Baboushka was an old, childless woman. She lived in seclusion in a large house, far from a village. One cool evening, as she was scrubbing the hallway, three wise men knocked on her door and asked the old woman if she would like to come with them to welcome the newborn royal child. Baboushka declined, using the excuse that her hallway was not yet clean enough. Instead, she invited the men to stay overnight in her house as guests. The men, however, set off again to see the holy child. Later in the evening, the woman regretted her decision and unsuccessfully set out to search for the strangers.
It is said that the old woman is still searching and wanders from place to place. On the night of January 6th, the woman gives gifts to children in the hope that they can show her the way to the baby Jesus.
Baboushka means grandmother and is the Russian version of St. Nicholas.