Handmade folk dolls amulets. Slavic amulets and their meaning

Know how our ancestors defended themselves from Likh or Tryasovits, attracted good luck and maintained health.

The Russian word “doll” comes from the Greek “kyklos” (“circle”). This name denoted a certain bundle or bundle of straw, which girls loved to swaddle and rock, showing maternal instinct.

Fun facts:
The skill of creating dolls goes back to ancient times. The dolls found in Egyptian graves are about four thousand years old. Egyptian women made figurines of the god Osiris from clay and knew how to create humanoid figures from wax or wood. They had movable joints and hairstyles made of natural hair. Historians call Cleopatra one of the first owners of a collection of designer dolls. In the palace, dolls played the role of mannequins; the queen ordered her ceremonial outfits based on their vestments.
In France in the 17th century, dolls were dressed in the latest fashion; they were considered a stylish gift and an example of newfangled trends.

In pagan Rus', gods were carved out of wood and rag and straw amulets were created. They were an important part of the life of the Slavs. They were worshiped and used as a means of protection against negativity. After a while, hand-made characters began to decorate everyday life, please the eye and keep the children occupied.

The primary task of a Slavic folk doll is to attract what is desired for a specific person or family. It was used in magical rituals and as a participant in the most significant events in life, as well as for holidays. Thus, “lovebirds” were made for newlyweds - two dolls from one piece of fabric with a common hand. And with the “Kuvadka” doll, the husband imitated the process of childbirth in order to protect the newborn from dark forces. When creating the dolls, only natural materials were used, prepared in a good mood.

Fun fact:
Initially, the making of amulets was exclusively the prerogative of women. Men at this moment should not have been present even somewhere nearby. It was believed that only the keeper of the hearth was able to make a truly strong amulet and put a particle of living energy into it. The girl's readiness for marriage was determined by her skill in creating the first doll.

Slavic dolls made of wood

Beregin dolls were carved by men for their beloved women from branches of sacred trees broken by the wind. The spiral of the origin of life and symbols of female fertility were applied to the miniature wooden figurine. The husband put such a doll in a linen amulet, which the woman wore on her belt, so that there would be healthy children in the family.

Slavic straw dolls

Folk dolls “Horse-Fire” made of talash and bast. Photo: A. Stepanov / Photobank Lori

Six-handed straw doll

Straw was most often used to make guardian spirits and animals. Leshy, brownie or vodyanoy were carefully decorated and used as ritual dolls at Slavic holidays. They helped solve family problems, restored health by transferring diseases to the figurine and then burning it.

To keep up with housework, women made six-handed dolls from straw. During the process of their creation they were sure to say: “I make you successful in all things and do them well. I turn this handle so that there will always be order, peace and comfort in my house. I turn this hand so that my husband is always well-groomed and happy with everything.”

Slavic thread dolls

Creating a doll-amulet from threads

Traditional Russian amulets made from natural material. Photo: Svet / Photobank Lori

Even small children could make reel dolls from threads, which, in addition to the beneficial magical properties, contributed to the development of fine motor skills. They were worn as a talisman on the road and served as protective decoration for the corners of the house. The misfortunes, adversities and illnesses of the owner were wrapped around such beregins, as if they were a double.

Rag dolls-amulets

Most often in Ancient Rus', rag dolls-amulets were made, which served the owners throughout their lives. A ritual, or protective, doll was considered a powerful talisman for the benefit of the family.

Bereginie dolls were made without the use of needles and scissors, so that they could not harm their owners. The threads were torn off by hands or bitten by teeth. Even fabric was torn by hand in the old days. When they made the doll's breasts, they thought about happy motherhood and abundance. Bereginya was created on the hem, that is, on the knees, in the woman’s personal space, and not on the table, because it was considered a common place.

Each doll was made with a white or plain face, symbolizing the purity of thoughts and animation of the owners. During the creation process they said: “A bright head, clean, filled with goodness and love”. The Slavs never painted or embroidered the eyes, mouth and nose of their beregins, so that evil spirits would not move into them and evil thoughts would not be transferred.

grain

The process of creating a Zernovushka doll

Grains. Photo: G. Markov / Photobank Lori

She has several names - Krupenichka, Goroshinka, Zernushka or Zernovushka - and is considered the main doll in the family. During the creation process, it was traditionally filled with buckwheat grain. The first grains for the upcoming sowing were taken from the bag in her hands or from herself. After the end of the harvest season, the bag was filled with grain from the new harvest. Sometimes the bag was filled with other cereals: oats for strength, barley for satiety, rice for a holiday. Bereginya brought wealth to the family and made life full. She was dressed up and placed in the most prominent place - in the red corner of the hut next to the icons.

Doll for happiness and good luck

Making a doll for good luck. Photo: S. Lavrentiev / Lori Photobank

Ready-made amulet doll “for good luck”

The youngest and most charming doll differed from the rest in its long braid, symbolizing a long and carefree life. Moreover, the longer the braid, the greater the protective power of the bereginya. According to legend, women's hair contained life force.

Dreamcatcher

Amulet doll Traveler.

The dream guardian was always made in the spring. Such a doll was tied with an orange thread, symbolizing the rays of the sun, and a protective cross was embroidered on the chest with red thread. The “day-night” doll was made from figures of white and black fabric tied to each other. Hanging near the bed, it not only protected the peace of the night, but also charged with energy and joy for the coming day.

Since ancient times, folk dolls in Rus' have occupied a special place, because life is impossible without holidays, the performance of rituals, the preparation of national costumes and the use of various objects of applied art. Dolls were made not only for children, their main role was ritual.

A little history

The history of the folk doll, which was used on holidays or during folk rituals, goes back to those years when there was paganism in Rus'. Long before the Baptism of Rus', the Slavs celebrated the resurrection of Dazhdbog every spring, baking Easter cakes, which they then sacrificed to him. Even then, pysanka was a magical talisman of the ancient Slavs.

According to historians, with the introduction of the Orthodox religion, each pagan holiday gradually acquired Christian significance: the ancient holiday Kolyada (winter solstice) became the Nativity of Christ, Kupala (summer solstice) became the holiday of John the Baptist, Christian Easter coincided with the spring Slavic holiday called Velikden. The tradition of painting Easter eggs and baking Easter cakes also came from ancient celebrations of the Great Day.

From there arose the tradition of making ritual Easter dolls and motanka dolls, which are considered the most powerful amulets for women.

Types of dolls

The life of a Russian, or any other people, is impossible without rituals with national costumes, holidays and folklore. Ancient dolls were always made from various items that were at hand: straw, tree branches, pieces of fabric, rope, moss.

The types of folk dolls in Rus' were as follows:

1. Ritual - made for participation in rituals (agricultural, wedding, holiday).
2. Amulet dolls were made from ash, pieces of fabric, and birch twigs. The main rule in their manufacture was the absence of tools. Such dolls were made for a specific person or family, usually without a face (it was believed that a faceless doll could not harm people).
3. A folk play doll was made from materials found in the house (remnants of clothing), no larger than a fist.

Playing children's dolls

Playing folk dolls were made for small children so that they would have more fun with them. They were made only from natural materials: grass, pine cones, clay, charcoal, moss and fabric. All dolls had to be faceless so that the soul could not move into them, and they could not be used for witchcraft. Children's play dolls have always been protective in order to protect the child from evil spirits. Traditional rag dolls, made especially for children, had their own names:

• Ash doll - the first children's dolls were made from ash, which was taken from the hearth, then mixed with water and rolled into a ball to form a head; Such dolls were considered a strong amulet for a child.
• A friend doll was made so that the child would not be afraid to stay at home alone (for example, “bunny on the finger”, bird, spin dolls). Such a doll (folk) is a toy that was made by a grandmother together with her granddaughters, a mother together with her daughters, teaching them and at the same time accustoming them to creativity and hard work.
• The bird doll was made from a piece of bright fabric in the shape of a square, giving the shape of a bird using threads. Such birds are made small and hung in the corners of the house or above the child’s crib.
• A diaper - a doll swaddled with cloth, was placed in the baby's cradle to take on all the misfortunes from evil spirits.
• Senya-Malina, a doll with a sunny red mane, conveying the image of a handsome man in a bright shirt, was popular in the villages of Northern Pomerania, various fairy tales were written about him and was called the northern Munchausen.

Rag dolls

Starting at the age of five, girls themselves began to “twirl” their dolls under the guidance of their grandmother or mother. The folk rag doll was made from wool or cotton pieces of fabric, flax and multi-colored ribbons and threads. You only had to make a rag doll with a good mood and love. According to tradition, it was also customary to sing and talk, and make a wish.

Twist dolls (or another name for a column) are made by twisting a piece of fabric or a birch bark tube, onto which clothing parts are then put on: a shirt, a skirt, a sundress, a warmer; a braid of thread or yarn is made on the head, secured with a scarf.

When making all toys, it was forbidden to use threads and needles, as well as to paint the dolls' faces: it always remained pure white.

Ritual dolls

Folk ritual dolls were performed in compliance with ancient rules (without a needle and thread) for a specific ritual, and then burned (Maslenitsa, Kolyada), drowned (Kupavka) or buried in the ground (Likhomanka, Kostroma). Sometimes the dolls were then given to children to play with:

• Kostroma - made for Maslenitsa, it was placed for the entire holiday week, and then burned.
• An Easter doll (the head is made of an egg) and an Easter dove (always bright red) were used to decorate the house for Easter.
• Kupavka was made on the holiday of Ivan Kupala, then it was celebrated on the water, and by the way it floated (whether it went into a whirlpool, floated freely, or washed ashore), they predicted what the whole year would be like.
• Vesnyanka - friends gave to each other, calling for the imminent arrival of spring.
• Fertility - a doll depicting a mother of many children attracted wealth to the family.
• Fever dolls - usually 13 pieces were made to protect the child from diseases; they were displayed in a row on the stove.
• A nurse with large breasts, the bigger the better.
• The herbal pot, a useful doll filled with fragrant medicinal herbs, purified the air in the hut or above the baby’s cradle, driving away the spirits of disease (the grass needs to be changed every 2 years).
• Kuvad dolls were intended for men; during the birth of their wives, they provided protection with the help of magical rituals (kuvads) from evil spirits. Immediately after a happy birth, the dolls were burned in a cleansing ritual. Starting from the end of the 19th century, folk dolls began to be used in a different way: they were hung over the baby’s cradle as amulets or placed directly in the crib so that the baby could play in the absence of the mother (often there were several of them of different colors, they were a replacement for rattles).

Many ritual dolls were also protective.

Protective dolls

Traditionally, protective folk dolls were participants in family rituals: the birth of children, weddings, amulets against illness, death and funerals. There were a great many of them:

• Bell (invented in Valdai) is a doll that brings good news. She has 3 skirts according to the number of kingdoms and types of happiness (copper, silver, gold). Acts as a talisman that creates a good mood in the house. By giving a Bell to a friend, a person adds a joyful mood to him.
• Girl-woman (Shifter, Vertuha) - a doll with two heads, four arms and 2 skirts. Its secret is simple - one girl doll is hidden under the skirt of another - a woman and appears if she is turned over. Reflects the dual feminine essence: a young girl is beautiful, cheerful and carefree, then, after getting married, she becomes a woman (economic, caring, protecting her family, children and home).
• Lovebirds - amulets that protect married couples, are made on one hand as a symbol that the husband and wife will go through life together in joy and sorrow. According to established tradition, such lovebirds are hung after a church wedding at the head of the wedding procession, and after the wedding they are kept in the house as a talisman of family fidelity.

• Bereginya (family guardian) - hung over the front door to protect the house from evil spirits and the evil eye.
• Zernushka (Krupenichka) - consists of a bag of grain, symbolizing prosperity and a well-fed life.
• A plantain is a small (3-5 cm) doll with a knapsack in her hands (with a pinch of native soil or ash inside), which is intended to protect travelers.
• Cleansing doll - helps get rid of negative energy in the house.
• A doll-column “Fertility” (made differently in various Russian provinces and called by their names: Vladimir, Moscow, Kursk, etc.), several swaddling clothes were usually tied to its body so that the family would flourish and not fade away - given to the young for the wedding with good wishes.
• Ten-handed (has many hands) - helps the housewife manage everything around the house.

Motanka dolls

The Slavic motanka doll takes its origins from the Trypillian culture. Its basis is a twisted svarga, the prototype of which is represented in a variety of motifs on clay products found during excavations of burials of the Trypillian era.

Svarga is a symbol of movement, spiral and energy vortices, obtained by twisting and twisting, which has ritual significance. Instead of a face, she had a cross, which testified to her being outside of time and space. She is the archetype of the Great Goddess.

The motanka doll is made without the use of cutting or stabbing tools, only natural materials are taken: straw, herbs, flowers, corn cobs, grains, pieces of worn fabrics (you just need to make sure that the fabrics are from “lucky” old clothes), which were previously worn by loved ones People.

When making the body of the reel, no knots can be tied, the only exception being a small knot at the end, symbolizing the tying of the umbilical cord. While tying it, the craftswoman must make a wish and secure it with her strength. Sometimes arms are made separately, which are then tied to the body.

The outfit and headdress are made separately; it can be embroidered and decorated with lace. Each element has its own meaning:

• the skirt is a symbol of the earth, the wavy line on it is a connection with water;
• shirt - the trinity of the world;
• decorations on the head (ribbon, scarf) are a symbol of connection with the sky.

All separately made parts and decorations are manually wound to the body. Our ancestors were sure that if a doll is started, then it must be finished, otherwise misfortunes will come. Not a single woman left work unfinished, because she was afraid that this would bring trouble and illness to her family.

Folk Doll Museum

Since the 1990s, museums of folk dolls, telling about Russian puppet culture, began to appear in Russia and became very popular. Now there are already about 20 such projects operating in the country, some also represent original and antique copies:

• The Moscow Museum “Doll House” was created in 1993 through the efforts of Russian cultural figures (O. Okudazhava), has a collection of antique dolls, houses for dolls, an exhibition of folk and theatrical pieces.
• Museum of Unique Dolls (created in 1996 by Yu. Vishnevskaya) - contains a collection of specimens of the Russian Empire of the 19th-20th centuries, European dolls, Asian dolls, and toy houses.
• Museum of Folk Toys "Zabavushka" - presents collections of clay, straw, patchwork exhibits, and Russian folk dolls are also presented here.
• Museum of Toys in Sergiev Posad (founded in 1918 by collector N.D. Bartram) - exhibits a collection of ancient clay and wood products, porcelain dolls in Russian folk costumes, a collection of toys for the children of Russian Emperor Nicholas II;
• St. Petersburg Doll Museum - since 1998, presents collections of modern and folk exhibits, holds thematic exhibitions (40 thousand items are stored in the museum: dolls, furnishings, clothing, ethnographic items, souvenir items in historical costumes of various eras and peoples , original works of modern masters and designers).
• Museum-estate “Bereginya” (Kozlovo village, Kaluga region) - under the leadership of folk craftswoman Tarasova, 2,000 traditional dolls from all over Russia were collected; Among the exhibits are examples of traditional crafts (Gzhel, Filimonovskaya, Dymkovo, etc.), toys in the national costumes of the regions of Russia and the peoples of the world (40 countries).

Dolls in Russian folk costumes

For a long time, the clothing of a Russian woman had distinctive features and characteristics, by which one could determine her age and class, what region she came from, her occupation and whether she was married. Each Russian province differed in its own styles and colors in the formation of folk costume.

The Russian national outfit has one main feature - a simple silhouette that does not emphasize the shape of the body. This simplicity was balanced by a variety of colors in different parts of the clothing, in bright trim, embroidery and multi-color appliqués. The folk costume, which our ancestors wore until the beginning of the 20th century, was made taking into account not to hinder human movement and to be comfortable at any time of the year under different weather conditions. Structurally, the costume was made in such a way that there was almost no need for scissors or sewing. The main elements of clothing are a shirt (of different lengths: shorter for men, almost to the toes for women), a sundress or a skirt (poneva). The women embroidered all this very beautifully and decorated it with decorative elements. They always wore a scarf or kokoshnik on their heads.

Dolls in folk costumes, which were made by women in a specific region of Russia, were also distinguished by their appearance. Rag dolls were usually given to relatives to cement blood ties. Often clothes for toys also had features inherent in local costumes. An important principle by which folk dolls were made was that the costume could not be removed; the toy, together with the clothes, represented an integral image unique to it.

At the same time, the costume determined the ethnically specific type of doll, which could not be changed, assigning a certain role in children's amusements. For example, a toy in a pink sundress could not play the role of an adult married woman in the game, and a “wifey” doll could not be a bride.

Dolls from the "DeAgostini" series

A series that includes dolls in folk costumes, produced by the DeAgostini company, has gained great importance in the popularization of Russian folk costumes. The series consists of 80 issues, each of which contains not only a porcelain toy in the national costume of a certain region of the country, but also a description of the details of clothing, the history of the location, traditions and customs of the region and other interesting information.

A traditional Russian folk doll is a holistic idea of ​​our Slavic ancestors about the structure of the world and the universe, expressed through folk art and handicrafts, which supported a person in his spiritual life.

The amulet doll is an ancient, mysterious and mysterious symbol of the Slavs.
In ancient times, a doll was not just a toy, but a talisman and an integral attribute of various rituals. Age of the oldest doll,
found by scientists during excavations of burials in the Czech Republic is 40 thousand years old.
Amulet dolls protect the home and children from dark forces, quarrels, diseases, and the evil eye. The dolls are carefully protected. They are given a special place in the house, placed in a red corner, hidden in a chest, and placed in a dowry.
Each doll has its own protective meaning and is associated with the main significant things and events in the life of a Russian person - Family, Family, Home, Happiness, Health, Prosperity.
In modern home rituals, the doll serves to level the energy-informational, psychoenergetic field of the entire family. As an esoteric and meditative object, it gives a person confidence, balance, and a sense of security. The doll, with its presence, gently creates a good emotional background.
When a doll appears in your home, you will immediately feel how the atmosphere in it will change. She will bring comfort and warmth. And most importantly, the inner world begins to change for the better, and behind it, life completely!

Slavic ritual doll Babka.
A grandmother was given to a young woman who had recently gotten married, with the words: “A woman does not sit idle!!!” Grandma was passed down as a symbol of wisdom and life experience. And the hands were tied to the basket, to the task. Her profile really turns out to be characteristic, demanding, but at the same time kind and funny. This is a Vyatka doll, it is not protective or playful, it is a gift.

Slavic protective doll Bereginya.

Beregini - protective dolls, are considered assistants to the housewives. Dolls with bags of happiness bring harmony and happiness to the home. Bereginya's doll is a symbol of prosperity and prosperity, and her large breasts are a symbol of satiety, health, the image of a married woman. This is the most ancient amulet doll.
Beregini are made only with good intentions and in a great mood. They can be given for entrances/housewarming, New Year, birthday, even a wedding as an addition.

Slavic amulet doll Grace.
The “Grace” doll was made and given as a gift with the words: “Don’t be sad, don’t be discouraged, don’t give up.” Doll for the blues; the wish for prosperity, well-being, satiety and healthy children - this is indicated by large breasts. This doll is made for well-being and people ask her for so many benefits,
how much do you need. “The Giver of Good” never gives up on doing good deeds; she helps us understand what is good for us and see it for ourselves in a changing world.

Slavic amulet doll Bogach.
Women of the Moscow region made a talisman - the Bogach's doll. Bogach looks like a simple bag, but in reality he is a faithful assistant. When creating the Rich Man, we thought about our family and ancestors with love and gratitude. Like any amulet, it was given a clear task, for example: profit and prosperity for the next year, protecting the well-being of the family, etc. After all, no matter how you look at it, it is the peasant who brings wealth to the house.

Amulet doll Herbal Pot.


The herbal pot is filled with fragrant medicinal herbs. The doll then makes sure that the disease does not enter the house; such a doll can be hung over the child’s bed and let him play. You can also leave it at the patient’s bedside. This doll is filled with fragrant medicinal herbs. You need to crush the doll in your hands, move it, and the herbal spirit will spread throughout the room, which will drive away the spirits of illness. After 2 years, the grass in the pupa must be changed. This is exactly what our ancestors did.

The most ancient protective doll of our ancestors is the Eye of God.
This is the most ancient protective doll of our ancestors - the Eye of God, or God's Eye. The cruciform composition expresses the idea of ​​spreading the forces of good or protective forces to all four cardinal directions. The “Eye of God” is placed above the entrance door to the house, room, above the child’s bed, in a place that is clearly visible to the person entering. The bright and unexpected image of the amulet attracts the attention of the person entering, who forgets about the bad intentions towards the owners of the house.

Slavic amulet doll Veduchka.
Veduchka is a type of wooden doll typical of Sergiev toys of the 19th century. Previously, such figurines depicted a nurse leading a baby - hence the local name veduchka (leading to life). She turns out to be not only Veduchka, but also a sorceress, like all mothers. This is the image of a woman with a child who has recently started walking. She supports him, teaches him, leads him. It seems to me even more that she doesn’t just teach him to walk “physically”, but brings him to life... The peculiarity of Veduchka is that the hands of mother and child are one whole.
The doll is a talisman for mother and child.

Slavic ritual doll Verbnitsa.
Making Easter dolls - "Verbnitsy" - is a more complex job than painting an Easter egg. The general manufacturing technology does not differ from the general manufacturing technology of rag dolls. However, Verbnitsa's face and hands are made of red cloth, symbolizing Easter and Renaissance. Such a doll is considered a gift and can replace an Easter egg. Since ancient times, such dolls were always prepared before the holiday.

Slavic play doll Vesnyanka.
The doll is as tall as the palm of your hand, and she has a reserve of strength, joy and young spring yari all the way to Kupala. Traditionally, she is very bright, with hair of an unusual color, because she depicted not a person, but the Spirit of awakening nature. She is a talisman of youth and beauty. By giving such a doll to a man, you wish him to remain young and cheerful for a long time, and for a woman to always be charming and desirable.

Slavic game doll Girl - Baba.
Some craftsmen consider this doll a talisman for a pregnant woman and her child. The design of the doll resembles the process of childbirth for a woman: first, the baby’s head, shoulders and arms appear. Therefore, it records the moment of the child’s birth. Before us is not just Baba - before us is a woman in labor. Our “game” with the “Girl-Baba” doll can now continue as long as desired: Baba gives birth to a Girl, we turn the doll over with the elegant side up - the beautiful Girl has grown up, the Girl turns into a Baba, etc.

Slavic amulet doll Day - Night.
“Day and Night” dolls are home amulets dolls. Dolls protect the change of day and night and order in the world. During the day they put the light one forward, and at night - the dark one. The “Day” doll is young, lively, active, hard-working and cheerful. She is the mistress of the day and makes sure that on weekdays people work, labor, on holidays they have fun, sing, dance, play, so that the sun shines during the day. The “Night” doll is wise, thoughtful, calm, she is the mistress of the night. Night is a magician. It changes both things and people. She brings another world. Everything is mysterious at night.

Slavic gift doll Ten Handles.
The “Ten-Handed” doll was designed to help the mistress of the house with household chores. Girlfriends gave such a doll to the bride for her wedding so that she could do everything and everything would go well for her. Such a doll has many, many hands, so that everything can be done smoothly, and there will always be order and prosperity at home. The Ten-Handed doll is a business assistant for girls who are going to get married and are preparing their dowry. And Ten Hands herself has the image of a young girl. Bright colored handles make it elegant and noticeable.

Slavic amulet doll Dolya.
The traditional Dolya amulet doll is the personification of fate. The most ancient female Deity Makosh endowed everyone with a share, and her assistants (Dolya and Nedolya, or Srecha and Nesrecha) spun the threads of fate for everyone.
Love and thank your Share, whatever it may be, create with your thoughts and hands! Look, gratitude and love will be answered in kind! May your Share be happy!

Slavic gift doll Zhelannitsa.


Every girl in the village had such a friend - the Zhelannitsa doll. It shouldn't have been shown to anyone. You used to make a wish, sew a bead on a doll’s dress as a gift, for example, and hold a mirror to her face: “Look how beautiful you are. And for a gift, fulfill my wish.” And then you hide your girlfriend in a secluded place for the time being... You may not believe it, but everything you asked was fulfilled.

Slavic healing doll Health.
The healing doll “Health” is made only from linen threads, since it is believed that linen, with its natural properties, is very environmentally friendly and, by taking the disease upon itself, helps a person get better.
This doll is not decorated with anything and does not tolerate fuss, but on the contrary, it must be made, trying to remain in a state of goodness as much as possible, concentrating on thoughts about the sick person for whom this is being done.

Slavic gift doll Bell.
The bell is a doll of good news. The doll has three skirts. Man also has three kingdoms. Copper, silver, gold. And happiness also consists of three parts. If the body feels good, the soul is happy, the spirit is calm, then the person is quite happy.
This doll is cheerful, playful, and brings joy and fun to the house. This is a talisman of good mood.
By giving a Bell, a person wishes his friend to receive only good news and maintains a joyful and cheerful mood in him.

Slavic ritual doll Kolyada.
This doll is a symbol of the sun and good relationships in the family. She was a portly woman, dressed in everything new and elegant. On her behalf, the carolers wished happiness and prosperity. Bags suspended from the belt contain bread and salt. A broom is tucked into his belt, which Kolyada uses to ward off evil spirits. Kolyada was left in the house for a year.
It was believed that she brings happiness, peace and harmony to the family. A year later, the carol was burned and a new one was made.

Slavic amulet doll Krupenichka - Zernovushka.






Krupenichki are amulets for satiety and prosperity in the family. These are amulets that, according to popular belief, bring wealth and well-being to the house, and help to achieve success in work and career. If you bring the grain doll into the house, it is better to find a place for it in the kitchen (closer to
refrigerator so that there is always a lot of tasty food there). If you work at home, then place it near your workplace. This girl should be well-fed and full, and you need to dress her as brightly as possible, then success and prosperity will never leave your home. Women also made this doll for
to have children in the family.

Slavic amulet dolls Kuvadki.
In ancient times, there was a ritual called “couvade,” the magic of which was associated with the mystery of the birth of a child. In some provinces, two weeks before the birth of the child, the expectant mother placed such a doll - a talisman - in the cradle so that the squash would heat the cradle for the baby. When the parents went to the field to work and the child was left alone in the house, he looked at these little dolls and played calmly. As a rule, these toys were small in size and all of different colors; this developed the baby’s vision.

Slavic ritual, healing doll Kupavka.
Kupavka represented the beginning of bathing. This is a doll for the holidays of Agrafena the Bathing Lady and Ivan Kupala. Kupavka is a healing and ritual doll. One day doll. The kupavka is made on birch branches with ribbons on the arms. Diseases, ailments, and ailments that happened to the owners during the year were tied with ribbons. The doll was lowered into the water and the doll, floating away, took with it illnesses and hardships. Water had great cleansing power.

Slavic ritual dolls Martinichki.
Martinichki are two dolls connected by a belt, twisted from threads - white and red, male and female. Red and white colors represent the fierce power of life and the will of the gods for this given life.
United male and female figures of different colors - the unity of two principles, the Slavic analogue of Yin-Yang. The name Martinichka already indicates that this doll was made in March. They “called” spring with it, brought its beginning closer, celebrated and rejoiced at its arrival.

Slavic ritual doll World Tree.
In addition to the lovebird dolls that “guarded” the wedding train, there were other “protector” dolls at Russian weddings. Among them, the “world tree” occupied a special place. In the old days, the Slavs likened the world to a tree, the roots symbolized the underground kingdom, the trunk - the world of living people, the crown - heaven (World Tree). The birth of a new family was likened to the birth of the World Tree of Life. The wedding cake was solemnly transported to the groom's house, pieces of it were distributed to the relatives of the bride and groom, which was seen as the unity of the related families, and the middle of the cake with the World Tree was given to the young people.

Slavic amulet doll Moskovka.
The Moskovka doll is a talisman for a strong, friendly family. She was kept somewhere higher in the house - on a closet, on a shelf - and was not given into the hands of anyone else.
The basis of the doll is a birch log or “rolling pin” made of fabric - a symbol of male power, and she herself is the archetype of the mother and symbolizes maternal care and love. If a woman in a family could not give birth, then a doll was made - Moskovka, so that with her stateliness and splendor she would help bring and embody in the family the spirit of happy motherhood and fatherhood.
According to popular belief, this doll helps make the desire to have a healthy child come true, and also protects good relationships in the family.

Slavic amulet doll for the road - Podorozhnitsa.


The doll is on its way. The hostess used to spin them for her husband on the road when he went hunting or fishing. She is very small, palm-sized. He held her in his fist. The wife put ash in the bundle - a symbol of the hearth, so that he would return safely to the house, or cereal - so that he would be well-fed on the road! The “On the Road” doll helps men not to break ties with home, with family, and to always feel the warmth and care of loved ones.

Slavic amulet doll Lovebirds.
Amulet doll - lovebirds. The history of this doll is interesting. At first glance, these are male and female dolls, which seem to be just a couple holding hands. But, if you look closely, you can see that they have one hand and are made of a single rag or stick, and, therefore, they cannot be separated. Such a hand was considered a symbol of unity and the fact that from now on
They will literally walk through life hand in hand, dividing all affairs and troubles in half.

Slavic Oberezhnik.
The guard is made from ribbons, aspen sticks, angel dolls, beads, leaves and other various little things that attract the eye.
In Rus', it was important to attract the attention of a person entering a house with bright, varied and shiny pendants in order to distract him from the bad thoughts with which he could enter your house. Seeing such beauty, a person became distracted, lost and forgot everything bad and evil that was on his mind.

Slavic amulet doll Cleansing.
According to tradition, the Cleansing Doll got rid of “bad” energy in the house. For example, after a family quarrel, a woman would open the windows and doors, pick up a doll and, using it as a symbolic broom, sweep all the negativity out of the hut. The doll was common to all Slavs and was found everywhere. The main thing (canonical) is the presence of a chest, legs and a protective cross in the lower part of the body.

Slavic protective doll Paraskeva.
The Paraskeva doll (from Greek Friday) in deep Slavic Vedicism was the female deity Makosh. This is one of the most powerful symbols. Goddess of family and fate and everything connected with their strengthening and well-being. Now Paraskeva is interpreted as an assistant in all works and crafts. Paraskeva is the custodian of small handicraft items. A kind of pincushion. You can tie pieces of braid, flagella, laces onto it, pin pins, needles, maybe sew on a button - all the little things that can be useful in needlework.

Slavic ritual doll Bird - Joy.
“Bird of Joy” is a doll of a spring ritual associated with the arrival of spring. Existed in the Tula province, the ceremony was carried out in March. Married women took part - they were the main participants in the ceremony, but girls could also participate. Women dressed in bright, elegant clothes. Headdresses in the form of birds were especially decorated. Decorated with feathers and fur trims. The women themselves took on the images of birds.

Slavic amulet doll Northern Bereginya.
The “Northern Bereginya” doll is a talisman for the home. It was placed in the northern corner of the hut. She protected and brought prosperity to the house. The multi-layered nature of this doll indicated many human bodies, many worlds, many incarnations of the soul. And she is called upon to protect all this.

Slavic amulet doll Simeon - Stylite.
This amulet is a symbol of the infinity of life, the masculine principle, without which the feminine is weak and barren. In order to protect and preserve his family, a man must stand firmly on the ground, be a pillar, a support for all the weak and defenseless. Later, a tradition arose of giving this amulet - the Simeon the Stylite doll - to men so that their strength would never run out.
Simeon adds strength to men.

Slavic amulet, ritual doll Spiridon - Solstice.
This is a male doll and is given to a man so that Spiridon-Solstice can help the owner of the house “steer” in his affairs. But it has one more meaning: This doll was made to bring about the desired changes in life. Spiridon, by turning the wheel, can change life, directing it in the right direction. This doll has also established itself as a good amulet for motorists and their cars.

Slavic amulet doll Happiness.
The Happiness doll is a folk amulet doll. This little girl with a very long braid and arms raised towards the Sun. The doll's braid is thick - health and long life. The doll stands firmly on its feet, leaning on its braid. This speaks of her strong support in life and the happiness that she will bring to her owner. The braid, as a symbol of femininity and feminine strength, symbolizes health, prosperity, beauty and long life.

Slavic gaming doll Uteshnitsa.
The Comforter doll was kept in reserve, out of sight, and was only given out as an ambulance in case of illness (or whims) to distract the baby. The Comforter was made from the brightest fabrics, and sweets were hung on the arms and belt. While the child was sick and inconsolable, the doll was with him. When calmed down, the doll was hidden behind the stove until the next time, possibly behind the image.

Slavic amulet doll Fillipovka (bast).

Ten Hands's older friend doll Fillipovka. This is a more serious and strong doll, an assistant to married women. And the Fillipovka doll itself is an adult and wise woman. The Fillipovka doll is not just a craftswoman and an assistant in business. She is a manager who takes care of her mistress, helps her in her work, in the skillful distribution of her strength and time, in the proper organization of work among family members or colleagues. With the help of the Fillipovka doll, we remember the main task of a woman - to be a caretaker and protector of her family.

Slavic ritual, play doll Ryabinka.
The Ryabinka doll is a symbol of female wisdom, motherhood, and home. The strongest amulet for your home from everything unwanted and negative. Amulet of love and health in your home. The Ryabinka doll is called the Warrior against all manifestations of evil.
Made on a rowan crosspiece, the doll has magical properties, such as relieving depression, removing damage from the evil eye, and protection from the energies of the dead world.

Slavic doll doctor - Autumn fever.
Traditional rag dolls Likhomanki are special dolls, they are a kind of bait. Their role is to attract the attention of the villainous disease that has flown into the house. Our grandmothers believed that the evil spirit of illness would fly into the house in search of its victim, see the bright, elegant Lichomaniac dolls, think that it was a person, and move into one of them. Therefore, Lichomaniac dolls are made from bright, very eye-catching fabrics.

Slavic protective doll Bannik.
People believe that the bannik lives and guards the bathhouse, just like a housekeeper, and after washing he is supposed to leave a broom, soap and water so that he can wash himself, otherwise he will get angry and will definitely spray boiling water, blow smoke into the bathhouse, or throw hot water at the bathhouse. stone.
For Russian people, the bathhouse was much more than today’s baths and showers. The bathhouse was the main hospital, a laundry, a maternity hospital, and a meeting place for important conversations. And the bannik itself is the most terrible yard evil spirit. Usually the bannik behaves hostilely if a person violates his prohibitions.

Doll "Wretched" or "Pitiful".

She portrayed a poor person. Only the Russian people have such a doll.
The poor thing is a play rag doll. Depicts a wretched old woman or holy fool: large head, small body, thin legs, shreds of fabric on the legs, no arms.
By playing with this doll, children were taught such qualities as compassion and perception of people as they are.

Each nationality or nationality has always had, has and will have its own special features. We are accustomed to the fact that this applies, first of all, to skin color, characteristic features of facial features, language, rules of behavior and social structure. But many unique things and objects are found in everyday life among many peoples. The Russian rag doll is one of the most striking proof of this.

The doll accompanied our ancestors all their lives. Even before the baby was born, a doll appeared at his future cradle to ward off evil spirits. Infancy, childhood, adolescence, adolescence, adulthood, old age - people lived all stages of life in the presence of dolls and their active participation. Even after death, the doll was nearby, accompanying the deceased to another world.

The Russian national doll participated in literally every action of a person’s life, and not only in festive events or the most important stages, but also in the most ordinary, routine ones. That is why dolls completely reflect the essence of a person’s life, and not just its manifestations. Understanding the doll and its character means learning the secret of the ancient Slavs - the mysterious Russian soul, incomprehensible to many other peoples.

Yes, that’s right, because the Russian traditional doll often remained the only protector, guardian, healer, adviser and interlocutor of a person. The doll was the first to be told secrets and share secret desires with it; it was she who kept the family hearth and well-being in the house, and only the doll took away all his illnesses and misfortunes from a person, taking them with him into fire or water. Therefore, people had an appropriate attitude towards dolls - they were loved, respected, honored and cherished.

Features of the Russian rag doll

The traditional Russian doll has its own characteristics, the main ones being the following:

• ritual dolls and amulets were made without the use of piercing and cutting objects;
• the dolls had no facial features;
• the doll did not have a personal name, there was only a name;
• the overwhelming advantage of female images for making dolls.

In order to make a rag doll, they used pieces of fabric torn from a whole roll or from clothing. This was done specifically without scissors, because by cutting off some flap or excess fabric from the doll, it was possible to deprive it of its integrity in a semantic sense. For the same reason, needles were not used; all parts were tied with threads or fastened with a knot.

Such requirements were mandatory in the manufacture of ritual dolls, amulet dolls and most gaming dolls. Gift options, especially those made from expensive fabrics, with expensive decorations could be sewn together using a needle to attach a large number of decorative details.

Despite this seemingly fragile design, rag Russian dolls, if handled properly, existed for several decades. Many families had ancestral dolls passed down from generation to generation. It seems that time itself gave them strength, prolonging the life of the puppet guards and beregins.

Eyes, noses, and lips were not drawn on the dolls' faces. This was done for two reasons. Firstly, there was no need for extra eyes and ears in the house, because through them evil spirits could penetrate the doll and then it itself would become a source of misfortune. Secondly, an unsuccessful facial expression will not only ruin the doll’s character, but will also leave it that way forever. Therefore, they came up with the face of the doll themselves, depending on the circumstances. Now, against the backdrop of a huge number of modern dolls, this seems unusual and strange, but once you talk a little with a faceless doll, everything becomes clear.

The faceless doll lived a full life - she was happy and sad, asleep and awake, laughing and crying. Such a doll could not help but please its owner - the facial expression and its features were invented by him himself. Therefore, it is not entirely correct to say that the doll does not have a face - it does, but you need to make friends with the doll in order to see it.

In recent centuries, starting from the nineteenth century, faces began to be painted on rag dolls, but this concerned only play or decorative options. This came from the desire to humanize the doll as much as possible, to make its appearance very similar to us. But even in these cases, they used only a symbolic representation of the eyes, nose or mouth, embroidering them with a cross and straight lines.

In Ancient Rus', dolls were not given names; it was believed that by naming a doll, it could be used to the detriment of the person who would have or has the same name. Dark sorcerers took advantage of this - they called the doll the same as the object of influence and performed their own rituals over it. In addition, by giving the doll a human name, it was possible to disturb the spirit of a deceased relative with the same name. Therefore, play dolls were simply called dolls, dolls, tchotchkes, etc.

The very limited number of male figures in the doll art of our ancestors does not at all mean a disdainful attitude towards the stronger half of humanity. If you “dig deeper” and study the history of the appearance of dolls and their structure, it turns out that all female splendor, softness and beauty are fixed on a rigid and durable base in the form of tight twists or sticks.

In this way, the male essence is in every doll, but it is hidden inside, which reflects the very significant sacred meaning of the doll. That is why there are very few dolls with clearly male images, and in some puppet acts, the role of a male doll was simply a stick wrapped in cloth.

Materials for making a rag Russian doll

Russian folk dolls were made from scrap materials. The most common of them were the following:

• scraps of fabric or old clothes for amulets and ritual dolls;
• scraps of new fabric for souvenir and decorative figurines;
• bunches of grass or hay;
• wooden sticks, logs, logs;
• as a filler - ash, rags.

Of greatest interest are rag dolls, which in their appearance reflect the cultural features of the area where they were made.

The meaning of the Russian rag doll

The Russian national doll was divided into three large groups:

• play doll;
• doll - amulet;
• ritual doll.

Any of these groups includes several dozen (!) dolls, each of which will differ from the others in its structure or retained meaning. The purpose of the doll determined her future life; it never changed and was very rarely combined. Thus, ritual dolls were never played with, nor were gaming dolls used in rituals. But the amulet doll was sometimes given to children as a toy. Most often this happened with medicinal dolls stuffed with medicinal plants.

Russian rag doll

The main purpose of a play doll is to distract a child while adults go about their business. All the children played with dolls - both girls and boys. For the little ones, special dolls were made that developed fine motor skills and motor functions. For example, small dolls that fit on your finger or doll pendants in the form of a garland of small knots. The child instinctively squeezes the handle with such a toy, which simultaneously regulates muscle tone and keeps the baby occupied.

In principle, any folk play doll carries an additional load. Some dolls train dexterity, for example the same finger figurines or dolls with a base on a wooden stick.

Such dolls could be spun in your hands, holding it by the stick - this is how girls acquired spinning skills, and boys’ hands prepared for weaving bast shoes. For these purposes, dolls were made - round dancers, and for boys - fighters, with small bags attached to their hands.

Play dolls were usually made by adults, but children also took an active part in this process. Therefore, from a very early age, children knew a lot about the cultural traditions and customs of their people. The doll was the most popular gift for children, and it always had a certain sacred meaning. The gift doll could be very simple, for example, for a birthday in poor families they could give a child this angel:

During adolescence, with the help of folk dolls, children studied all the main events of human life. To do this, whole groups gathered in a barn or hut in winter, and on the street in summer. Each participant brought with him a box of dolls, all the roles were distributed among themselves, and the action began. Even weddings with all its stages were played out this way, strictly observing the sequence. Both adults and children already trained in such games could lead such an event.

Children were prepared for adult life by forming in advance all their basic ideas about the future. Children under 6-7 years old wore shirts - both boys and girls. During this period, they had the same dolls. By putting on trousers, the boys began their first male stage of life, and during this period their dolls performed mainly male work - plowing, sowing, harvesting, defending the territory.

During this period, girls began to actively learn family life - how to organize home life, how to care for children, what to wear and in what cases, etc. All these questions were learned with the help of the Russian national play doll.

A rag doll, made by hand, took part in the games not only of ordinary village children; they were also in the families of merchants, clergy and even Russian rulers. Princely, boyar and royal children are just ordinary kids who, like everyone else, need love, affection, attention and, of course, games. And the doll is the first toy for the Russian people.

Russian rag doll: Stolbushka doll

A traditional Russian doll in noble families was made from expensive fabrics, decorated with precious stones and various accessories. The puppet games of the royal children were the same in meaning as those of the village children, only some played out royal events, while others played out the lives of ordinary people.

Many dolls were made specifically so that children from a very early age would understand what is happening around them and what will happen to them. The most striking example is shifter dolls. They are called differently, but the most popular is the name “Girl-Baba”. On the one hand, there is a rosy-cheeked, cheerful, elegant young woman, but, turning her over, we see a modest woman, tired of everyday worries.

Russian rag doll amulet

Our ancestors were very jealous of the relationship between good and evil forces. And the point here is not at all a matter of ignorance and lack of education. Apparently, now we are simply not able to see the thin line separating parallel worlds, from where unknown entities visit us. Oh yes, of course, we are now literate and educated - each of us has 2-3 educational institutions behind us. We, devoid of prejudices, boldly and decisively move towards a cherished, invented goal, which in the end turns out to be only a step towards the true goal.

We, the people of the 20th and 21st centuries, have carefully and systematically cultivated disdain for our history and the traditions of our people for about 100 years. This is a social system that deprives a person of all spirituality, and an implanted religion that leads the remnants of this spirituality into a completely different direction. Our ancestors, free from these shackles, saw around them and understood much more than we, modern intellectuals, living in slavery to our own illusions of omniscience and all-understanding.

And forces unknown to us make no difference who is helped or harmed - a simple plowman or blacksmith, or a manager or president. For them, people are all the same, so we must know and use in practice those means that the ancient Slavs invented and used long before us.

To protect against intentional or accidental evil, there were special items. They were made for a specific purpose - to protect people from misfortunes. That's why they were called that - amulets. The most common amulets were special symbols in the form of amulets or patterns applied to the body or clothing. But, since the doll was near the person almost constantly, it also had to perform protective functions.

Doll Happiness is a tiny doll with a big braid. Our ancestors believed that our strength was stored in our hair. Therefore, such a doll is a powerful amulet that protects a woman from misfortune and brings her happiness. The Happiness doll is intended only for women; it was not given to men. When making the doll, special attention was paid to the hair, and the braid was slightly larger than the figurine itself. You can find out more about this in the article.

Russian rag ritual doll

Among our ancestors, rituals occupied a special place in their way of life. Rituals were performed on all the most important events in human life. At the same time, there were public, social rituals involving a large number of people, and personal, secret rituals - which did not tolerate the presence of outsiders. Almost any ritual was performed with the participation or in the presence of dolls specially made for this purpose.

A ritual doll, just like an amulet doll, was made for protection from troubles and misfortunes. In some cases, the ritual doll was burned or drowned in water after it had fulfilled its purpose. In others, such dolls could be used all their lives, then they combined both functions - ritual and security.

In the format of this article we will only talk about some ritual dolls, because otherwise the article will turn out to be huge. You can get additional information by reading the articles in the “Ritual doll” category, and you can start with the review article ““.

During periods of drought, the best way to bring about the long-awaited rain was a special spell. In this case, it is necessary to act with an assistant, whose entire appearance should symbolize rainy weather. This is how the Russian rag ritual acted. It was made by specially selecting fabric that resembled rain in color and texture.

One of the most common rituals was the Kuvada ritual. It was performed during childbirth in order to protect the newborn from the attacks of an unclean spirit. played a very important role in this.

Fever - several of them were made at once - from 12 to 100. The names of the dolls were given accordingly - Decrepit, Stupid, Glyadeya, Lenea, Nemea, Ledey, Shaking, Dremleya, Ogneya, Vetreya, Zhelteya, Aveya, etc. These dolls were hung behind the stove, each of them attracted the evil spirits by whose name they were named. Therefore, they tried to make more Lichomanoks. On January 15 of each year, the amulet was burned and new Lichomaniacs were made.

Krupenichka or Zernushka was responsible for the prosperity in the house, the safety of the harvest, and the increase in wealth. It was made from a bag of grain, which was used for sowing next year.

Krupenichka in freestyle performance

The traditional Russian doll is very important in nurturing the best human qualities in a child. It does not cause aggression, like the monstrous monsters and robots that fill store shelves. Rag dolls do not program children for a bohemian lifestyle, like the super fashionable Barbie, Winx or Moxie. Our dolls teach spiritual beauty, harmony of human relationships, love for your neighbors, and those far away too.

That is why traditional dolls should be in every family, regardless of material well-being or social status. It is necessary to revive the traditions of our ancestors, focused on the education of an integral, morally positive personality. A child who has learned to love and respect a folk doll from childhood will not grow up to be a Nazi or a maniac.

In addition, by making such a doll yourself, you will experience an amazing feeling of joy from creating something at the same time simple and mysterious. In addition, both adults and children like the Russian traditional doll, because only it has the energy we need with a big plus sign. Spend half an hour of your time, make an ordinary simple rag doll and see for yourself.

Slavic amulets dolls

The role of the pupa in the life of our ancestors. Slavic dolls-amulets were not only used to decorate the interior or to play with in childhood, they have always been very powerful helpers in everyday life, in the social and personal life of our ancestors. Dolls were made on the occasion of folk holidays, for example, for Maslenitsa or Midsummer Day, as gifts or ritual symbols for celebrating family events, such as a wedding or the birth of a child, and were also simply made as companions and guardians of peace, health, prosperity, love.

Ritual dolls were made for various events, such as a new harvest, the passing of winter and other vital stages of the year, and each of them was filled with its own meaning and had its own personal purpose - some dolls were burned as a symbol of purification, and some, on the contrary, filled with cereals and placed in a prominent place to attract wealth into the house. There were a variety of dolls, not only from fabric - they were made from clay, from straw, even from ash.

If a good event happened in the family - a wedding or childbirth, then our ancestors always made dolls - in order to ward off the evil eye, damage, evil spirits and other troubles from a newborn baby, or so that a special doll for newlyweds “lovebirds” would help maintain the integrity of the unity of the new family. The secret of real lovebirds is that they were made from one indivisible square of fabric with a common handle, and during production the red thread of fate was never broken - then, according to legend, the family will never be destroyed - they have a common basis and a common judge. Only when the baby appeared was a separate loop tied. Lovebirds were sometimes dressed up in beautiful festive clothes.

At a wedding, a midwife or an adult relative placed a “swaddle” doll on the bride’s lap in order to protect the unborn child even before conception, so that the evil spirits guarding the married couple would see the “swaddled child” and move into him instead of the real baby. Also, the diaper “warmed the bed” even before the birth of the child, and served as the first toy and amulet for the baby. The Kuvadka doll was directly involved in childbirth. When a woman gave birth in a bathhouse, the child’s father imitated childbirth in the dressing room, and the sledgehammer served as a talisman to ward off dark forces from the real child. Evil spirits will come and inhabit the doll, but they will not notice the child. After childbirth, the kuvadkas were burned. If such a ritual was not performed, then the kuvadki were simply tied together and served as a bright toy for the baby.

Dolls were also made for various other reasons - for example, if the husband was leaving for a long time, then a protective doll of the owner was made in his place and placed in a place of honor in the house. And if a woman in the family could not give birth, then another doll was made - Moskovka, so that with her stateliness and splendor she would help bring and embody in the family the spirit of happy motherhood and fatherhood. And if the wife planned to have a child, then in order for him to appear as soon as possible, she made herself a “pregnant doll”, and the result did not take long to arrive. The secret of a pregnant doll is simple - an ordinary doll was made, and a small “diaper” was hidden in the hem of it.

In order for health to reign in the house, so that nothing could harm it, a “little egg” was made - a beautiful doll sitting on a bag of healing aromatic herbs. If someone got sick, they rubbed the bag with their fingers, walking with it throughout the house, and then they put the bag in the sick person’s bed so that the spirit of the disease would get scared and disappear. For a small child, they always made a small “bunny” amulet. If it was necessary to leave the child alone, then so that he would not be sad or scared, a bunny was put on his finger, and the child was no longer left alone - he was with a talisman, a friend and a toy all in one person.

In order for good and joyful news to always come to the house, bell dolls were made and several of them were hung up at once. The “day-night” doll protected the peace of sleep at night and gave daytime joy and energy. Also, this doll carried the philosophical meaning of existence - you need day and night, rain and sun, winter and summer, white god and black god - everything is needed for something, you need to love everything.

And in addition to all of the above, personal dolls were also made for each person - amulets made of fabric by tying, wrapping and twisting. Such dolls were responsible for all aspects of life, helped in all endeavors, and protected from all illnesses. These were the personal dolls of adults, their tireless protectors.

Rules for making dolls. Bereginie dolls were always made with a white face - so that through this doll it was impossible to transfer evil thoughts and actions to its owner or owner, and the white color figuratively expressed the spirituality and purity of the owners’ thoughts. Bereginie dolls were always made without the use of needles, scissors, knives, glue, etc., so as not to harm those whose health and benefits they would later preserve. The threads were torn off with their hands or bitten with their teeth, and if anything needed to be cut, they were cut first and then applied to the doll.

When making dolls, in no case was the presence of male energies allowed in the room where the sacrament was taking place, and if there were little boys in the room, they had to be busy with their own affairs; in no case were they allowed to be nearby and watch to the manufacturing process. Girls and women gathered, sat down at the table and worked, singing and talking about their own, girlish things.
The most important thing in making dolls was not the technique itself, but the images that were put into this process. For example, a craftswoman twirls the neat head of a doll with her fingers, and silently says to herself: “a bright head, clean, filled with goodness, love.” He makes a breast for the doll and puts into it images of happy motherhood, prosperity in the family, and the kindness of the owner. Therefore, such dolls could only be made by those whom the craftswoman loved and wished well from the bottom of her heart - herself, her husband, daughter, son, sister, and so on. And if she was already making a bereginya for someone else, then she first had to be imbued with the image of the future owner, wish him or her well and all the best, and then get to work. If in the process of working on the doll something goes wrong - a thread suddenly breaks in the wrong place, or there is no way to smooth out any fold - it means they said: “misfortune will come to the doll, but I (or the name of the person to whom the amulet was made) will bypass me.” ".

Donating a doll. And then the fun begins. If the doll is intended as a gift or made for yourself by a loved one, then you need to fill it with the kindest images, sincerely wish all the best to the future owner of the doll and imagine how this is already being accomplished. It must be remembered that from this moment your doll becomes an independent energy unit, sharing the fate of the future owner or mistress. You must treat her very carefully, remembering her high purpose - to preserve your health, spirit, well-being, love and everything else you want to ask from her.

Doll Lovebirds- a symbol and amulet of a strong family union, therefore it is done as if on one hand, so that the husband and wife walk through life hand in hand, are together in joy and trouble.
Currently, the tradition has been preserved. Now, like hundreds of years ago, despite technological progress, you can make dolls with your own hands and give them to a new family from the bottom of your heart with the wish to never be separated.
In the Russian tradition, at the head of the wedding train, carrying the young couple to the groom's house after the wedding in the church, a pair of dolls - wedding lovebirds - were hung under the arc of the harness. The feminine and masculine principles were combined into a single inextricable whole. After the wedding celebration, this doll couple was kept in the house as a talisman of family relationships and fidelity.

plantain- a man-made guardian angel of body and soul and a good gift for those leaving.

Even today, getting ready for a trip is accompanied by many signs, customs and superstitions: sit down on the path, don't hit the road on Monday, come back if someone cackled, returning is a bad omen. Does everyone know why, why? When leaving your homeland, taking with you a handful of earth or ash from your home has been a long-standing and widespread tradition.
At some stage, a protective little doll appeared with a knapsack, into which a pinch of earth or ash was placed. True, a very small pinch, because the doll is tiny, 5-6, and sometimes 3 cm tall.

MK for making dolls :

Traditionally Cleansing doll got rid of “bad” energy in the house. For example, after a family quarrel, a woman would open the windows and doors, pick up a doll and, using it as a symbolic broom, sweep all the negativity out of the hut. This doll, having the image of a person, is as close as possible to a play doll, and children can play with it. And if you make a doll together, saying that the doll will reconcile those who have quarreled, then the child will be included in the opportunity to influence the relationship in such a symbolic way - by bringing the doll to the parents as a reminder. A positive orientation even in conflict situations is very important, and such a talisman doll will contribute to this. Live in peace and joy!

source and M How to make a doll :

Maslenitsa ritual doll. The doll's hands symbolize turning to the sun, and the skirt, gathered in a special way, symbolizes the solstice. The amulet is made for a year, at the next holiday it is burned or floated on water

Here's another wonderful doll -"Herbal Pot".

The doll is filled with fragrant herbs to keep the air in the house clean and fresh. In the old days, the Herbal Pot was filled with fragrant herbs - St. John's wort, yarrow, mint, oregano or pine needles. The Pot-Herbalist makes sure that the disease does not enter the house. Warmth emanates from her, like from a caring housewife. She is also a protector from evil spirits. She was trusted with the most valuable thing - the health of the family.

The Herbal Pot is considered one of the oldest family amulets.

Traditionally, the doll was filled with buckwheat grain. Krupenichka is the main doll in the family. The first handfuls of grain when sowing were taken from a bag sewn in the image of this doll.

The grain in it symbolized the saved strength of the Earth's Nurse.

After the harvest season, the pupa was again filled with selected grain from the new harvest.

She was dressed up and carefully kept in a visible place in the red corner. They believed that only then would the next year be full and there would be prosperity in the family.
Values ​​of cereals in Zernovushka:
buckwheat - satiety and wealth, traditionally the doll was filled with this particular grain
rice is the most expensive grain, for the holiday
pearl barley - for satiety
oats - for strength.
You can also add all the cereals. They also sometimes place a coin at the bottom of the doll.

Kolyada doll

Russian carols, which glorified the Nativity of Christ, are perhaps the most joyful, brightest, and most uniting holiday for many people. Kolyada is celebrated from December 26 to January 6.

So the doll has three skirts made of round pieces of fabric. This doll was considered to bring good news.