Deep, deep in the thickest 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 human heart.
One winter evening, sitting by the fireplace, grandmother was knitting socks for her granddaughter, while Nastya read her a fairy tale. Suddenly, someone quietly knocked on the window. The girl looked out. In the darkness, she made out her friend, a little rabbit named Snezhok. How white and fluffy he was! The girl threw a shawl over her shoulders and went outside.
Hello, Snezhok. Why are you out so late?
Little Nastya asked.
Hey there!
Looking around and trembling with fear, the little rabbit began his story.
We rabbits have a big problem! We all changed into our winter white 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 the circle dance? Can there even 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.
Little 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 animals could joyfully celebrate the New Year.
But how will we deliver the letter? Who knows where Winter lives?
The little white coward 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 pastries, she sat by the television watching her favorite cartoons. Meanwhile, the snowflakes were bored in the pantry. They so wanted to go outside and play with the blizzard! Frost was also sad—December was ending, and he hadn't yet pinched the cheeks of the children.
The sparrow was so tired from the long journey that, landing on the branch of a large oak tree, he fell asleep. The letter immediately fell from his beak. It landed right in the den of the Bear.
Oh, I almost slept through the New Year! Grandfather Frost must have sent me a gift.
The bear rejoiced 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 animals arrange a snowy New Year celebration with circle dances 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 traveled through the forest for so long that he became very tired. He sat on a stump to rest. Suddenly, a wind came up, snatched the letter from his paw, and carried it away.
The bear was upset and asked the reindeer for help:
Maybe you, swift-footed one, know where Winter lives? Will you take this letter to her from all the animals?
The reindeer rushed after the letter, caught it, and set off on a journey. By evening, he was at 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 pantry door, fluffy snow with 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 earth with snow.
Little Nastya went 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 Snezhok. It was time to decorate the forest's New Year beauty.
And on the clearing, work was already in full swing! The white rabbits no longer feared the wolf or the fox.
Gathering all the animals in a circle dance, the happy little rabbits congratulate everyone on the New Year and await the arrival of Grandfather Frost!
