"Good afternoon, my dear kids, our wonderful friends. Finally, I'm here," those were the opening words of the country's main wizard Ded Moroz at the press conference. "On November 18, I celebrated my birthday, started my New Year's journey from Veliky Ustyug. I have a lot of fairy-tale-ish friends: my granddaughter Snegurochka, Qış Babay, and Tol Babay, and my friend Joulupukki from Finland, and many children. The most important present for me is happy kids with their open smiles on their faces and their eyes glowing like sparks," Ded Moroz said.
He spoke about the New Year tree in Veliky Ustyug: "I have the New Year all the year round in my decorated terem. My New Year tree changes its outfit twice a year. In summer, it becomes a daisy, and a snowflake in the winter." The wizard noted that he tries to answer every letter sent to him to Veliky Ustyug: "I receive from 300 to 10,000 letters every day. I try to answer every letter, every request. If I can’t do it myself, I ask my friends who will always help me in this good and kind deed. Everyone knows that Ded Moroz lives in Veliky Ustyug, Joolupukki lives in Finland and Santa Claus lives in Europe. Of course, all sent letters will reach me. My address is simple - Vologda Oblast,Veliky Ustyug, for Ded Moroz. Every postman knows where I live."
Speaking about New Year’s gifts, Ded Moroz admitted that children often ask for roller skates, cell phones, tablets, but there are a lot of simple, good letters as well: "Kids ask for health for their families, for their relatives. And this is great. Year after year, I receive more and more grammatically correct letters. It makes me happy. New Year is a family holiday. Get together near the New Year tree and celebrate our common holiday - New Year!"
