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 dolls-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 the Slavic folk doll- attracting what you want 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, we took exclusively natural materials 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. The goblin, brownie or water goblin were carefully decorated and used as ritual dolls on Slavic holidays. They helped decide 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. In 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 dolls-amulets made of natural natural material. Photo: Svet / Photobank Lori
Even small children could make reel dolls from threads, which, in addition to favorable magical properties, contributed to the development fine motor skills. They dangled like 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 that served their 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 cut 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. And what? longer braid- the greater the protective power of the coastline. According to legend, in women's hair was the 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.
Straw dolls can be found in folk art in many countries around the world. Natural material has long been used by people both in everyday life and in religious rituals. Weaving appeared during the development of human civilization. At first, bending branches of trees and shrubs, stems of climbing plants and strips of skin from killed animals were used. They wove dishes and clothes, shoes and household items, furniture and even the walls of houses.
The history of straw weaving
With the advent of agriculture, people learned to grow wheat and other grain crops on their own. When collecting grains for food, after processing the grain, people always left straw for household needs. It was used to make bedding for livestock, to cover the roofs of houses, and to feed cows and goats. Craftsmen also liked this material. Straw made beautiful hats and bast shoes, rugs for feet and baskets or dishes for food. Straw dolls made for children's games, as well as for various rituals during the holidays. Gradually, the craft turned into art, because each owner tried to make things from straw not only practical and easy to use, but also beautiful in appearance, wanting to surpass his neighbors and fellow villagers in skill.
Despite the fact that we live in the 21st century, straw toys can be found in our homes and at mass gatherings. folk festivals. In the article we will look at the history of straw dolls, what significance they had in the life of the Slavic peoples, where they can be seen in our time. Readers will also learn how you can make your own doll for a child to play with or for an exhibition, and give it medicinal properties or create a talisman for your family members.
Material value
As you already understand, the Slavic peoples used straw in every possible way in their farming activities, but the remains of threshed grain were also used by the peasants. magical meaning. People endowed the stalks of cereals with divine power; they believed that they contained the magic of the grain field. The peasants performed numerous rituals both before planting wheat and during the harvest, begging the gods for favorable conditions for the growth of cereals, because the lives of all members of society depended on this.
People decorated the first collected ("zazhinochny") and the last ("prezhinochny") sheaves. There was a tradition of weaving the last stalks of wheat together, leaving them untouched on the field. They decorated them bright ribbons and flowers. The spikelets were used to make wreaths on the heads of girls, and they were also used to decorate rooms. Soon, harvest rituals grew into folk art, and traditions were preserved from generation to generation. Huge straw dolls, the so-called grain effigies, were made from the last collected sheaf. It was believed that the spirit of bread resides there. U different nations they had their own external characteristics. But everyone had the same meaning - to appease the gods in order to get a good harvest.
Celebration of Maslenitsa
Many traditions of the ancient Slavs have been preserved in our time. So, in last week Maslenitsa is celebrated before Lent. This traditional holiday meeting winter and spring. Farewell to the winter cold is celebrated on a grand scale. In addition to delicious pancakes and dumplings, people gather for the ritual of setting fire to a straw effigy, which symbolizes winter.
The last day of the holiday week was previously celebrated in different ways, depending on the province. Some carried a straw doll on a sleigh so that everyone could say goodbye to winter. Others organized a whole Maslenitsa train of hundreds of carts. There is a tradition of mourning an effigy during a funeral procession with priests and mourners behind. The effigy of winter was placed in a trough or even a real coffin and carried through the entire village so that all residents would say goodbye to it.
At the end of Maslenitsa, a straw doll was set on fire. Often funeral food was thrown into the fire - boiled eggs and pancakes. The ritual rite of burning the “grain spirit” ended with the straw and ashes being collected and scattered across the field, which symbolized its future resurrection in the grains of a new good harvest.
In the old days, people wove small dolls from straw and kept them in their homes in the most visible place, dressing them in clothes and scarves. On the last day of Maslenitsa, the dolls were thrown into the stove and also burned, and the remaining straw was given to livestock.
Weaving dolls
Volumetric figures Parents have been doing this for a long time for their children. In addition to its direct purpose as a toy, the doll was also endowed with the properties of a talisman or medicine. So, when weaving straw, fragrant herbs were added to treat coughs or other misfortunes.
According to the tradition of the Eastern Slavs, such a doll did not have facial features depicted. According to beliefs, an evil spirit can move into a figurine with a face, and if it does not, then the doll was considered an inanimate object, so spirits will not linger there.
There was a tradition before the wedding to make large figures of the bride and groom and place them at the gate at the entrance to the courtyard. Since straw symbolized fertility, the dolls were supposed to contribute to the appearance of offspring in the family.
Straw doll "Haircut"
These are the most popular type of straw dolls and are often called dancing dolls. Their main feature is that the lower edge of the skirt is not braided, but is cut evenly with scissors so that it holds a vertical position well. Children loved to play with her in the following way:
- The doll was placed on a flat board. Use the surface of a table or stool.
- The child banged his fist next to the doll and she started dancing - jumping in place and spinning around. different sides. It looked like she was actually doing the dance moves.
The children enjoyed this dance in every possible way, so parents often wove a “haircut” for the kids.
Making dolls from straw
If you decide to learn the art of weaving from natural materials, then next we’ll look at how to make a straw doll with your own hands. First, after harvesting, you need to go out into the wheat field and collect long straw. A small bunch will be enough.
First, the straw must be kept in hot water or under a stream of steam so that the material softens and becomes flexible. Straw has an excellent feature - after twisting the figurine, the wet material dries and takes the required shape, holding corners and bends well.
Work on the doll's figure begins by laying a bunch of straw on the table surface and trimming the edges so that they are even. Next, a strong frame is made by bending the beam in half. Wet material will cope with this task perfectly, unlike dry straw, which will crack where the material is folded.
Weaving pattern for a female doll
Let's start the straw doll master class by strengthening a bunch of straw on the frame. You can use either wire or a wooden stick. A prepared bundle of straw folded in half is placed on the rod. Leave the top intact. This will be the character's head. At the level of the intended neck, tightly wrap a damp straw several times and tie a knot at the back. Weave the long ends lower into the body of the body.
Separately, hands are made on the wire. A bunch of straw is tied at the edges, and the rest is braided. Between the bars of the upper body, slightly below the neck, insert this braided wire and bend it downwards with your hands. Next, you can either simply tie the straw at the waistline, or create a dress with harnesses across the neck. In this case, on finished doll another thin bun is put on with a bend around the head. The material is crossed at the front and tied again at the waist.
The doll can be bandaged with thin satin ribbons, mostly red ones are used. Sometimes edgings with embroidered patterns are selected. Finally, use scissors to trim the length of the skirt and the edges on the arms. Now you know how to weave a straw doll with your own hands. By following the recommendations presented above step by step, you can easily cope with the task.
How to make a boy doll
Getting started is similar to the previous version. If you want to give the doll a rounded head, you can roll a ball out of straw and insert it when bending the first bundle. The frame was not used in this case, since the boy below would have the straw split into two separate bundles to form legs.
When the large bun is folded in half, tie a hemp thread or straw tightly at neck level. The arms are made separately, only for the male character we will not braid the hair, but will leave the puffy sleeves of the shirt untouched. Only the edges representing the hands are tied.
Directly under this bun, tie the waist. Divide the underskirt in half and tie it with straws at the very bottom of each bun to separate the feet. At the end, trim all the cuts with scissors and the boy figurine is ready!
Ritual doll "Ten Hands"
Such a doll with ten arms, according to tradition, was given to a girl for a wedding. Each hand symbolized some skill of a good housewife. The bride had to be able to do everything around the house - cook, clean, do laundry, take care of children and livestock, grow a vegetable garden and harvest wheat in the field, and much more.
Each hand was tied with a ribbon of its own color and the girl charmed it so that the doll would help her in her work. If you want to make the “Ten Hands” yourself, then wrap a thread around your body in a cross so that your hands hold tightly and do not move.
Now you know how to make a straw doll. Try it, you will definitely succeed. Good luck!
Master class on learning various straw processing techniques
Master class is designed for teachers additional education, technology teachers, kindergarten teachers.
Purpose of the master class:
1. teachers to study with children various techniques for processing straws;
2. for use in holiday decoration, for making gifts.
Summary of the master class “Straw sculpture”
Topic: “Knitting a straw doll”
Target: To introduce teachers, educators and educators to straw sculpture as one of the types of straw processing.
Tasks:
Introduce teachers to the technology of preparing straw for weaving and making a straw doll.
Teach the sequence of making a straw doll (female or male figure).
- Develop imagination, imagination, interest in creative activities.
To cultivate artistic and aesthetic taste.
Materials and tools: steamed straws, scissors, twine, backing sheets, disposable plates, napkins, scraps of fabric
Progress of the master class:
The One who created us
Another one that we have been since forever
We create to the best of our ability.
Working with straws - artistic manual labor- has a beneficial effect on the development of intelligence, speech and other mental functions of the child, initiates the ability for independent creativity. Beautiful crafts, handmade toys will help children acquire their first labor skills, develop imagination, creative thinking, hard work, patience and perseverance. And you don’t have to be afraid that this is a troublesome business, any troublesome business, it’s worth it.
So, to the best of our ability, we will turn into craftswomen - straw sculptures.
Istage. First I give historical information:
Straw weaving volumetric figures- dolls, animals, birds - has its roots in the distant past.
Researcher of Russian peasant toys N. Tsereteli emphasized that in Russia at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century, straw dolls were made wherever bread was grown. Adults made them for their children as amulets. Such dolls did not have a face, and, therefore, they were considered an inanimate object, inaccessible to the infusion of evil forces into it, and therefore harmless to the child. At the same time, the main meaning of a straw doll is play, entertainment, fun not only for children, but also for adults. Straw dolls are called “strigushki” because the bundle of straw from which they are tied is trimmed evenly at the bottom.
Straw dolls - “strigushki” from a century ago can be seen in the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, in the State Toy Museum in Sergiev Posad near Moscow.
Straw dolls are laconic and conventional in conveying female and male appearance. Their expressiveness lies in the constructiveness of the plastic, born of a simple and rational way of making the figure. Most often, dolls are made from only one bunch of straw. The origin of the techniques of twisting and bending a bunch of straw is rooted in the labor skills of harvesting. So the women twisted a bundle of straws, which they tied around a sheaf of ears of grain. The Russian folk name for the process of making dolls is "knitting dolls", “they will impose dolls”- also associated with knitting sheaves.
For centuries, the straw doll was associated only with peasant culture. Its production was limited to the village, peasant family, and, unlike the production of wooden and clay toys, did not acquire a commercial character.
The ancient customs of making ritual animals and dolls from straw have come into our lives. Became a theme for the creativity of many modern masters and artists.
Various decorative sculptures and toys can be made from straw due to its ability to bend and maintain a given shape.
IIstage.Review of techniques.
Let's consider the simplest, traditional for folk straw toys, constructive techniques for making straw dolls:
1. A doll made from one bunch of straw. A bundle of 50-70 straws is twisted in the center into a bundle, bent in half and its ends are swapped so that a loop is curled in the middle of the bundle. The bundle is tightly tied with threads. To trim the ends of the straws, the bunch is squeezed by hand and the bottom is trimmed with scissors. The resulting toy doll conventionally depicts a female figure in a long sundress
2. From one bunch of straw you can make a doll - a toy with conventionally designated hands. A bunch of straw is tied at the top to form a doll's head. From the main bundle of straw, separate two small bundles of 15-20 straws for the arms, braid them into three strands, bend them in a semicircle, attach them to the bundle-body, pulling them tightly with a thread along the waist line
3. A doll made from two bundles of straw: the first bundle is the body, the second bundle is the arms, which is inserted into the bundle-torso, previously divided into two parts, one of which, located on the chest, is arched. After which the parts of the torso bundle are connected and tightly pulled with a thread along the waist line
4. A male straw figurine can be knitted in the same way as a female one, from two bundles, the only difference being that the legs are made from the bundle intended for the skirt
5. Straw angel. The frame is made in the same way as the frame female figure, only one of the straws intended for the hands is inserted with a wire in order to subsequently give the hands a bent position. For the wings, take 6-8 straws, tie them in the center and secure them at the back under a small bunch of straw. The frame is also pulled along the waist line
6. A doll made from several bundles of straw. The doll's head and arms are made using the technique described in point 3, the skirt is made from a separate bundle of straw, it is inserted inside the bundle-torso and connected to it with a bandage along the waist line
7. Another technique for making a doll from several bundles of straw. The head and arms of the doll are performed using the technique described in point No. 3. For the skirt, the straw stems are sewn together at the top of the bundle, so that when the skirt is unfolded, it looks like a fan. The skirt is wrapped with stitching around the doll's waist and tied to the body
- Leaves, cones, straw, stones...
I make such dolls not only in Russia. The Germans are very fond of decorating their country interiors with the help of straw dolls, and even consider them to be their German folk art. It is not surprising, because where grain was grown since ancient times, there was always straw left, which local craftswomen put into use.
Materials:
Dried clean straw is used to make toys. The straw must be dry so that the product made from it does not rot later. Multi-colored clothing scraps and twine will also come in handy. Skewer or stick.
For children's crafts, you can use a regular whitewash brush, which is sold in hardware stores.
Method for making a straw doll:
- The straws are cut to the same length and folded in half.
- The head is tied with thread or twine, not forgetting to insert a skewer or stick into the knot.
- Straw arms are inserted into the body, dividing it in half and also tied with twine. The handles can be braided or simply wrapped with twine or softer straw.
- Then the ends of the arms can be tied to the belt, defining the doll’s waist, or left free, as in the photo.
Next we dress up the doll. You can simply decorate your head with a scarf, tying it around your head, or make a hat. In the photographs, the heads are sewn from material, and put on top of straw along with the filling. The face is painted.
Such a doll will not only decorate flower pot, but will also serve as a talisman for you for a long time. After all, amulets were never bought in Rus'; they were always made only with their own hands.
You can find a lot of material on the Internet and on websites for parents on how to make straw crafts with children and what amulets to make. The most common Slavic straw amulet is a decorative broom, which is also not difficult to make, and which we will definitely write about in future articles.
The work took
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Nowadays, kids have toys that are visible and invisible! And what kind of ones you want: from simple mechanical ones to the most complex electronic and radio-controlled ones! Sometimes you can’t get your child away from the computer at all! What did the children of old times play with? What were their toys made of? What kind of toys were these? This is what we will be talking about today.
So, what is a toy? “A toy is a thing made for fun, play or amusement,” we read in the Dictionary of the Russian Language compiled by V. Dahl. Moreover, it should be noted that toys appeared on earth much earlier than their definition.
At first, toys for children were made at home, from scrap materials, then toy makers appeared who began making toys for sale. But not every family could afford purchased toys, so children from poor families continued to play with homemade ones. Rag dolls, wooden logs, clay whistles, straw horses were the favorite toys of peasant children.
Like all agricultural peoples, among the Slavs straw was an important material in peasant farming. The roofs of houses, stables, and barns were covered with thatch. It was used to feed livestock. Images of pagan gods were made from straw and they were greeted with them in the spring and Yarilo, the sun, was seen off in the fall. They were carried around the villages with songs, and then burned or floated on rafts down the river.
Pagan rituals have long been forgotten, but the ability to make figures from straw has been preserved.
To make decorative sculptures and toys, both whole trunks of cereal plants and their upper stems, which have the longest straws, are used. Whole trunks are used for large products, and the upper internodes are used for medium and small ones. To make the straw flexible, just like for weaving, it is soaked in water and then wrapped in damp canvas while working. The finished straw figurines are finished with plaits.
Weaving three-dimensional figures from straw - dolls, animals, birds - has its roots in the distant past. Such dolls and figurines were not only toys for children, but were also used in various rituals. The doll was also used as a talisman for children, since it had no facial features. And according to beliefs, in this case it was considered an inanimate object and evil spirits could not move into it.
Horses, goats, birds, straw dolls are also deities and protectors: the horse is the hero of many beliefs and fairy tales, he always accompanied a man and was his friend, adviser, and protector; goat is a symbol of harvest and fertility; doll - Mother-ancestor, protector of women; birds are the souls of ancestors, protecting and helping those now living on Earth.
Throughout the history of his existence, man could not do without hope for help and support from supernatural forces that he did not fully understand. He endowed them with images that accompanied him throughout his life. Straw figurines depicting a rooster, dove, and goat were placed on the Christmas table. Straw birds were hung above the table. The figurines were given to newlyweds at a wedding, to each other on corresponding holidays, large images of Maslenitsa, Madder were made during mass rituals, sacrificed by burning or drowning. Straw larks were the first harbingers of spring - people called it with them. Various decorative sculptures and toys can be made from straw due to its ability to bend and maintain a given shape.
"Golden-maned horse"
A decorative figurine of a horse made of straw can decorate any modern interior, and at the same time remind you of the ancient origins of folk art. Assemble a figurine from two sheaves. One sheaf is twisted as tightly as possible near the end cut with soft wire, leaving two long ends free (Fig. 35 a). Then all the straws are bent through the wire ring in the opposite direction. In this case, the ends of the wire should be inside the bundle of straw (Fig. 35 b). The bundle from which the head, neck and front legs will be formed is tightly tied with twine and the upper part is bent in an arc (Fig. 35 c).
Having thus made the base of the head and neck, they begin to make the mane (Fig. 35d). This most expressive part of the decorative figurine has deliberately exaggerated proportions and the shape of the mane. The horse seems to radiate sunshine. This design of the mane corresponds to folk traditions, in which the horse was revered as a symbol of the sun. The mane is collected from individual straws, and sometimes from small bunches. Each straw is wrapped around the horse’s neck in turn and intertwined with a “string” - a specially prepared rope of straw or hemp.
When the mane is ready, take a new bunch of straw and, bending it around the body, tie it tightly with twine (Fig. 35 d). Having retreated a certain distance, the bundle is pulled with twine again, thus marking the body of the horse. The remaining part of the straw strand is divided into three parts, from which the hind legs and tail will be made. The two parts of the bundle, which should contain the ends of the wire, are temporarily bent at right angles to the body and tied with twine near the end cuts. The third remaining part is used to make the tail. It is finally finished at the last stage of work. In the meantime, make the front legs by dividing the first bundle of straw in half so that the ends of the wire are in the middle of each half. To define the knees, each of the four legs is twisted in the middle with twine and then with strips of straw. The ends of the wire protruding from the straw are either cut off with wire cutters or bent and hidden so that they are not visible from the outside. Then the legs are bent so as to create the impression of a horse running swiftly.
At the last, final stage, they begin to finish the figure. Without exception, all places that were tied with twine are wrapped in strips of straw.
