The Snow Maiden

In a small village at the edge of a great forest lived an elderly peasant couple. They were kind and hardworking, but sadly they had no children and felt lonely especially in wintertime. One winter evening, as the snow fell gently, the old man said to his wife, "Let's go outside and make a child out of snow, since fate gave us none in life." The wife smiled and agreed – it seemed a whimsical, sweet idea.

They bundled up and went into their yard where children were playing in the snowdrifts. The old man and woman lovingly packed snow into the shape of a little girl. They molded a round head, a tiny nose, smiling lips, and eyes of bright blue ice. The old woman draped a kerchief around its shoulders. As they finished, the old man stepped back and admired their work: "What a pretty snow maiden!" Suddenly, under the silver moonlight, an extraordinary thing happened. The snow child's cheeks blushed pink, her painted eyes opened, and she came to life! She nodded to the old man and woman and said, "Dobry vecher" (Good evening) with a warm smile.

The couple was astonished yet overjoyed. They named the girl Snegurochka (Snow Maiden). From that day on, Snegurochka became like a daughter to them. She had rosy cheeks, pale skin, and a long braid the color of flax. Only her eyes betrayed something unearthly – clear and icy blue. She was sweet, obedient, and bright. Through the rest of winter, she played happily and did chores, and the house was filled with laughter for the first time in years.

When spring arrived, Snegurochka began to grow quiet and wistful. As the sun climbed higher each day, the snow maiden seemed to weaken, as if the warmth weighed on her. The old woman noticed Snegurochka rarely went outdoors at noon, preferring the shade. By the time the snow melted and green buds appeared, the Snow Maiden looked sad. "What's wrong, my dear?" asked the old man. "Are you ill?" "No, batyushka (Papa)," she said softly, "I just feel… different." The truth was, Snegurochka felt an ache whenever the birds sang of spring and the children invited her to join games in the sunny meadow.

One May day, village girls came to fetch Snegurochka: they were going into the woods to gather flowers and build a bonfire for Kupala Night (midsummer fest). Snegurochka was fearful. She sensed something ominous about the growing heat. But not wanting to disappoint her friends, she went along. The girls danced and sang around the fire. They laughed and leapt over the flames, one by one (a traditional game for young folk). Snegurochka hung back, eyes on the burning fire. "Come, Snegurochka, it's your turn!" cried her best friend Masha.

✦An illustration from the tale of The Snow Maiden✦

Trembling, the Snow Maiden approached the bonfire. She mustered courage and jumped. At that very moment, the clouds parted and a ray of the setting sun shone directly on the fire. Caught in that warm glow, Snegurochka suddenly felt herself melting. In mid-leap, she gasped and dissolved into a gentle mist. All that remained was a small puddle where she landed and a wisp of white vapor rising to the sky. The girls shrieked in shock. They tried to gather the water in their kerchiefs, but it quickly soaked into the earth.

Heartbroken, the villagers realized that Snegurochka was a magical being of winter, not meant to survive the heat of summer. They returned to tell the old couple. The old man and woman wept bitterly but understood – their beloved daughter was a gift of the winter that had to return from whence she came. They were grateful for the joy she brought, even briefly.

That evening, as the sun set, a curious fog crept from the forest to the couple's yard. In the mist they thought they heard Snegurochka's sweet voice: "Thank you, dear Mama and Papa…" and saw a faint figure waving before it faded into the twilight. They took comfort believing her spirit returned to the land of frost.

To this day, elders say that on quiet winter nights, a smiling girl can be seen playing in the snow near that village, and each spring, she bids farewell in the form of a little white cloud on the breeze. The Snow Maiden lives on in the hearts of all who remember that even the coldest snow can harbor warmth and love.