Moscow holds tranditional New Year's 'Snow Maiden' parade A parade in Moscow celebrates Snegourochka, or the Snow Maiden, a Russian folklore character who has been part of Russian New Year's celebrations since the 1930s when Stalin's regime encouraged the marking of the New Year in place of Christmas festivities. Snegurochka symbolises frozen waters, embodies purity and kindness and is the grand-daughter and helper to 'Father Frost', a Father Christmas-type character. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES