In the early 1990s a 26-year-old banking graduate accepted his first assignment at a local branch in Kobrin. With New Year approaching, his employer asked him to play Ded Moroz and sent a young Snow Maiden to accompany him. Their task was simple: visit the children of bank staff at home and deliver gifts on the eve of the holidays.
They set out after the working day on 27 and 28 December, dressed in bright fur coats and carrying a box of presents. Nervous at first, both found the mood in the first few flats quickly warmed by eager children and welcoming parents. Poems were recited, parents complimented their effort and hospitality often extended to a table laid out for visitors. The pair soon lost track of time amid the string of appointments.
Belarus bank Santa visit catches manager by surprise
By the time the last scheduled call was complete it was near midnight. Their driver, who had accompanied them in a company Volga, suggested there was one more address to try. The two performers agreed and were driven to the manager’s home. On arrival their appearance was far from polished. The young Ded Moroz was dishevelled, his beard dangling loose, his hat askew. The Snow Maiden was exhausted and leaned heavily on his shoulder.
They knocked and the manager answered himself, only to be confronted by a dramatic scene. A bewildered small boy woke and began to cry. The manager’s wife rushed from the bedroom alarmed. The room filled with commotion as the couple tried to understand what had happened in the small hours. The performers had not intended to frighten anyone. They were simply carrying out their duties, tired after a long evening of goodwill visits.
The manager acted quickly and calmly. His wife reassured the child while he escorted the two costumed colleagues back to the car and sent them home. There was no public reprimand and, importantly, no harm was done. The next day both performers worried they might face consequences, but the matter was soon forgotten and recounted later as a humorous mishap from early in their careers.
The anecdote offers a glimpse of New Year traditions in Belarus, where Ded Moroz and the Snow Maiden remain central figures in holiday celebrations. It also highlights the informal expectations placed on staff at the time, when company roles sometimes extended beyond the office and into family homes for seasonal greetings.
Sergey Aleksandrovich Gribok, the branch manager of the APB in Kobrin, later told this story himself. He recalled the moment with a degree of amusement and relief that the episode ended without incident. The account closes on a light note and promises further tales to follow.
What began as an earnest attempt to spread festive cheer turned into a late-night surprise, but it remains a kind reminder of the unpredictable moments that can colour everyday working life.
Key Takeaways:
- A young bank employee and a Snow Maiden delivered New Year gifts to colleagues’ children across Kobrin.
- Their duties led to an unexpected late-night stop that startled the branch manager’s family.
- The incident, known as the Belarus bank Santa visit, ended without harm and became a memorable holiday anecdote.
