- Title: RUSSIA: Russian Father Frost swims with the sharks
- Date: 28th December 2007
- Summary: (CEEF) ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA (RECENT - DECEMBER 26, 2007) (REUTERS) DIVER ANDREI RESHETNIKOV DRESSED AS FATHER FROST FASTENING BELT HOLDING OXYGEN TANK MAN HELPING ADJUST SLEEVE OF FATHER FROST COAT ON RESHETNIKOV DIVER DMITRY ROZOV DRESSED AS SNOW-MAIDEN FASTENING BELT HOLDING OXYGEN TANK ANDREI RESHETNIKOV, DRESSED AS FATHER FROST, GOING UNDER WATER DMITRY ROZOV, DRESSED AS SNOW MAIDEN GOING UNDERWATER
- Embargoed: 12th January 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA42QJZRKVMVT1F140NDT9MBUFJ
- Story Text: Divers at Europe's largest Oceanarium in St. Petersburg bring visitors some festive cheer by dressing up as Russian Father Frost and the Snow Maiden and swimming with the sharks.
Out delivering presents in the snow and sub-zero temperatures and bringing seasonal joy to youngsters is what Father Frost and the Snow Maiden normally get up to during this time of year in Russia.
The Russian Father Frost looks much the same as his Western counterpart Santa Claus - minus the red outfit, sleigh, and reindeers of course. But he and the Snow Maiden seem to work longer days than Santa, and put in those extra hours to cover the period over New Year, leading up to Orthodox Christmas which is marked on Jan. 7.
The pair were spotted in St. Petersburg recently, where they broke with tradition and swam with the sharks, and other sea creatures at Europe's largest Oceanarium.
"I couldn't believe that the shark didn't eat them," said Sasha, a young visitor to the oceanarium, sounding just a little disappointed.
The event was organised by some of the professional divers working at the oceanarium, as part of seasonal festivities.
"We have not just a Snow Maiden but an experienced diver, and it is not the first time he is going to swim with sharks, so nothing special about it," said Andrei Reshetnikov, a diver who dressed up as Father Frost.
The sharks were not surprised to see the unusually outfitted divers, because they identified Reshetnikov and fellow diver Dmitry Rozov, by their smell.
"They feel from the smell that under the Snow Maiden outfit is the same person; they know everyone by smell," said Rozov who dressed up as the Snow Maiden. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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