Since the 1880s, the Christmas customs of Eastern European Slavic countries have included a similar character known as Ded Moroz (”Grandfather Frost”).

According to legend, he travels in a magical troika — a decorated sleigh drawn by three horses. With his young, blond assistant Snegurochka (the Snow Maiden, said to be his granddaughter) at his side, he visits homes and gives gifts to good children.

He only delivers presents to children while they are asleep, and unlike Santa, he does not travel down chimneys, coming instead to the front door of children’s homes. It is traditional for children to leave food for Ded Moroz just as American and British children do.

This Ded Moroz is not identified nor in any way associated with St. Nicholas of Myra, who is very widely revered in Eastern Europe more for his clerical and charitable works as a Bishop. In all likelihood, Ded Moroz is actually in Slavic tradition like the Santa Claus or some similar figure, any connection to the original saint long since disappeared.

Source: Wikipedia