noting that the concept of Santa Claus isn't just a cultural archetype; it's a brilliant contract between the worlds of reality and magic, a lifelong commitment. Because we all go through three stages of growing up: when we believe in Santa Claus, when we don't, and when we become Santa Claus ourselves.

The first stage is childhood. The world is full of wonders, and goodness comes by magic: for little ones, Father Frost is an absolute reality. A gray-haired wizard who sees their dreams, remembers everyone, and manages to visit millions of homes in a single night. His existence requires no proof—it is felt in the rustle of gift paper, the twinkling of garlands, the smell of hot spicy sbiten, pies, and the inevitable Moscow salad.

The second stage is adolescence. We grow up, unravel the mechanics of New Year's—and it seems to us that the magic has disappeared. We learn that behind the beard is Dad, in the noise on the roof is the wind, and under the tree is Mom's care. Magic seems a deception, and Santa Claus a silly fable for the naive.

But then comes the third stage—we ourselves begin to create New Year's magic for our younger brothers and sisters, nephews, nieces, and our own children. And here's where the most important thing happens: we realize that magic hasn't disappeared. It's simply ceased to be an external force and has become our conscious choice. We now create it ourselves, out of care and attention, which create a true miracle—the fulfillment of a dream. A profound understanding dawns that the adult donning the wizard's mittens is not a deceiver, but a guide who has taken up the baton of creating miracles from a generation of parents and grandparents.

The Story of Winter Magic

The kind and generous wizard we know today was born from the stern lord of cold, who personified the Russian winter cold. In Slavic legends, Moroz was modeled on the formidable spirits of winter—Studenets, Treskun, and Krachun. People tried to appease them with offerings, believing that this would protect the harvest from the bitter cold.

This transformation was largely influenced by the radiant image of the nation's most beloved saint, St. Nicholas. It was from him that the wonderful tradition of secretly bestowing gifts on children originated. The modern image of the wizard began to take shape in 19th-century literature. Vladimir Odoevsky's "Moroz Ivanovich," published in 1840, became a landmark work. His hero, though still stern, was now portrayed as a wise and just elder who rewarded hard work and condemned laziness.

By the beginning of the last century, Father Frost had become firmly established in Christmas traditions. However, after the 1917 Revolution, he, like other archetypes of the "Old World," was banned. The character's rebirth occurred in the mid-1930s, when he returned in a new capacity—as a symbol of the secular New Year.

But his faithful companion, Snegurochka, the snow maiden from folk tales, appeared a little later. Together, they first appeared before children at official New Year's parties in 1935. It was then that New Year's received its canonical design, and the inseparable duo—Father Frost and his granddaughter Snegurochka—were established as the main symbols of the magical New Year.

Visiting a fairy tale

The wizard's modern history took a new turn in 1998 with the launch of the "Velikiy Ustyug – Father Frost's Birthplace" project. It was then that the idea of establishing an official birthday for him emerged. The choice fell on mid-November—the time when the first snow usually falls and frosts set in in the Vologda region, signaling the arrival of winter.

Since its inception, the holiday has acquired vibrant traditions, with Veliky Ustyug invariably remaining the heart of the celebrations. Thousands of guests flock here annually to personally congratulate the birthday boy or girl and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of a winter fairytale. A rich program is prepared for visitors: theatrical shows, folk festivals, fun contests, and winter sports competitions. On this day, Father Frost's New Year's post office opens. You can send a letter with your heart's desires through special postboxes that appear in many cities across the country during the pre-holiday period.

The holiday will come to us

A key moment is the ceremonial lighting of the country's first New Year's tree. The following day, November 19, a special Father Frost train departs from Veliky Ustyug to spread festive cheer throughout Russia. The train features a "Father Frost reception car," a Snow Queen car, a "Fairytale Village," a stage car, a puppet theater car, a refreshment bar, a restaurant, and a souvenir shop. This year, the route, covering over 20,000 kilometers, passes through 70 Russian cities, giving children from across the country the opportunity to meet the main wizard of winter in person.

The fairytale train will make its grand arrival (1) in Moscow on January 2, 2026. For just one day, the capital will host a true winter festival with interactive areas, hot tea, and a meeting with the country's chief wizard. On January 3, the train will move on to Veliky Novgorod and St. Petersburg. And as long as the desire to bring dreams and magic to others lives in our hearts, Father Frost will return every year to bestow upon us the warmth and radiance of a New Year's fairytale.

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: November 18, 2025.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.