Deep, deep in the densest forest, in the most remote ancient woods, there lived a grandmother and her granddaughter Nastya. Little Nastya was a good and hardworking girl with a big, kind heart.
One winter evening, sitting by the fireplace, the grandmother was knitting socks for her granddaughter, while Nastya read her a fairy tale. Suddenly, someone tapped softly on the window. The girl looked out. In the darkness, she made out her friend, a little rabbit named Snezko. How white and fluffy he was! The girl threw a shawl over her shoulders and went outside.
Hello, Snezko. Why are you out so late?
Little Nastya asked.
Hi there!
Looking around nervously and trembling with fear, the little rabbit began his story.
We rabbits have a big problem! We all changed into our white winter coats, but there's no snow, and now the foxes and wolves can see us from a mile away. How can we decorate the New Year tree, how can we invite Grandfather Frost to dance around it? Can there really be a New Year without snow? Maybe Winter forgot to do her job or got sick?
The frightened rabbit chattered away with questions.
Don't worry, we'll think of something.
Nastya said reassuringly.
What if we write a letter to Winter?
They went inside and began composing a letter. They asked Winter for lots of white snow, weightless snowflakes, and crisp frost, so that all the little forest creatures could joyfully celebrate the New Year.
But how will we deliver the letter? Who knows where Winter lives?
The little white rabbit worried.
We'll send the message with a sparrow. He's fast and nimble, he'll surely find the way.
The girl decided.
The sparrow agreed to help his friends, took the letter, and flew north.
Winter had indeed forgotten about her duties. With a cup of hot tea and fragrant fresh buns, she sat by the television watching her favourite cartoons. Meanwhile, the snowflakes were bored in the storage room. They so wanted to go outside and play with the blizzard! Frost was also sad—December was ending, and he hadn't yet nipped the cheeks of the children.
The sparrow was so tired from the long journey that, perching on the branch of a large oak tree, he fell asleep. The letter immediately fell from his beak. It tumbled right into the bear's den.
Oh, I almost slept through New Year! Grandfather Frost must have sent me a gift.
The bear was delighted and climbed out of his den. He looked around and was surprised:
But where is the snow?
The bear decided to go back to sleep, but heard someone crying softly.
Raising his head, he saw a little sparrow.
Why are you crying so bitterly, little one?
The bear asked.
The sparrow told the bear that Nastya had written a letter to Winter. About how she wanted to help the forest creatures celebrate a snowy New Year holiday with carols and Grandfather Frost.
Alright then, I'll take the letter to Winter myself.
The bear said without hesitation.
Holding the letter firmly in his paw, the bear set off to find Winter. He walked through the forest for so long that he became very tired. He sat on a stump to rest. Suddenly, a wind gust came and snatched the letter from his paw, carrying it away.
The bear was upset and asked the reindeer for help:
Perhaps you, swift-footed one, know where Winter lives? Will you take this letter from all the animals to her?
The reindeer rushed after the letter, caught it, and set off on his journey. By evening, he reached the icy cottage.
He knocked on the door with his hoof, waited for an invitation to enter, and handed the message to Winter.
And then a miracle happened!
Opening the storage room door, fluffy snow and snowflakes covered everything around, frost froze the rivers and lakes, and painted beautiful patterns on the windows of houses.
Winter had so much work to do! She dressed the trees in white coats, the bushes in shawls, and covered the ground with snow.
Little Nastya stepped outside, and there it was—real winter, a true white and sparkling fairy tale!
The girl took a basket with apples and candies and went to find her poor friend Snezko. It was time to decorate the forest's beautiful New Year tree.
And on the clearing, work was already in full swing! After all, the white rabbits no longer feared either the wolf or the fox.
Gathering all the animals in a circle dance, the happy little rabbits congratulated everyone on the New Year and waited for Grandfather Frost's arrival!
