Ded Moroz
The Russian Santa Claus, or Ded Moroz as he is better known here, is one of the characters to be discovered first or last, depending on whether you opt to start your tour with west or east. True to tradition, the man wears a blue (not red!) fur coat and hat, has a long bushy beard and piles of gifts behind his back, and enjoys a horse-drawn sleigh ride amidst a picturesque mountain landscape.
Grand Maket Russia. Photo courtesy of the author
Fun fact: Just as there are many Santa Claus counterparts in different countries, there are many iterations of Ded Moroz across Russia – all with their distinct looks, features, and traditions. For instance, the Tatar wizard Kysh Babay opts for blue or green colors and an ornamented tubeteika – and travels with a larger retinue consisting of his daughter, brave warriors, a forest spirit, and many more folklore characters.
Aliens
A mysterious UFO was spotted over Russia! Alright, we may be cheating a little here – these aren't real-real aliens, but the participants of a movie shoot... or are they? Around are the studio staff, diligently building sets for a movie, and also dinosaurs – other guests of the exhibit worth spotting.
Grand Maket Russia. Photo courtesy of the author
Fun fact: the most alien-filled place in Russia is the channel REN TV. All comedy aside, over the years the channel has grown synonymous with aliens and UFOs to the general public. Notably, it has most to do with Inexplicable, yet a Fact – a popular pseudo-documentary show from the mid 2000s.
Devil
The devil, or чёрт in Russian, isn’t as much of a clickbait material as aliens or dinosaurs; it’s one of the many literary references to be found on the massive diorama. This is a nod to Nikolai Gogol – hence the name Gogol’s Devil – and his writings, which are biting, grotesque, and rich in folklore and devilry. For one, his Christmas Eve; the story starts with the devil stealing the moon and playing all sorts of mischief on the town of Dikanka.
Grand Maket Russia. Photo courtesy of the author
Fun fact: чёрт isn’t only a “safe” swear word you can use in daily life, but is also the name of a malign spirit in Slavic folklore – much, but not completely, like an imp, demon, or even Satan.
Shaman
Hidden deep in the forest (if noticed) is a shaman. The man, in traditional attire and with a tambourine in one hand and a kind of a shaker in another, is perhaps immersed in some sort of a fire ritual, whether that is to keep the bad spirits away – or for any other shamanic purpose.
Grand Maket Russia. Photo courtesy of the author
Fun fact: shamanism is still around today; in Russia, it is most practiced and relied upon among the indigenous peoples of Siberia and such northern regions as Buryatia and Sakha.
Who-is-this on a bear
This one is possibly the most attention-grabbing figure on the mockup. Mysteriously named who-is-this, the figure depicts a shirtless man riding a real bear in the depths of Russia. Even though it’s not spelled out anywhere, the message is pretty clear… if your Russian meme game is on point.
Grand Maket Russia. Photo courtesy of the author
Fun fact: the bear is not and has never been an official symbol of Russia; instead, the country’s coat of arms features a double-headed eagle. However, bears are nevertheless deeply tied to Slavic folklore; this animal was regarded as sacred in the past and seen as the master of forest, a protector from dark spirits, and more.
Enjoy a fun find-a-hidden-object game in the spirit of Where's Waldo? at your next outing to Grand Maket Russia. It is open daily from 10 AM to 8 PM (schedule may vary on holidays). Tickets can be purchased online or onsite.
