Ayaz Ata
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 | |
| Creature information | |
|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Ayaz Baba, Şaxta Baba, Chyskhaan, Kysh Babay |
| Similar entities | Ded Moroz, Santa Claus, Sinterklaas, Amu Nowruz |
| Folklore | Turkic |
| Origin | |
| Region | Central Asia, North Asia, Caucasus, Volga Region, Anatolia |
| Habitat | Central Asia, North Asia, Volga Region |
Ayaz Ata (Uzbek: Ayoz Bobo, Kyrgyz: Аяз ата, romanized: Ayaz ata, Kazakh: Аyaz Ata, Turkmen: Aýaz Baba, Bashkir: Ҡыш Бабай, romanized: Qış Babay, Tatar: Кыш бабай, romanized: Qış babay, Azerbaijani: Şaxta Baba, Yakut: Чысхаан, romanized: Çısxân) is a winter god originating from Tengrism and a fictional tale character that serves as the Turkic counterpart to Santa Claus and Ded Moroz.
The literal translation of the name would be Frost Father, although the name is often translated as Grandfather Frost. He is the winter god in Tengrism and according to Turkic mythology is created of Moon light, caused by cold weather and associated with bringing snow, protecting people from too cold weather and "waking the nature up from its sleep".[1]
Features
Literary depictions of Ayaz Ata commonly show him accompanied by Kar Kız (Tatar: Кар Кызы or Qar Qızı means "Snow Girl" or "Snow Maiden"), his granddaughter and helper, sometimes with influence of Slavic Snegurochka,[2] who is often depicted in long silver-blue robes and a furry cap or a snowflake-like crown. She is a unique attribute of Ayaz Ata because no traditional gift-givers from other cultures, besides Ded Moroz, are portrayed with a similar companion.