Mammoth Christmas Greetings
Religious Fables, Folklore, Legends, and Stories
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Submitted by: Yuri Klitsenko

This is Bull of Frost (Chys Khan), which is Yakutian colleague of Russian Grandpa Frost (Ded Moroz) and Santa Claus.

Bull of Frost dwells in Tomtor, Oymiakon ulus, which is the coldest place in Siberia.

Winter lasts for 9 months in Tomtor, where the lowest temperature registered in Tomtor is -71,2 degrees Celsius.

Due to the climate, there are no bulls or cows there.

Scholars confirm that Bull of Frost is actually Mammoth, which is important personage in shamanic traditions.

For example, a large wooden representation of Mammoth was in a western "gallery" of Evenk shaman's tent etc.

Recently Yakutian Bull of Frost-Mammoth befriended Russian Grandpa Frost (Ded Moroz) and became popular in Russia. However some Christians are not happy to see their children playing with "Shaman's Mammoth".

Yuri Klitsenko is a Russian living in Moscow.  He works for the Russian Orthodox Church.

Go on to: Mammoth in Iranian and Evenk Culture
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