A New Year’s tale. Дмитрий Май

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      Дмитрий Май

      © Дмитрий Май, 2024

      ISBN 978-5-0062-9016-7

      Created with Ridero smart publishing system

      Tales

      Baba Yaga’s New Year’s Gift

      In the depths of the forest, where tall trees grew and snow fell thickly, lived the witch Baba Yaga. She was a strange and mysterious creature who was feared by everyone who knew her name. But it was on this New Year’s Eve that she had a gift for one lucky mortal.

      When the clock struck midnight, Baba Yaga stirred the potion boiling in the cauldron with a spoon, holding it with her long bony fingers. The liquid glowed with a faint blue light, casting eerie shadows on the walls of her hut. Giggling, the witch poured a small portion into an elegant glass bottle.

      «This potion will fulfill your heart’s desire,» she croaked to the first person who knocked on her door. «But keep in mind, you’ll have to pay for it.»

      So, in a nearby village there lived a young girl named Anastasia. She always dreamed of becoming a great artist, but no matter how hard she tried, her paintings turned out to be boring and inexpressive. Her parents urged her to give up her silly notions and focus on more practical pursuits, such as marriage or cooking.

      Anastasia spent New Year’s Eve alone, shedding tears of disappointment. As soon as the clock struck twelve, she heard a rustle outside the window. The girl opened it and saw that Baba Yaga was standing in front of her, handing her a bottle of potion as an offering.

      «Drink this, my child,» the witch ordered. «And your artistic talents will be second to none.»

      Anastasia hesitated, afraid of the price promised by Baba Yaga. But the desire to create beautiful works of art overcame her doubts. She took a deep breath and swallowed the potion.

      Her senses were immediately filled with colors and textures unlike anything she had ever experienced. Her brush moved across the canvas with smooth grace, creating masterpieces that stunned even her. Her parents, who were skeptical of her talent, now admired her skill and encouraged her to continue painting.

      Years passed, and Anastasia became famous throughout the country for her exquisite works of art. People followed her everywhere, hoping to catch a glimpse of her latest creations. And although she never forgot about the gift that Baba Yaga gave her, she never saw the witch again.

      However, every time she drew, she felt the presence of a witch lurking in the background, watching her with a kind of perverted pride. Baba Yaga’s gift had to pay a high price – Anastasia’s soul belonged to the witch forever.

      And so, every time she created something truly wonderful, a small part of her slipped away, carried away into the dark and mystical world of Baba Yaga.

      The wolf saved the New Year

      When the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, the city of Snezhinsk was filled with joy and celebration. People gathered in the streets, laughing and cheering, welcoming the New Year. But the general merriment faded – a shadow hung over the city. An evil wizard cast a spell that threatened to ruin the holiday and plunge the city into darkness.

      Just when it seemed that all hope was lost, a lone figure appeared on the outskirts of the city. It was a wolf, its fur matted and dirty from the journey. He heard about the wizard’s plan and came to stop him. At first, the townspeople were skeptical about this, but soon the determination and bravery of the wolf conquered them. Together, they set off on a journey to confront the evil wizard and save the New Year.

      The wizard’s lair was deep in a dark forest, surrounded by traps and spells. But that didn’t stop the wolf. The ground shook with every step he took, and snow fell from the branches of the shaking trees. The wizard, realizing the wolf’s power, tried to use his magic to defeat him. But the wolf was too fast, he easily dodged attacks.

      Finally, the wolf reached the wizard’s throne room. The wizard mocked him, considering himself the winner. But the wolf had the last trump card up his sleeve. With a ferocious growl, he gathered all his strength and rushed at the wizard, knocking him down. The spell was broken, and the city of Snezhinsk was safe again.

      People rejoiced, thanking the wolf for his heroism. The wolf became a legend, forever remembered by people as the savior of Snezhinsk. His bravery and dedication will never be forgotten, and the townspeople have made sure to always honor his memory on this special day.

      The story of Cheburashka and the Snowman

      A long time ago, in a small village located in the heart of a winter wonderland, there lived a kind-hearted snowman named Frosty and his best friend, a mischievous little creature named Cheburashka (which means «fur hat»). They spent their days making fun of each other and having fun in the snow in every possible way.

      One day, wandering through the village, they came across a group of children huddled together and shivering from the cold. The kids’ faces lit up with joy when they saw Frosty and Cheburashka approaching them. Children have heard stories about these magical friends who brought sweets to people on cold winter evenings.

      Frosty and Cheburashka exchanged knowing glances, and then began to dance and circle around the children, showering them with magical snowflakes. Touching the tongues of the children, they turned into delicious orange slices! The children cheered and clapped their hands, overjoyed with this treat.

      As word of the friends spread through the village, more and more people came to Frosty and Cheburashka, wanting to try their magic oranges. Soon the whole city was filled with laughter and happiness, its residents were enjoying the sweetest winter in history.

      But one grumpy old man refused to join in the fun. He frowned at Frosty and Cheburashka and said: «I don’t believe in your stupid tricks!»

      Undeterred, Frosty and Cheburashka decided to visit the grumpy old man’s house and show him the true meaning of joy. They danced and sang under his window, scattering their magical snowflakes all over the garden. To their surprise, the grumpy old man came out of his house. When he tasted the magical orange snowflakes, his frowning expression was replaced by a wide smile! From that day on, the grumpy old man became the happiest man in the city, participating in all the winter holidays together with Frosty, Cheburashka and the rest of the residents.

      So every year, in the coldest months, Frosty and Cheburashka gathered to celebrate the magic of winter, sharing delicious oranges and endless laughter with people. The legend of the magical snowman and his furry companion lives on to this day, reminding everyone that even the coldest times can be made warm and bright through friendship and joy.

      The bear brought the New Year

      In the heart of the forest, where tall and proud trees stood, there lived a big fluffy bear named Boris. He was known for his kindness and generosity, and all the animals in the forest looked at him as their leader. When the year was coming to an end, Boris had an idea – he wanted to celebrate the new year in a special way, so that it would bring joy and happiness to all his friends.

      Boris spent days preparing for the holiday, picking berries and nuts, making ornaments from branches and leaves. On the last day of the old year, he climbed to the top of the tallest tree and shouted to all the animals below: «Listen, listen! It’s time to ring in the New Year!»

      With these words, Boris began to dance, his huge paws beat the rhythm on the branches, and his tongue swung back and forth like a metronome. He was joined by other animals, each of which added its own unique sound to the celebration – birds chirped and trilled, rabbits tapped their paws, and squirrels squeaked.

      When the clock struck midnight, Boris reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bell. It rang loudly, and the sound echoed through the forest, heralding the beginning of the new year. The animals were delighted and hugged each other, grateful for another year of life and friendship.

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