The Snow Maiden only comes out during the cold, dark, magical months of winter, when the earth is covered in sparkly white. With Grandfather Frost at her side, she delivers presents to children all over Russia. Fortunate revelers have a very good chance of sighting the enchanting pair at one of the Winter Festivals held each year in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novgorod, and other major cities around the nation.

In Russia, Christmas falls on January 7, and the celebration begins two weeks prior. Guests of the extraordinary Le Royal Meridien National in Moscow can attend one of the region's most splendid Winter Festivals. Until January 5, the cold air at Moscow's Izmailovo Park will resound with music and merriment, as locals, warmed by vodka, join in on the singing and dancing. Visitors can ride in a troika, a sleigh pulled by three horses, or prance around a New Year's tree. Plenty of pancakes, caviar, bagels, and other Russian foods will be on hand. While you're in town take in a performance at the Bolshoi Theatre. Ballet fans should not miss a Russian Nutcracker, and opera lovers will want to catch Tchaikovsky's Iolanta.