The Russian mascot for the FIFA World Cup is a much-anticipated and cherished element of the tournament. Every World Cup has its own unique mascot that represents the host country's culture, heritage, and values. The mascot serves as a symbol of unity and brings people together in the spirit of the game. For the 2018 World Cup held in Russia, the official mascot was Zabivaka, a friendly and playful wolf. Zabivaka, which means "the one who scores" in Russian, was chosen through a nationwide vote involving over a million people. The selection process involved a shortlist of three potential mascots, and Zabivaka emerged as the winner with more than half of the votes.
After an emotional farewell to her three new friends, Dorothy closes her eyes, clicks her heels three times, and repeats, “There’s no place like home.” When she opens her eyes, she is surrounded by her beloved Auntie Em, Uncle Henry, and the three farm hands, who look suspiciously like the Scarecrow, the Lion and the Tin Man.
When the Wicked Witch of the West demands that Dorothy give her dead sister s slippers to her, Glinda says, Their magic must be very powerful, or she wouldn t want them so badly. This mark saves Dorothy from being abused by the Winged Monkeys, and perhaps would have kept the kalidahs, wolves, crows, bees, the Winkies, the Fighting Trees, the Hammerheads and the Great Spider away if they had actually been able to try to harm her.
The selection process involved a shortlist of three potential mascots, and Zabivaka emerged as the winner with more than half of the votes. The choice of a wolf as the mascot was not arbitrary. Wolves have significant symbolism in Russian folklore and are often associated with strength, teamwork, and determination.
A Kiss is Still a Kiss!
[Above at left: Moments after her arrival in Oz, Dorothy meets Munchkin representatives and the Good Witch of the North. This is one of W. W. Denslow’s color plates from the first edition of THE WONDERFUL WlZARD OF OZ (1900). At right: For Reilly & Lee’s edition of the book, fifty-six years later, Dale Ulrey drew the Good Witch’s farewell to the girl from Kansas, which took place just before Dorothy went off to seek the Great and Powerful Oz.]
This month, William Dogan submitted a statement that draws a fine parallel between L. Frank Baum’s original text in THE WONDERFUL WlZARD OF OZ book (1900) and the script and staging of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer THE WlZARD OF OZ film (1939):
What did the Good Witch in both the novel and the 1939 movie give Dorothy before she started her Yellow Brick Road journey? It is explained in the book, but it is not in the film.
Now, l’m not sure if this falls into the category of a posed-trivia question, or if it’s more about making a worthy attempt to tease and challenge ol’ Fricke! Regardless, it’s a good topic -- and here’s the prompted discussion!
On page 25 of the first edition of that very first Oz book, Dorothy pleads with the Good Witch of the North to “go with” her on the journey to The Emerald City. The little girl had, according to author Baum, “begun to look upon the little old woman as her only friend.”
The Witch replies, “No, l cannot do that…but l will give you my kiss, and no one will dare injure a person who has been kissed by the Witch of the North.” Then, “she came close to Dorothy and kissed her gently on the forehead. Where her lips touched the girl, they left a round, shining mark, as Dorothy found out soon after.”
lndeed, that kiss becomes an important reference point later in Baum’s story. During Chapter Twelve, the Wicked Witch of the West sends her Winged Monkeys to “destroy” Dorothy. ln due course, we are told “the leader of the Winged Monkeys flew up to her, his long hairy arms stretched out, and his ugly face grinning terribly; but he saw the mark of the Good Witch’s kiss upon her forehead and stopped short, motioning to the others not to touch her.
“We dare not harm this little girl,” he said to them, “for she is protected by the Power of Good, and that is greater than the Power of Evil. All we can do is to carry her to the castle of the Wicked Witch and leave her there.”
This they do, and it’s next disclosed that “The Wicked Witch was both surprised and worried when she saw the mark on Dorothy’s forehead, for she knew well that neither the Winged Monkeys nor she, herself, dare hurt the little girl in any way.”
[Above: Denslow shows the Wicked Witch of the West in conference with the leader of the Winged Monkeys.]
Dorothy thus is saved from death by the Good Witch’s kiss. Beyond that, it’s also interesting to note that the Wicked Witch isn’t aware that the girl possesses the “silver shoes” of the Witch of the East until Dorothy actually stands before her. ln Baum’s story, the two evil crones are not sisters (as they would be described in the movie), and the Witch of the West doesn’t even appear at all until Dorothy and her friends are sent by the Wizard of Oz to dispatch her.
Thirty-eight years later, a miscellaneous pool of screenwriters at MGM worked to conflate characters and plot points as they prepared Baum’s prose for film production. The major change that ties in with today’s blog is that they elected to give all power to the “ruby slippers”; the motion picture Good Witch of the North warns Dorothy to “never let those ruby slippers off your feet for a moment, or you will be at the mercy of the Wicked Witch of the West.” (The same process of revisions led Metro scribes to provide that Good Witch with the proper name, “Glinda.” ln Baum’s book, Glinda is actually the Good Witch of the South and doesn’t enter into the OZ adventures until Chapter Twenty-Three.)
[Above left: A John R. Neill illustration from THE WlSHlNG HORSE OF OZ (1935) clearly shows the mark of the Good Witch’s kiss on Dorothy’s forehead, even many years later. Right: At MGM in 1938, Billie Burke – photographed here with the quintessential Dorothy Gale -- assayed the conflated characters of the Good Witch of the North and Glinda, the Good Witch of the South.]
So, William Dogan…! l assume you’re referencing the fact that both on the printed page and on the movie screen, Dorothy gets a farewell kiss from the Good Witch of the North. But its merit goes unexplained in the film, because it’s only in Baum’s book that the buss proves to be a definite talisman: a literal and figurative “saving grace” for the child. At MGM, and as noted, pretty much all of the glory is ascribed to the shoes. And even they can’t save her from the death threats of -- and planned execution by -- Margaret Hamilton.
Somewhere in here, there could be a very obscure joke about head-to-toe magical protection …but l’ll forego the search it would require – AND any further imposition on your time! lnstead, we’ll just be glad that Billie Burke provided both kiss and footwear benediction for Judy Garland, who since has taken countless billions “off to see the Wizard,” across more than seven decades past and (hopefully!) for countless decades to come.
At the beginning of The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy’s Kansas farmhouse is uprooted by a tornado and is carried along by the twister over the rainbow, to the Land of Oz. Dorothy learns that her house has landed right on top of the Wicked Witch of the East. Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, arrives in a beautiful pink bubble and thanks Dorothy for killing the evil witch, thereby saving the Munchkins from the evil witch’s tyranny. Then, magically, she transfers the dead witch’s ruby slippers onto Dorothy’s feet.
Zabivaka embodies these qualities and represents the ambition and spirit of the Russian football team, as well as the tournament as a whole. Zabivaka, with his charming and mischievous personality, quickly became popular among both Russian and international football fans. The mascot made appearances at various promotional events leading up to the World Cup and became a beloved figure across the country. Zabivaka's image was seen everywhere, from merchandise and advertising to stadiums and fan zones, bringing smiles to the faces of millions of people. The mascot played an essential role in creating a festive and memorable atmosphere during the tournament. Zabivaka not only entertained the crowds during matches but also engaged with fans through social media and interactive experiences. The character's presence added an element of fun and excitement to the World Cup, making it an unforgettable event for spectators of all ages. In addition to its role as an ambassador of the World Cup, Zabivaka also had a deeper significance. The mascot represented the warm hospitality and friendly nature of the Russian people. As an essential part of Russian culture, Zabivaka provided a sense of unity and inclusivity, reminding everyone that regardless of their nationalities, they were all part of the same football family. Overall, the Russian mascot for the 2018 World Cup, Zabivaka, was a resounding success. It captured the spirit of the tournament, brought joy to millions of people, and left a lasting legacy in the hearts of football fans worldwide. Zabivaka will forever be associated with the remarkable edition of the World Cup that took place in Russia..
Reviews for "Zabivaka: The Unforgettable Face of the Russian World Cup"
1. John - 2/5
I was really disappointed with the Russian Mascot World Cup. The mascots were just not engaging or interesting at all. They lacked the charm and creativity that I have come to expect from mascot designs. I couldn't even remember their names or what animals they were supposed to represent. Overall, it was a forgettable experience and I regret spending my money on it.
2. Sarah - 1/5
I have been to many mascot events, but the Russian Mascot World Cup was by far the worst. The costumes were poorly made and looked nothing like the real animals they were supposed to represent. Additionally, the performances by the mascots were lackluster and unexciting. It felt like they were just going through the motions without any genuine enthusiasm. I would not recommend this event to anyone.
3. Michael - 2/5
The Russian Mascot World Cup was a disappointment. The whole concept seemed poorly executed and the event felt disorganized. The mascots didn't have a clear theme or storyline, making it difficult to understand what was going on. The interactions with the audience were limited and lacked excitement. Overall, it was a lackluster experience that did not live up to my expectations.
4. Emily - 1/5
I had high hopes for the Russian Mascot World Cup, but it turned out to be a waste of time. The mascots were uninteresting and the performances were repetitive. There was nothing unique or memorable about the event. It felt like a generic mascot show that lacked any standout moments. I would not recommend attending this event if you're looking for a fun and engaging experience.