Father Christmas comes to freezing Russian capital
- 11 years ago
ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)
STORY: Hundreds celebrated the arrival of Father Christmas, known in Russia as Father Frost, in the landmark Gorky park in Moscow on Monday.
Warmly dressed children with their parents braved the temperatures as low as minus 25 degrees Celsius (-13 F) waiting for Father Christmas to come in a double decker bus escorted by dancing clowns carrying balloons and chanting 'Happy New Year!'.
He lit a Christmas tree and wished Muscovites a happy New Year.
His arrival came on the coldest day in Moscow this winter. Russia has been in the grips of the cold snap for weeks, with temperatures reaching below minus 50 degrees Celsius in some places in Siberia.
In the Gorky Park parents and their kids bundled in coats, hats, and winter boots while dancing and singing together with Father Christmas.
Orthodox Russians celebrate Christmas traditionally on January 7, but Father Christmas arrives in Moscow before the New Year, this time on the eve of the catholic Christmas.
STORY: Hundreds celebrated the arrival of Father Christmas, known in Russia as Father Frost, in the landmark Gorky park in Moscow on Monday.
Warmly dressed children with their parents braved the temperatures as low as minus 25 degrees Celsius (-13 F) waiting for Father Christmas to come in a double decker bus escorted by dancing clowns carrying balloons and chanting 'Happy New Year!'.
He lit a Christmas tree and wished Muscovites a happy New Year.
His arrival came on the coldest day in Moscow this winter. Russia has been in the grips of the cold snap for weeks, with temperatures reaching below minus 50 degrees Celsius in some places in Siberia.
In the Gorky Park parents and their kids bundled in coats, hats, and winter boots while dancing and singing together with Father Christmas.
Orthodox Russians celebrate Christmas traditionally on January 7, but Father Christmas arrives in Moscow before the New Year, this time on the eve of the catholic Christmas.