An idea to make the highest Ded Moroz (Russian Version of Santa Claus) in Russia was suggested in 2009 by a common Chelyabinsk schoolgirl. She noticed that the Chelyabinsk’s most well-known monument of a Ural blacksmith called “The Tale of the Urals” looked like the kind winter wizard, if to add him a long white beard, a fur coat and a fur cap.

The idea pleased the Chelyabinsk people so much, that they made it a unique Christmas time tradition. This year the 7,5-meters-long red coat, which had been made of 100 meters of a red velvet, 150 meters of padding polyester and 50 meters of a faux fur, was dry-cleaned, and now it looks new again.

Moreover, a new long beard will be prepared for Ded Moroz. Last year it was 74 meters long, and all corners could tie ribbons with their wishes written on it to the beard. This year Chelyabinsk officials call on citizens to prepare new ribbons with wishes. After the 10^th of January all them will be sent to the Veliky Ustug, the homeland of Russian Ded Moroz. He has already promised to fulfill all the wishes.

source: russia-ic.com, picture: mass-online.ru