Yamal Iri (original) (raw)

Yamal Iri (in Russian Ямал Ири, meaning "Grandfather of Yamal") is a character associated with Christmas in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia, a counterpart of Ded Moroz and Santa Claus. The character was introduced in 2007 on an initiative of several tourism organizations of Yamal. His image was based on a contest of children's drawings and works of decorative art. The character was also supplied with a legend, based on traditions of the northern indigenous peoples of Russia.