Mass Media Overview
PACE favours proposal of Russian Father Frost
22.12.2009 09:29
http://english.ruvr.ru/
Dec 15, 2009
Russian Father Frost, who loves traveling very much, has reached Europe, where preparations for Christmas are currently underway, and held a number of important meetings there. The proposal of the kind-hearted tale-teller from Veliki Ustyug to convene a summit of New Year magicians was favoured by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
The programme providing for the Russian Father Frost's visiting the PACE Assembly included a talk with Director General of the Education, Culture and Heritage, Youth and Sport Department Gabriella Battani-Dragoni.
"We've discussed my proposal to hold a summit of the world or at least, European New Year magicians in Strasbourg, with the support of the government of Moscow and that of the Vologda Region. Let us assume that from 20 to 30 New Year magicians will take part in a summit in Strasbourg. We could use the PACE platform for discussing our winter plans and the problems Europe is faced with today. And my initiative was approved," said Battani-Dragoni.
The Russian Father Frost is sure that it will be possible to organize a summit of New Year magicians next year.
The visit of the Russian Father Frost from Veliki Ustyug was timed to coincide with Christmas Fair, which is the largest in Europe. It is for the 439th time now that the French city of Strasbourg has turned into the European Christmas capital, which thousands of tourists and businessmen from all parts of the world visit every year. Last time Russia took part in it was 10 years ago. Ahead of the holding of the Year of Russia in France and the Year of France in Russia, the Vologda Region, where Father Frost lives, as a guest of honour represented the Russian Federation at the fair in Strasbourg. The Russian Father Frost brought with him and set up a Russian village in the very centre of the city, where people could buy beautiful Matryoshka nesting dolls and decorated valenki (kind of felt boots), and also hand-painted dishes and sophisticated wooden toys. Besides, people could drink tea there from a Russian Samovar with honey-cakes and barankas (ring-shaped rolls). Russian souvenirs and round dances of the Vologda ensemble "Gostya" left nobody indifferent. "This was an unforgettable show!" - Such was a unanimous opinion of both residents and guests of Strasbourg.
The Russian Father Frost recollects with great pleasure his first meeting with his French counterpart Pere Noel he made friends with there. After the discussion of professional issues Father Frost invited Pere Noel to visit him next year - thus, he will enjoy visiting Russia, and besides, they will be able to exchange experience. This proposal was happily accepted. They parted friends, embracing each other three times, in line with the Russian tradition.