Imagine a pageant…

…with critters and clowns; time travelers and tango dancers; Student of the Month awards and a teachers’ Cutest Miss contest; Cinderella and a quite underaged Prince Charming… welcome to Mongolian New Years’!

That’s “Father Winter,” the Mongolian Santa Claus. His outfit is a marvelous mix of Mongolia and the West. Santa wears a traditional silk robe, sash boots, and hat. But they are all in red and white. Plus, he’s added pompoms and a cape.

Father Winter’s girlfriends, the Snow Maidens.

Meet the Snow Boys! My little imps, of course.

I kid you not about the length of Mongolian rat-tails. This boy’s tinted his red for good measure.

The 7th grade boys practice their merengue.

Fourth graders … or bad-ass glam-rockers?