THE SNOW MAIDEN

The Snow Maiden (Snegurochka) is a character in Russian fairy tales. According to my favorite version of her story she was the daughter of Spring the Beauty and Father Frost, and yearns for the companionship of mortal humans. She grows to like a shepherd named Lel, but her heart is unable to know love. Her mother takes pity and gives her this ability, but as soon as she falls in love, her heart warms and she melts. This version of the story was made into a play The Snow Maiden by Aleksandr Ostrovsky, with incidental music by Tchaikovsky
In another version, childless Russian peasants Ivan and Marya made a snow doll, which came to life. Snegurka grows up quickly. A group of girls invite her for a walk in the woods, after which they make a small fire and take turns leaping over it. When Snegurka's turn comes, she starts to jump, but only gets halfway before evaporating into a small cloud.