"The Story of a Rag Doll" "Folk rag dolls History and types of rag dolls

FOLK TWIST DOLL,

MOTANK DOLL

The very first dolls - motanki - appeared more than 6 thousand years ago. The dolls were protective, playful, and ritual. They did not play with ritual dolls. They were kept in chests and handed over on the wedding day.

In most cases, a doll is an image of a woman, a goddess, and therefore, of course, the woman had a direct connection with her. A woman gave a doll to a man when he went on a journey or to war. It was believed that the doll protected the man and reminded him of home and hearth. Each housewife had a doll in the “red corner” of the house, and when there were quarrels in the family, then, left alone, the woman would open the windows and, as if using a small broom-doll, “sweep the dirty laundry out of the hut.” This is not material garbage, but rubbish, which causes quarrels in the house. Each newborn child had a bright doll in his cradle, protecting the baby from the “evil eye.” But there were also just ordinary play dolls that children played with. In Rus', and indeed among all Slavic peoples, there was a wide variety of dolls. The most common children's play doll is the “haircut”. It was made from cut grass. When the woman went to the field, she took the child and, so that he could play with something, made him a doll out of grass. Often such a doll was used for medicinal purposes. When a child was sick, medicinal herbs were woven into such a doll. And when the child played with it, the smell of the grass had a healing effect on him.

THE HISTORY OF A RAG DOLL

Since ancient times, a traditional toy in the life of the Russian village, even in the poorest peasant families, has been a rag doll. In some houses, up to a hundred of them accumulated.

Dolls were not just girls' fun. All the children played until they were 7-8 years old, while they wore shirts. But only boys began to wear portages, and girls began to wear skirts; their playing roles and the games themselves were strictly separated.

While the children were small, their mothers, grandmothers, and older sisters sewed dolls for them. From the age of five, any girl could make a diaper doll.

A cloth doll is the simplest image of a female figure. A piece of cloth rolled into a “rolling pin”, carefully covered with linen. a white rag on the face, breasts made of smooth, tightly stuffed balls, a hair braid with a ribbon woven into it, and an outfit made of colorful rags.

They had to attach a braid and weave a ribbon into it if they were sewing a girl, and if they were sewing a woman, then they really took apart the hairstyle. They dressed up beautifully, tying an apron and a belt over the shirt. The girls will have headscarves, and the women will wear a headdress.

The child's skills were assessed by adults. The doll was considered as a standard of handicraft; teenage girls often took a cart with dolls to get-togethers along with a spinning wheel. They were used to judge the skill and taste of their owner. In puppet games, children involuntarily learned to sew, embroider, spin, and learned the traditional art of dressing.

Toys were never left on the street or scattered around the hut, but were kept in baskets, boxes, and locked in chests. They took them to the harvest and to gatherings. Dolls were allowed to be taken as guests; they were included in the dowry.

Almost all village holiday rituals were played out in puppet games.

Most often, weddings are a particularly impressive, solemn and beautiful Russian folk ritual. They took the game very seriously, maintaining the sequence of the ritual, memorizing and repeating the conversations of adults and the ritual songs they performed. To play, they gathered in groups in a hut, in a barn, or on the street in the summer. And each one brought with her a box of dolls. There were up to twenty or more of them in the game: the bridegroom, the bride, the parents of the newlyweds, and everyone else, as expected at a real wedding. Scene after scene unfolds matchmaking, getting ready for a pilgrimage, gatherings, a bathhouse, a bachelorette party. The bride doll's hair was unraveled, and the girl who played as the friend doll began

Ten-handled - Belarusian doll-motanka. https://lyjictoe.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/dsc01383.jpg It was a doll to help the owner. The ten-handed doll helped a girl or young woman (a girl who had recently gotten married) with the housework. Such a doll was often given as a wedding gift so that the woman could do everything and everything would go well for her. The body was made of white twisted fabric, the handles were made of red. They tied it with red thread.
The Russian multi-handed one is called Desyatiruchka, but it is made by girls who sit down for a dowry. The ten-handed doll is a ritual multi-armed doll. It was made from bast or straw on October 14, Pokrov, when they sat down to do needlework. In production, red threads are used, which is a protective color.

9 red strings-bows are necessarily tied in a circle to the bottom of the sundress. The doll was intended to help girls preparing their dowries and women in various activities, such as weaving, sewing, embroidery, knitting, etc. Traditionally, after production, it was burned almost immediately.

Filippovka doll is a six-armed amulet, a doll made by handicrafts. It was believed that it protected women's hands from fatigue and injury. and also facilitates and brightens up women's work and turns it into joy. In order for handicrafts to bring in money, a knot is tied to Filippovka’s belt -
Children's play doll - swaddle - The simplest one was made from a folded piece of cloth, on which a scarf and rag were tied, like a swaddled baby. The toy is ready. Another type of doll was made from wood chips, which were also wrapped in rags. The main thing is that the number of knots on the scarf and dress is odd. All children's dolls were also amulets that must be made without needles and threads. They were made from leftover straw, logs, wood chips, and scraps of fabric. Nothing was wasted in the peasant house, and every scrap was put to use.
Using the same techniques, amulets were also made from rags. These are twelve “livid dolls”: “Ogneya”, “Shaking”, etc., personifying Herod’s daughters. Usually such dolls hung in the hut near the stove, protecting the owners from illness. In the spring they were burned.

“Baby naked” -
The play rag doll “Baby Naked” was widespread. It was distinguished by its manufacturing technique; the fabric at the bottom was not left as a single “hem”, but was divided into two parts and legs were made, wrapping them with threads. The doll had to be belted. “Baby” was naked, without clothes, but the belt was not only an obligatory attribute of the Russian traditional costume, but also a very strong amulet. The head was tied with threads. It was made from one piece.
The Vepsian doll is a protective doll that accompanied the child from childhood until he “left”, i.e. didn't spoil. https://lyjictoe.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/dsc013801.jpg It was made from mother’s worn things, without using scissors or a needle. So that the child’s life is not “cut and stabbed.” Before the baby was born, this doll was placed in it to warm the cradle. And after birth, the doll hung over the cradle and protected the baby from damage. When the child grew up, he played with her. Veps are difficult people. There are few of them left, but their tradition lives on. An ancient ritual of the step-by-step production of such a doll: a part of the image is inserted into each detail - into the right hand, into the left hand, into the head, into the knots, which are then combined into a single picture. This doll is made for a person who is having a hard time. After all, the Vepsian doll, reminiscent of a mother-nurse, is an image of maternal care, female protection and love. For adults, the Vepsian doll helped them to believe in themselves, calm down, and feel protected, as in childhood under their mother’s wing.

“Barynya” doll - the simplest twisted, folded play doll is considered to be the “Barynya” doll, which existed in the Efremovsky district of the Tula province. It was made for young children. First, they made the body, covered it with white cloth and bandaged it in three places, then they took a long flap, covered part of the body with it, bandaged it, separating the head. The remaining fabric on the sides was cut into three parts and braids were made - these were the hands. They put a skirt and apron on the doll, and tied a scarf on her head.

Column doll “Log” Researchers believe that the earliest among the traditional folded play dolls of Russia was the “Log” doll. It existed in the Smolensk province and was a wooden log dressed in stylized women's clothing. Later a more complex doll came. It was a simple image of a female figure. The body is a piece of cloth rolled into a “rolling pin”, the face is carefully covered with a linen rag. Coil or hair braid. Chest made of cotton balls. As a rule, the costume was not removed from the doll.

Zernovushka (Pea) - a small amulet doll, in order to make the house nourishing and rich, the mistress of the house made a “grain” doll. https://lyjictoe.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/p2040850.jpg?w=300&h=225 It was made after the harvest. The doll is based on a bag of grains collected from the field. All winter the doll attracted prosperity and satiety into the house, the children played with it, filling it with their power of love and joy, then in the spring they took out the grains and mixed them with other crops, the harvests were always good. The woman also made this doll so that she could have children.

Herbal Pot - A rag amulet doll filled with aromatic herbs: mint, lemon balm, thyme, etc. The oldest way to fill the house with wonderful aromas. Has a calming or invigorating effect. This doll is made without a needle. Herbs collected during the spring holidays were placed in linen or cotton fabric, then the edges were gathered and tightly wound with thread. The head of the doll and a scarf were tied on top, and an apron was tied. Bereginya of Sleep” (Kubishka the Herbalist) with beneficial herbs (sage, mint, lemon balm) protected the child’s sleep.

Filippovka - in his hands was a treat with a grain and a coin. Such a doll was made at gatherings on Phillip Day (November 27) after the completion of field work, immediately before getting busy with needlework on winter days and evenings. — It was given to the owner to help in all matters. This is a ritual doll, and it was made (as well as given) on Philip Day (Makoshi Day), November 27. Filippovka is stored throughout the year. You can hang the doll in a prominent place in the room where the woman spends time working. Six-armed doll, au pair, keeper of order. Helps a woman cope with many things, distribute her strength, so that the house is clean, orderly, comfortable and in harmony.

Makosh (Paraskeva) is a female amulet doll. https://lyjictoe.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/dsc01382.jpg The craftswoman always decorated her assistant Makosh with everything that is used in needlework, including ribbons and beads. Often they made a doll on a cross made of two sticks. Makosh was considered an assistant to the mistress of the house, responsible for needlework, craftsmanship and the female share. The doll was located where the woman was doing needlework. The doll was dressed in Russian folk women's costume. Girls and women hung belts, ribbons, lace, and small tools of female labor on the doll's hands: a spindle, a thimble, scissors, bobbins, a pillow with needles, etc. Every housewife used to have a Paraskeva worker doll to help with household chores. A Russian woman often says: “There are so many things to do, there are not enough hands for everything!” Therefore, Paraskeva could have had from eight to sixteen hands, each containing some kind of household utensil.

Kupalo and Kupalinka - this ritual pair was made for the summer solstice. Kupalo reflected masculine energy, the image of a man on earth and the summer sun Kupalo at the same time. Kupalinka is female water energy, the personification of mother earth. The dolls were made from herbs, straw, flax, and fabrics. Men made Kupala, and women made Kupalinka. Some sources describe the burning of dolls during the Kupala bonfire. But more often they disassembled them into bundles of straws and took them to their gardens in the form of amulets.

Girl-Baba - this play doll was made by a girl at an age to understand the difference between a girl and a married woman. On the one hand, the doll was a girl, busty, bright with a braid; and on the other side a mother with babies. The doll is a woman, depicting a mother, she no longer puts herself on display, her beauty is more preserved inside in the form of the power of love directed towards her family and children.

Double doll - changeling.

The Desire Doll was made by a girl to fulfill a wish. The amulet doll is made of wound threads or flaps twisted into a flagellum. The flagellum was folded in half, hair made from threads was inserted, and tied up. Under the head, a rolled flagellum was inserted into the gap - the hands. Then the doll was decorated with an apron, beads and ribbons. The girl started intimate conversations with the doll, asked for help, and shared secrets. The doll was not shown to anyone. Performed without scissors and needles.

The Doll Wealth - fertility, protective, portly with a huge bust and with bundles in her hands was the keeper of wealth and well-being in the house. Babies were tied to the belt, since the wealth of the Family was in its continuation, and therefore in the children. Wool, grain, a penny were put into the bundles - so that it would be warm in the house, wool would grow on the sheep, so that the money would not run out and bread and salt. The doll was hung higher and not given into the wrong hands. It was performed without a needle, like a protective doll.

Lovebird dolls - Ritual wedding folk doll. https://lyjictoe.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/p1020641.jpg?w=300&h=225%D0%92 https://lyjictoe.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/p1020641.jpg?w =300&h=225 In the Russian tradition, at the head of the wedding train, carrying a young couple to the groom’s house after the wedding, a pair of dolls were hung under the bow of the harness: a Bride doll and a Groom doll, so that they would avert unkind glances at themselves (this one was burned, and the one with them kept kept in the red corner of the hut). These dolls were very symbolic - the feminine and masculine principles were combined into an inextricable whole. The dolls were made by the bridesmaids from scraps of white, red and other multi-colored fabric, using scraps of multi-colored threads. The basis was a splinter or a thin flat sliver 25-30 cm long, up to 1.5 cm wide from any tree except alder and aspen (these trees were associated with evil spirits). The dolls have a common hand, so that the husband and wife walk through life hand in hand hand, were together in joy and in trouble. A beautiful girl and a kind fellow are standing next to each other, and they have one common hand - a symbol of unity and love.

Doll "Lyubava" -
an obeg doll - Lyubava, Bereginya, with ribbons and a knot was placed above the entrance. Amulet knots tied on ribbons prevented dark forces from entering the home. Lyubava was traditionally made without scissors and needles.
Motanka doll,
Bereginya - https://lyjictoe.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/p2080878.jpg
Ukrainian doll was a talisman; on the doll’s face there was a solar symbol, a solar sign in the form of a cross. A protective sign meaning life, movement, heavenly protection. In addition, the symbol of the cross is an image of the union of heaven and earth. They dressed the beregina in a folk embroidered poneva, skirt, apron, and shirt. Hair was braided and decorated with ribbons and beads. The Ukrainian doll contains many sacred cosmogonic meanings that were formed back in the Trypillian era. Thus, at the base of its head it has a twisted svarga, which is the main motif on Trypillian clay products. Svarga symbolizes the movement of the Universe. The word “development” contains the image of a revolution. The process of winding up a doll resembles the spiral movement of the Universe, as if energy vortexes are spinning. Twisting conveys the image of the layered structure of human subtle bodies. In general, curling is an action that correlates with origin, growth, and is associated with the creation of the world (“whirlwind,” “midwife,” “spovivati,” and many others). The eyes were not depicted on the doll to avoid identification with a living creature. People believed that a soul could fly into the eyes. The cross on the doll’s face, as it were, testifies to its presence outside of space and time, therefore it is an archetype, an image of the Great Goddess, a conductor of her power. This is what makes it sacred. The designated facial features seem to impose a certain image, drive her into a framework and thereby make her an ordinary toy. After all, behind the cross-shaped face you can see an image in accordance with your inner world. The finished image may not correspond to the energy of the person for whom the doll is being created, which is why the person may not perceive the doll as a reflection of his inner world, and then the doll will not become a talisman, but will be perceived as an independent creature living separately from the owner. And the essence of the doll is energy exchange with its owner. The cross in the circle is the sign of Dazhdbog, that is, a symbol that carries solar energy. And our ancestors called themselves “grandsons of Dazhdbozh.” The cross is a symbol of harmonization of the spiritual (vertical line) and the physical (horizontal line), similarly to the heavenly and earthly, male and female principles.

Spiridon-Solstice
This ritual doll is made to bring about desired changes in life. It is believed that Spiridon-Solstice can change life in the right direction by turning the wheel.

In his hands in front of him he holds a wheel representing the sun.

The sun gives us the opportunity to exist and act. Nourishes all living things with light. Endows us with the following qualities: responsibility and punctuality (The sun shines equally for everyone and always rises on time) Where there is responsibility, there will be prosperity.

Responsible for order, career growth, leadership qualities, Health, Cheerfulness. Happiness.

Spiridon Solstice helps a man manage (rule) affairs, household, business, etc. The doll is given to a man for skillful management of affairs and changes in life.

It is advisable to place Spiridon in a place visible to the owner in the house. (near the workplace or on the eastern side) The doll could be made of bast (steamed linden bast fibers. Bast releases phytoncides, which helps purify the air in the house.

Wedding doll Grove -- doll World Tree https://lyjictoe.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/p2080874.jpg
The world tree symbolizes the unity of the world (the crown is Heaven, the trunk is the World of living people, the roots are the Underground Kingdom). This is a figurative model of the Universe and man, where every creature, object or phenomenon has its own place. The “World Tree”, like amulet dolls, is made without using a needle, so that happiness cannot be sewn up. The World Tree was decorated with a wedding cake, the middle of which was given to the newlyweds with a doll-amulet. It is important that the dolls look eye to eye. After the wedding, the World Tree took pride of place in the hut next to other dolls kept by peasant families. The Grove doll is a symbol and amulet of the family, the unity of united clans, where the roots are the ancestors, and the branches are the new family and its descendants. A talisman for a new family, because in the event of a breakdown, if the thought of breaking up arises, you understand: if you break off a twig from the spear, you won’t get it back, and there will never be a whole again. The doll is made on a spear: this is the merging of two destinies, two genera (after all, this doll is also a family tree), becoming a single whole, stronger than individual branches. Sticking a spear into a loaf is a figurative tree growing from the ground, and the young people together will need to cultivate the land - life, raise crops - children.
spirits People believed that the doll protected the child's sleep and peace, and therefore it was always nearby. “Rattles-paws” - clusters of bright rag balls stuffed with rags, and “cubby dolls” were intended for the little ones; they were hung over the cradle. When the child started crying, the “Comforter” doll, hung with sweets, came to the rescue. And God forbid she gets sick, the mother began to make “Sudarushka”, spinning it and saying: “Grandmother-Sudarushka, help my daughter. There were many ritual dolls: but the most elegant and beautiful was the Easter doll (Slavic Freckle). The best material, strong ribbons, belts, and the brightest colors were saved for this doll. They made Easter dolls for the spring equinox by mid-March (Palm Sunday, a week before Easter), and placed them on the table between Easter gifts. On Palm Sunday, palm bazaars were held and gifts were given to each other: linen ones - so that the flax would be born, elegant rag ones, in the brightest colors - so that there would be a lot of outfits. Ancient Slavic symbols were adapted to new conditions, and they continued their lives in Christian rituals. The Berezka doll (aka Winter, Maslenitsa, Morena) was drowned in the river on Trinity Day. It happened that a girl liked a guy, but he didn’t look at her - here you can’t do without Ustinya’s doll. Once a year - around Christmas, on Christmastide, the girl made a bast doll with large breasts and hung it on the doorknob or threw it in the hallway to the guy with a note: “Ivan, don’t freeze Marya!” Often the doll helped. Useful dolls accompanied a person throughout his life. They were always present in the hut; initiation rites (initiation into the ranks of adults) and weddings were not performed without them; it was believed that they protected from evil forces and took on illnesses.

A gift for a gift - a play doll-motanka, with a baby, sometimes with a knot, was made by a child who received a gift from one of his relatives or friends. This was done so that the child would learn not only to accept, but also to give; in this case, gratitude turned into creative zeal, which also contributed to the development of skills.

The “to be snatched” doll was a sewn play doll. It was sewn by girls up to 12 years old and was an exam in sewing and needlework. Then the girls helped prepare the dowry for their older sisters, getting acquainted with traditional types of clothing, and at the same time choosing something for their dowry. Each girl wanted to quickly make a doll on which she could show her knowledge of costume, so as not to sit too long with young children and get to gatherings on time. They sewed dolls “to show off” mainly during the Nativity and Great Lents, and in the spring, after Easter, they walked around the village and showed off the sewn dolls. In some areas these dolls had their own name. The first doll is “plain-haired”. The second is a “doll with a scythe.” The third is “young woman”. The fourth is “an elegant doll,” and it was the exam that separated childhood from adolescence.
Younger girls often heard the first praise for their handicrafts from their older sisters; they learned to role-play with dolls, and they ran to them for consolation and advice.

Vesnyanka, Freckle - a ritual cheerful and perky twisted doll. It was made from two twisted shreds, using bright colored hair threads. On the crosspiece from fresh sticks, it was possible to make a Freckle. At “Vesnyanka”, on the spring equinox, the girls made these dolls, showed them to each other, and together with them they called upon spring. The colorful dolls were given to girlfriends or friends with wishes of youth, health, and blossoming. Sometimes, straw dolls were burned during festivities and lighting fires.

Martinichki - these ritual dolls were an attribute of the ritual of “invoking” spring, in which young people and children mainly participated. The dolls were knitted in pairs: from white threads - a symbol of the passing winter, from red threads - a symbol of spring and the hot sun. The pupae were hung on tree branches. They also had a second meaning. With the birth of a child in the family, the inseparable pair of wedding dolls moved slightly apart, making room for the doll on the parent’s shoulder. With each child in the family, the parents' shoulders moved wider. As many children as there are dolls on the shoulder of the wedding couple. They had a special meaning. The inseparable couple with their offspring showed off in the red corner of the hut.

Bereginya is an archaic name for a kind principle that protects a person. People turned to the good gods with requests for a good harvest, rain, healing, protection from the evil eye, and dark forces. Dolls acted as a reliable assistant and amulet for a person. Previously, in every peasant house there were a lot of rag spin dolls (motan dolls). They served as amulets for homes, children, sleep, households, had a cult, ritual purpose and at the same time were the most common children's toys. They were made from the clothes of close relatives. The dolls were never painted with a face. It is through the face that the soul enters the doll. But the soul may not necessarily be kind. The faceless doll was made depending on the life situation and was never thrown away. Over the course of one person’s entire life, he accumulated many such windings. They were believed to bring good luck and wealth, and were magical symbols of fertility and procreation.
There was a custom: as soon as a woman realized that she was going to have a child, she began to make a rag motanka doll the size of a baby. Carefully twisting the fabric, she put all her love and affection for the unborn child into this toy. She worked without a needle and scissors: her hands were not allowed to touch the metal. The doll was wrapped in a blanket, tied with a changing belt and two weeks before the birth was placed in a cradle, where she waited for the birth of the baby, protecting this place from the evil eye and evil spirits.

The dolls were divided by size into:
elbow, palm, finger.
* Dolls can be classified according to their manufacturing method.
* We offer the following types:
1. The basis of the doll is 2 rectangles (“Kuvatki”, “Easter”, “Lovebirds”, “Kuzma and Demyan”). Flagellated, rolled-up dolls.

2. Dolls in which the head represents a ball placed in the center of a square, and the arms are made from the same square diagonally (day and night, angel, bell, pokosnitsa, twist), sometimes the chest is attached to this base. (Vepsian cabbage). The “world tree” doll can be attributed to the same type. The “world tree” is based on a branched twig, but dolls are made according to the same principle.

This doll can be mounted on a cross made of sticks. (Wealth, Makosh)

3. Pillars of dolls, a log base, a roll of birch bark, fabric, logs.

4. Dolls based on a bag (ash, herbal capsule, grain, grain).

Scheme for making a play doll

So, what do we need: scissors, a needle, threads, colored scraps, a white piece of fabric for making the doll’s body, its base, which is called a “rolling pin,” small buttons, colored braid, floss threads for braids, beads or small beads.
First, let's make a "rolling pin". Let's tightly roll up a piece of unnecessary fabric and cover it with a white rag; you can use an old magazine for this purpose, roll it into a tube and also cover it with white material. Visually divide the “rolling pin” into five parts, one part is occupied by the face, the rest by the torso.
Now let's sew a sundress for the doll. Take a rectangular piece of paper approximately 2.5 times the width of a rolling pin, sew it together and decorate it with braid. Then we will put the top of the sundress on a double thread, put it on a “rolling pin”, tighten it and tie the thread in a knot. The sundress is ready. Let's make puffy sleeves for it, also from rectangular pieces of material, stitching and gathering them onto a thread in two places: at the top and at the bottom. We sew the sleeves at the junction of the sundress and the doll’s head.
Using floss threads, weave a braid and attach it. Then we will tie the ribbon around the doll’s head with a beautiful bow, and also tie the sundress with braid.
_A twisted doll is a talisman so ancient that now no one can say who and where first twisted a rag doll. Every Russian family knew how to spin at least 30 varieties of dolls, and they were play, ritual, or protective.
Another very ancient doll is known. When a woman cut her hair, she collected it in a small bag and made a doll. It was believed that when a person fell ill, he had to be surrounded by such dolls and he would recover. They didn't play with dolls like that.

And the dolls had a great meaning. Any thing made by hand carries the imprint and potential of a person’s thoughts and feelings that he experiences during handicraft. From the very first knot, the doll was made in such a way that it became an almost animated creature with its own powers and mission. For example, to protect, to support in difficult times... And sometimes to indicate a betrothed, to cure a child of illness, to tell about fate. And different dolls were made for different purposes.
Twist dolls are amazing creations that require only a few scraps, pieces of braid and thread to make. Neither a needle nor scissors will be useful to us in this undertaking: a twisted doll is made WITHOUT USING A NEEDLE or scissors. And this also had a huge meaning.
Among other things, making a twisted doll has powerful anti-stress properties: doll therapy has long been known to modern psychologists and is widely used both here and abroad.
Working with a doll helps a woman open up, feel her femininity, and show love and care for her dearest people. Little by little, vanity and fatigue go away, the soul is filled with light, and you feel a touch of something magical. The birth of a doll is the real magic.
If you are making a talisman doll, you need to use a freshly picked “live” twig from a “good” tree. This is the rule for most folk dolls.

Devkin's Fun. The simplest play doll that depicts a girl growing up. Serves as a friend and adviser in matters of the heart, protects the heart from melancholy

Types and purpose of folk dolls

According to their purpose, dolls are divided into three large groups: amulets, play and ritual dolls.

Amulet dolls:

1. Kuvatka
2. Angel
3. Feverish women
4.Makosh, Paraskeva
5. Vepsskaya
6. Wealth
7. Lyubava
8. Bereginya
9. Herbal capsule
10.Krupenichka

Ritual dolls:
1. Lovebirds
2. World tree
3. Maslenitsa and “Home Maslenitsa”
4. Kolyada, Spiridon-Solstice
6. Martinichki, Freckles
7. Pokosnitsa
8. Kupavka and Kupalo

Play dolls:
1. Columns
2. Baby - naked
3. Lady
4. Doll “to be snatched”
5. "Simple-haired"
6. “Doll with a scythe”
7. “Dressy doll”
8. Devkin's fun

By shaking the doll, we twist the energy, we shake the share. The more we twist the thread, the more energetic the doll becomes. This is responsible spiritual work. Thus, the doll retains the energy and information of its creator. It always reflects the inner world of the craftswoman, which is manifested in the “character” of the doll: appearance, color scheme, style of clothing, size, etc.

The day the doll is wound up is of great importance. On Friday - the day of Mokoshi and Sunday - the day of Rod, of all the Gods - you should not make a doll. Thus, folk artist Valentina Berdnik-Sokorinskaya always adheres to the meaning of holidays and phases of the moon when making a motanka doll. For example, for fertility and wealth, dolls are made during the waxing phase of the moon, for family happiness and successful affairs - when the moon is full, and during the waning phase, dolls are made to ward off problems and illnesses.

Conventionally, work on a motanka doll can be divided into two stages: creating the doll’s body and creating an outfit. When the doll's body is tossed around, the knots are not tied. One knot is tied at the very end, when the doll’s body is swaddled, in the place of the navel, which symbolizes birth, tying the umbilical cord, and at this moment the power of the craftswoman’s intention is consolidated. It is believed that when tying a knot, you need to make a wish. Knots are allowed when making hands (fastening along the edges of a roller for hands), this can be explained by the fact that the hands are made separately and then wound to the doll’s body. But motanka dolls may not have hands.

A started doll must be finished to avoid misfortunes.

SECRETS OF THE MAGIC OF THE MOTANKA DOLL

It is known that doll dresses were sewn for a reason, but with meaning. Firstly, the outfit always had to contain red - the color of the sun, warmth, health, joy. And they also believed that it had a protective effect: it protected against the evil eye and injuries. The embroidered pattern that once decorated the doll's outfit was also not accidental. Each of its elements had a magical meaning, and the pattern in the doll’s face was supposed to protect the child. The word “pattern” meant “ghost”, i.e. "supervision". Therefore, on the doll’s dress, as well as on the suit of an adult, they embroidered: circles, crosses, rosettes - signs of the sun; female figurines and deer - symbols of fertility; wavy lines - signs of water; horizontal lines are signs of the earth, diamonds with dots inside are a symbol of a sown field; vertical lines are signs of wood, eternally living nature.

Not only children's dolls were amulets. Brownie dolls lived in houses. By the way, even now city residents are trying to purchase or make a brownie doll or a Doll - Bereginya of the Hearth. And they make this doll for a reason.

Isn’t a garden scarecrow doll a talisman? A talisman, and what a talisman! Protects garden crops from birds and livestock. And the kids are afraid of him, they won’t pull the carrots out of the garden again. And if you make this doll spinning, then it will have no price in the garden. It’s as if a living man or woman is walking around the garden, and even “swinging” the breeze with his hands. Such dolls can be seen in our garden plots and in Altai villages. The scarecrows are dressed differently: you can see a doll in a woman’s outfit, tied with a scarf, or even a hat with holes, and a man with a saucepan on his head instead of a hat.

Play dolls were intended for children's amusement. They were divided into stitched and rolled. Rolled up dolls were made without needles and threads. A thick layer of cloth was wrapped around a wooden stick and then tied with a rope. Then they tied a head with handles to this stick and dressed it in elegant clothes. Rolled up play dolls include twist dolls, which were made very simply. The body is a piece of fabric twisted around its axis and fastened with thread. In the same way, the arms were made and, finally, a small ball - the head, attached to the body with the help of a thread.

The name of the motanka doll contains its essence: this doll is not knitted or sewn, it is only wound. You need to use only natural materials. It would be great if the fabric is handmade. Dry herbs, flowers can be woven into the doll, heads of corn can be used, and grains can be inserted.

This amulet is made practically without knots, since our ancestors were afraid to “tie a share.” You cannot touch the doll with sharp objects (needles, scissors), otherwise you can offend it, because the doll is a creature inspired by its creator. It is advisable to tear fabric and threads for dolls by hand, but you can also cut them, the main thing is not to touch the doll itself with scissors. It is very good to create a doll from pieces of old clothes that belong to loved ones, for example, grandparents, because it is saturated with their energy, and the doll will radiate it, passing it on to descendants. But you definitely need to check whether these clothes were “lucky”. You cannot use the clothes that were worn during difficult life situations, during illness, or in stressful conditions.

Creating a motanka doll is an act of rebirth. Each doll is a living creature, it carries certain energies. Like a person, she is born only after she learns her purpose, her task in this world. A doll is a meditative object. By shaking it, the woman is, as it were, between worlds: feeling the connection with Navy - the ancestors, purifying the past, affirming the Reality - the present with the power of her faith, “manifesting” the necessary images and thus forming a happy future, righteous thoughts - Rule. By shaking the doll, the woman is shaking her destiny. Therefore, the most important stage in making a motanka doll is the formation of an idea, plan, image. And then the material is selected to match the idea and the name of the doll appears, that is, the idea is realized. The craftswoman must decide for what purpose she will make the doll, how she will help its owner, and what innermost desires she will realize. For example, to make peace with someone if you quarreled, then images of forgiveness are put into the doll, or to solve family problems, then images corresponding to this plan are put into the doll, etc.

These images are inserted when the roller for the doll’s head is twisted, which resembles a Tripolye spiral. After all, it is in the head that mental images are born, thus the doll’s head is the main carrier of the energy of its creator’s plan. When we cover this roller with a face cloth, we bless this creature. By shaking the cross on the doll's face, you can lay down a certain symbolic number. The doll is tossed only in a good mood, with prayers; you can fill it with Alive energy, speak to it, that is, be in a sacred prayer camp. We wind the thread across the Sun (salting), directing the energy towards growth and development.

The doll's outfit, while it is not tied up, can be embroidered, lace and decorations attached to it. The headdress can also be sewn separately. Elements of the doll's clothing also have a talismanic symbolic meaning. The skirt symbolizes the earth, the embroidered wavy line on the apron indicates the connection with water, the shirt - the trinity of the world, the headdress (ribbon, scarf, ochipok) - the connection with the sky.

Making a Vepsian doll

ORAL FOLK ARTS RITUAL FOLKLORE CALENDAR-RITUAL SONGS
Rag dolls

Russian, simple rag doll The daring toy glorified Russia. Cheerful, cheerful, a little mischievous, but Russian in liking, which means dear to us. These dolls contain kindness and sadness, They remember Kievan Rus. We take these dolls in our hands - the sounds of stories come to life...

The earliest toys discovered in our country date back to the second millennium BC. uh.. There were a lot of dolls in each house, up to 100 pieces. And not surprisingly, children began to twirl dolls at the age of 3. It was believed that the more dolls, the more happiness in the family. And by the way the children treated the dolls, they judged the future well-being of the family. If children handle dolls with care, then there will be prosperity and happiness in the house. If you were careless and threw it somewhere inappropriate, then expect trouble.

The story of the rag doll
The first humanoid figures appeared along with man, then they personified the gods. Since ancient times, a rag doll has been a traditional toy in the life of the Russian village. The only drawback of the rag doll was that it could not be washed. Like other peoples, Russians put a special meaning into toys.

Classification of dolls by purpose
GAME PROTECTION RITUALS
Column Angel Lovebirds
Baby Naked Day and Night Maslenitsa
Doll with a scythe Viennese Kolyada
Girl-woman Bell Kupava

The dolls were different. According to their purpose, traditional folk dolls can be divided into three groups: ritual dolls, amulets dolls and gaming dolls.

Playing dolls Playing dolls were made to teach a child about life while playing. Such dolls served as entertainment for the child.
“Girl-woman” “Bunny for a finger” “Gift for a gift” (Changeling) (One of the first play dolls) (Politeness doll)

BABY NAKED

Ritual dolls Every nation has its own rituals. Our ancestors used dolls for seasonal holidays, weddings, and the birth of a child. For example, Maslenitsa was burned, asking for the departure of winter and the approach of spring, “Go away snowy winter, come red summer.”
Homemade Maslenitsa

Lovebirds doll. Couple
The wedding doll “Couple” was made from three red scraps of the same size. The doll was given to newlyweds at a wedding, attached to a towel. When the first child is born in a young family, they began to use a towel, and the doll was given to the child or kept for life, as a talisman for family and marriage.

Amulet dolls They protected the inhabitants of the house (pets) from hunger, from disease, from bad people.
Doll “Bereginya” Protects and brings prosperity to the home. - He doesn’t let in evil people, but he welcomes good people!
"Kubishka the herbalist"
The doll is filled with medicinal herbs, the herbal smell drives away evil spirits and diseases.

Exactly a year was given to the amulet, which was called “12 fevers”. It was made in the form of 12 figurines suspended on a red thread above the stove to scare away the disease-bringing demons-shakers, whose names were Decrepit, Stupid, Glyadeya, Lenea, Nemea, Ledeya, Shaking, Dreaming, Ogney, Veterya, Zhelteya and Aveya. On January 15 of each year, the amulet was replaced with a new one.

Modern rag dolls
Nowadays, the rag doll has acquired a slightly different look, it has a face, and you can change its clothes. Children enjoy playing with them. They are environmentally friendly and safe for children.

Nowadays, children, as before, love dolls and learn to make them themselves. And if you put work, diligence, patience and warmth into them, the dolls turn out to be “alive” and they last a long time. Dolls are not only toys, but also close friends. In games with dolls, children learn to communicate, fantasize, create, show mercy, and train their memory. You should not throw away the old doll; it is better to wash it, comb it, and sew new clothes. All these actions are lessons of sensitivity, frugality, attention, kindness. Dressing an old doll in new clothes is a lesson in good taste and even some artistic crafts.

The story of the rag doll

The earliest toys discovered in our country date back to the second millennium BC. e. These are clay rattles, dishes, hatchets, and figurines of people. According to the cult of ancestors, the dead have magical powers and can provide protection and assistance. To attract the spirits of the dead, figurines were made for them to inhabit - prototypes of future dolls. Ancient types of dolls or human figurines were idol-like images with pronounced gender characteristics. The most common among toys has always been the doll. Clay, wooden, and rag dolls existed among peasants for several centuries and had different meanings. Dolls were largely associated with all sorts of rituals during the holidays. Since the time of Peter the Great's reforms, toys, including dolls, for rich people, gradually began to penetrate into Russia from abroad. The revival of the art of making hand-made dolls began in the early 90s of the 20th century. The charming, cozy world of noble estates came to life again in the images of numerous “city” dolls. The largest St. Petersburg center for the production of hand-made dolls in national and secular costumes of different times and peoples was the art and production association “Amusing Craft”. The first designer toys, made to order by Moscow craftsmen from the Armory Chamber, appeared in the 17th and 18th centuries. They were intended for the royal children and children of representatives of the upper strata of society of the Russian state. And in 1918, a decree was issued to create a Toy Museum in Moscow, and dolls took their rightful place in it. The first designer toys, made to order by Moscow craftsmen from the Armory Chamber, appeared in the 17th and 18th centuries. They were intended for the royal children and children of representatives of the upper strata of society of the Russian state. And in 1918, a decree was issued to create a Toy Museum in Moscow, and dolls took their rightful place in it. In the first years of Soviet power, man-made Russian toys experienced a deep crisis. The difficult times of revolutionary upheaval and civil war did not at all contribute to its development. On the other hand, hand-made toys began to be actively replaced by factory dolls and stamped metal toys. However, over time, interest in toys, especially peasant ones, began to gradually grow. A traditional cloth doll is the simplest representation of a female figure. There is nothing superfluous in it, it is almost a symbol. A piece of fabric rolled into a rolling pin, a face made of flax shreds, a chest made of tightly stuffed balls, a hair or tow braid, that is, made of flax or hemp, an outfit made of colorful shreds - this is what the doll was like. And not by chance. Echoes of ancient beliefs and the folk ideal of beauty are intricately intertwined in a rag doll. For the hard life of a peasant, health and beauty are almost the same thing. No wonder the doll is so stable, which is emphasized by the wide hem: you can immediately see how firmly it stands on the ground! Since ancient times, a traditional toy in the life of the Russian village, even in the poorest peasant families, has been a rag doll. In some houses, up to a hundred of them accumulated. Dolls were not just girls' fun. All the children played until they were 7-8 years old, while they wore shirts. But as soon as boys began to wear portages, and girls began to wear skirts, their playing roles and the games themselves quickly became separated. While the children were small. Mothers, grandmothers, and older sisters sewed dolls. From the age of five, any girl could do such a nursery rhyme. A cloth doll is the simplest image of a female figure. A piece of cloth rolled into a “rolling pin”, a face carefully covered with a linen, white rag, breasts made of smooth, tightly stuffed balls, a hair braid with a ribbon woven into it, and an outfit made of colorful rags. As they got older, the girls sewed more intricate dolls, and sometimes they turned to a craftswoman, a woman, who produced these dolls, they were very good, and she made them to order. Even in the 19th century in Rus', toys were never left in the hut at random - “they were kept in a basket or in small chests with a note or embossing, stored in bast boxes so that they would not lie anywhere. They passed from one girl to another,” after all, peasant families at that time were very numerous, there were 11-15 children in families. To become a good mother, they believed that you need to play with dolls. The first dolls depicted the highest and most powerful beings - Gods. People created sculptures of gods (Svarog, Dazhdbog, Makosh, etc.), gave them names, worshiped them and asked for help and protection. So the first dolls made life easier for the first people. The disadvantage of a rag doll was that it could not be washed, combed or sewn new clothes, because the suit, as a rule, was never removed from the doll. Many rag dolls were ephemera. Rag dolls did not have a face. This is due to ancient ideas, with the role of toys in the past as a magical object. Such a “faceless doll” served as a “amulet”. The absence of a face was a sign that the doll was an inanimate thing, which means it could not be infused with evil forces. A talisman is an amulet or a magic spell that saves a person from various dangers, as well as an object on which the spell is cast and which is worn on the body as a talisman. According to their purpose, dolls are divided into three large groups: amulet, ritual and game.

Amulet dolls:

1. Kuvatka

2. Angel

3. Feverish women

4. Day and night

5. Paraskeva

6. Vepsskaya

7. Grandma's doll

8. Bell

Ritual dolls:

1. Lovebirds

2. World tree

3. Maslenitsa and “Home Maslenitsa”

5. Kostroma

6. “Cuckoo” and the Cuckoo doll

7. Pokosnitsa

8. Kupavka

10. Ash doll

11. “Kozma and Demyan”

12. Cabbage

Play dolls:

1. Columns

2. Baby - naked

4. Doll “to be snatched”

5. "Simple-haired"

6. “Doll with a scythe”

7. “Dressy doll”

8. Girl-Baba

In addition, the dolls were divided by size into elbow, palm, and finger. The name speaks for itself.
We propose to classify dolls according to the manufacturing method.
We offer the following types:

1. The basis of the doll is 2 rectangles (“Kuvatki”, “Easter”, “Lovebirds”, “Kuzma and Demyan”)

3. Pillar dolls have a base made of birch bark, fabric, and logs.

4. Dolls based on a bag (ash, grain, grain).

MOSCOW DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

GBOU School No. 1412 SP 8

RAG DOLLS

N

AND RUSI

RAGDOLL

A man-made rag doll served for our ancestors not just as a doll to play with, but as a kind of tribal ethnic code that indicated the guidelines of the path of life. There were no accidents in the making of traditional rag dolls - there was a certain meaning in everything. As a rule, rag dolls were the simplest representation of a female figure: a piece of cloth rolled into a rolling pin, a face carefully covered with a white linen rag, breasts made of rag balls and an ordinary or festive peasant outfit made of a rag.

Rag dolls, sewn from a new flap, specially made as a gift for christenings, for the day of the angel, for the holiday, showing kindred love and care. In the family, for their children, the dolls were usually “twirled” from old rags. And not because of poverty, but because of the ritual of blood intimacy. It was believed that worn material stored the ancestral power and, embodied in a doll, passed it on to the child, becoming a talisman. For dolls, the hems of women's shirts and aprons were most often used. It was these parts of the costume, in contact with the earth and thus absorbing its power, that had the greatest sacred meaning. It is noteworthy that the flap for dolls was always torn by hand, and not cut off with scissors. It was believed that such a toy prophesied integrity without flaws or damage to its little owner.

The doll represented a mythological formula for the world order, reflecting the very essence of the universal cycle in nature and in human life. The simplest three-part figurine, tied around the neck and belted, was built according to the scheme of the triune world: heavenly (upper), earthly (middle) and underground (lower). Cross-shaped dolls also pointed to the four cardinal directions.

People did not give dolls a proper name. The name likened the doll to a person, a specific person. This means that with the help of the named doll it was possible to cause harm, taking advantage of the similarity of names for witchcraft. By calling the doll by name, it was possible to disturb the spirit of one of the deceased relatives. In order to protect against evil forces, as a precaution, the dolls were left mute, nameless, and if they were named, they were named collectively: dolls, mankas, nesting dolls, tsatskis... Most often they were called that way - “dolls,” thereby separating them from other toys. The conventional language of the faceless, nameless figure allowed it to perform various ritual roles.

The depiction of a face in a doll was for a long time banned among peasants. When asked why the doll did not have a face, the village women answered that it simply did not need it, that there should not be extra eyes in the house. They believed that a sighted doll was dangerous for the child. After all, eyes, nose, mouth, ears, even drawn ones, are still gates through which communication occurs with cosmic forces, light and dark, good and evil. Therefore, it is better not to open these gates; it is safer to place a taboo on them. Only in such “deathly” silence can the secret of the clan and family be preserved.

The rag doll had not only enormous semantic, but also species diversity. Folk memory has preserved many traditional images of dolls.

According to their purpose they are divided into three groups: amulets, ritual and gaming, according to manufacturing method– for twisting and stitching. Some masters also subdivide in the image: for a peasant doll and a lady doll.

Dolls endowed totemic and ritual symbolism, were carefully kept in every family and passed on from generation to generation. Such dolls were made throughout life, starting from childhood, and only for the second time could they serve as toys. These creatures were little gods in the house; they talked to them, confided their troubles and joys to them, and called for help.

In traditional Russian culture, the ritual doll occupied a special place, playing at a certain stage of history an important role not so much in the life of a child, but in the life of an adult family member, especially a woman, a mother. She was an indispensable participant in all ancient rituals and magical mysteries, being at the center of most rituals of the calendar and family cycles. According to ancient beliefs, she could take on illnesses and misfortunes and help with the harvest. It was given to a newborn to ward off evil spirits; to the bride, as a blessing for marriage; the woman in labor was placed in bed to facilitate childbirth.

The square scraps from which ritual dolls were made could not be cut or sewn with a needle. They could only be torn, and then along a single thread. Further, speaking in the language of the craftswomen, the doll “twirled” or “twirled.” There was no provision for dressing up the doll; it was created as a complete image, unique in its uniqueness and artistry.

Its decorative design also played an important role.

For example, dolls in festive costumes, where every detail and color also had its own symbolism, were given to their closest and dearest people on name days, christenings and other important events as a sign of cementing family ties. Families belonging to various classes collected a huge number of such dolls.

There are a great many types of totem dolls. So, double doll “Day and Night”, preserved order in the house. During the day it was turned to the light side, and in the evening - to the dark side.

TO
ukla " Bell" protected the house from bad news, helped maintain a good mood in it.

A here are the dolls" Feverish" served as amulets against diseases. There should have been 13 of them - according to the magic number. And they hanged themselves behind the stove.

They were done in a special way and with special incantations. On Maslenitsa they were burned so that all troubles would leave the house with them.

With the help of dolls "Kuvatok"(kuvatka - baby, newborn child) the husband, during the birth of his wife, lured out evil spirits in various ways, later this doll became a talisman and the first doll of a newborn, which was placed in the cradle, and then it “guarded” the child’s sleep. At the same time, mothers said, “Sleeping, insomnia, Don’t play with my baby, But play with this doll.”

Kubyshka-Herbalist brought with her health, protection, consolation and drove away the spirits of illness. And this is not without reason, because inside the doll contained a bag with various medicinal herbs. In case of illness, they kneaded the doll in their fingers and immediately the aroma of essential oils of these medicinal plants spread throughout the room.

That is why, for a long time, the Herbal Pot was in every home, and if necessary, it was placed at the patient’s bedside, hung over a child’s crib, or simply given to hands to play with.

Ritual dolls also include "Zernushka" which has a deep symbolic meaning. The inside of the doll was always filled with grain, buckwheat, millet or peas. It was given for Kolyada, Christmas and other holidays so that the harvest would be rich. The female image of the doll is directly related to mother earth, who gives birth to seedlings.

T Traditionally, the Zernushka Doll was made from burlap. A small bag was filled with grain, while the women always sang a song or read a prayer. The head was attached to the body-bag, tied with a scarf and a braid-belt (sometimes with a magical ornament: water, earth, grain, sun).

The conventional humanoid figurine once performed a magical role and served as a talisman. She participated in rites and holidays, in ritual events of life, celebrating birth, wedding, departure to ancestors. They were the guardians of home, sleep, health, household and family well-being.

One of the oldest protective There was a Vepsian doll in Rus', which accompanied a person’s life from his very birth. She represented the image of a married woman and symbolized well-being and prosperity, as well as women's health. It was also made without the use of scissors and a needle; the fabric was simply torn from scraps of mother’s clothing and the parts were tied together. The mother prepared the doll in this way even before the birth of her child, thereby wanting to make his life “not cut or stabbed.” Lying in the baby's cradle, the doll protected him from the evil eye and at the same time carried the image of a mother-nurse capable of feeding the whole family. The appearance and name of the Vepsian doll depended on the role that was assigned to it.

Vepsians are one of the peoples who belonged to the Finno-Ugric language group. Today the Vepsians are a small people living in the territory of Karelia, Leningrad and Vologda regions, who have preserved their traditions and rituals.

If there was a girl of marriageable age in the family, then the doll was made beautiful and elegant, and called Cabbage. Woman in labor helped in childbirth, and Nurse and Bereginya- in caring for children and the family as a whole. In this case, the doll was represented with its arms raised to the Sky and the Sun.

The parts of the Vepsian doll were tied together with scraps of multi-colored threads. In this case, no knots were made, only thread was wrapped around the fabric, and its end was tucked in. The fabric was traditionally chosen natural: cotton, linen or chintz. Embroidery was a necessary detail of the costume and was done mainly with red threads of different shades. This color was given a special meaning - “protective”.

The summer doll of one day also belongs to rituals. "Kupavka" It was made at the beginning of bathing and was associated with the holiday of Ivan Kupala. Many ribbons were tied to the hands of “Kupavka”, which symbolized people’s illnesses and adversity. It was decorated with grass, flowers, green branches and on the day of the holiday it was floated on water, believing that the water would cleanse a person from all troubles.

The doll was also one of the main characters in the poetic ancient ritual of “funeral cuckoos" It was held before Trinity and served as the initiation of teenage girls into young women. The girls went into the forest and danced in circles, sang songs, exchanged wreaths and specially made dolls from dry grass, “cuckoo tears.” The funeral ceremony for the dolls also took place here. The meaning of the ritual was to rid girls of the qualities inherent in the cuckoo, to say goodbye to childhood and enter the world of adult life.

Dolls also occupied one of the central places in the Russian wedding ceremony, accompanying every act of the ceremony. Yes, wedding couple "Lovebirds" was made from one piece, most often red, as a symbol of life. This paired doll was connected by one unbreakable thread and had a single hand, symbolizing the indissolubility of marriage bonds, the willingness of husband and wife to walk through life hand in hand, to be together in joy and sorrow.

The children had their own more simple play dolls. They were very conventional and easy to make. One of the most common children's play rag dolls was the doll "Baby Naked" . A distinctive feature of the technique of its manufacture was that the fabric at the bottom was not left as a single “hem”, but was divided into two parts and legs were formed by wrapping them with threads. Threads were also used to mark the head. The doll was naked, without clothes, but with a belt, which in Russian traditional costume was always considered a strong amulet sign. Such a play doll, with its element of incompleteness, thereby stimulated the imagination of children, since they were allowed to give it facial features and dress it. In addition, the doll, endowed with magical properties, developed, according to the beliefs of the ancients, the maternal principle in the child and a sense of family. For example, until recently in rural areas they placed scarecrows in vegetable gardens. Modern villagers probably no longer know that the scarecrow is actually an echo of the ancient harvest guardian dolls.

Dolls were rarely sewn for children; more often they were folded by adults, such as a simple doll "Lady", hastily. It consisted of a torso covered with white cloth and tied in three places. Then the head was covered with a long flap, grabbed around, the remaining fabric on the sides was cut into three parts and braids were braided - the arms. A skirt and apron were put on such a “blank”, a scarf was tied on top, and the doll was ready. Children could make (sew or roll) a doll themselves from the age of three or four. The first children's dolls were small, stylized, primitive humanoid figures. Of course, while different from dolls made by adults, they were at the same time an act of children's creativity. Both boys and girls played with dolls until they were seven or eight years old, i.e. until they wore uniform clothes (long shirts). Girls up to 12 years old played and sewed more intricate dolls “to show off”, then comparing who’s dolls turned out better. Both girls and young married women played with dolls. They were brought to gatherings, taken with them on visits, to work. Among all types of women's needlework, the doll occupied a special place. The doll was used to judge the taste and skill of its owner.

By the end of the 19th century. The functions of the rag doll began to change, noticeably the desire to make the rag doll more believable, they became more and more playful. Losing its former magical role, its appearance also changed. The conventional faceless figurine lost its magical ritual role, becoming an entertaining toy bought at a fair. The rag doll “gets a face,” which becomes the most important element of the doll’s appearance. The means of plasticity, line, and color are involved in its creation. Facial features are specified using drawing, painting, and embroidery.

A doll is a sign of a person, his play image is a symbol. In this role, she focuses time, cultural history, the history of the country and people, reflecting their movement and development.

Svetlana Bitel
"Folk rag dolls"

Presentation

"Folk rag dolls"

For children of senior preschool age.

Presentation objectives:

Introduce children to the history of the origin of the folk doll;

Give an idea of the variety of types of rag dolls;

Learn how to make a Comforter doll.

“When you make dolls,” the craftsmen say, “the soul responds. After all, each doll has its own essence. If you manage to understand it, illnesses go away, life gets better, and peace reigns in the house. This is precisely why our ancestors made dolls..."

From the presentation, children will learn the history of the origin of dolls, what material dolls were made from, at what age children began to “twirl” dolls, how dolls were treated, what types of dolls can be divided into according to their purpose.

Presentation text.

The doll came to us from deep pagan antiquity, when it was a magical object. In ancient times, dolls were sacrificed to the gods, asking them in return for a rich harvest, good weather, and happy love.

Everyone knows the folk custom of giving dolls to children. In ancient times, they were made by the family themselves or brought from the fair. People believed that a toy gift would bring health and well-being to the child. The child not only played with dolls, but also tried to repeat them and make them himself. This encouraged him to work, to be creative - one of the main advantages of a homemade toy.

Researchers believe that the earliest dolls are the ash doll and the “log” doll.

They used different materials: moss, birch bark, twigs, bast, sponge, rags, straw, ash and ordinary logs. The fabric was not cut or sewn, but torn by hand, which is why the dolls are also called “rvanki.” They took worn material, it is believed that this way the ancestral strength is preserved.

There were a lot of dolls in each house, up to 100 pieces. And not surprisingly, children began to twirl dolls at the age of 3. It was believed that the more dolls, the more happiness in the family. And by the way the children treated the dolls, they judged the future well-being of the family. If children handle dolls with care, then there will be prosperity and happiness in the house. If you were careless and threw it somewhere inappropriate, then expect trouble.

Traditional rag doll without face - faceless. The face of all the dolls remained white. A doll without a face was considered an inanimate object, inaccessible to the infusion of evil forces, evil, and therefore harmless to the child. It was supposed to bring health, joy, prosperity. It was a miracle: from several rags, without arms, without legs, without a face, the character of the doll was conveyed. The doll had many faces, she could laugh and cry.

People’s judgment as to whether she would grow up to be a diligent housewife depended on the dexterity and diligence with which the girl “twirled” the dolls.

Most of the dolls were made during the long winter evenings to pass the time. On such evenings, grandmother, mother, and older sisters taught the kids how to make dolls. Adults took this matter seriously and with soul, and tried to pass on their knowledge to children.

Throwing away such dolls was considered a sin. They were carefully placed in a chest. Dolls were passed down from grandmothers to grandchildren. So dolls and the technique of making them have not disappeared over the centuries, and have survived to this day. Learn how to create folk dolls. Be proud that you are joining folk traditions and culture.

The dolls were different. According to their purpose, traditional folk dolls can be divided into three groups: ritual dolls,

amulets (amulet) dolls and gaming dolls.

Play dolls

were made to teach the child life during play. Such dolls served as entertainment for the child.

(early childhood dolls, primary school dolls)

Girl-woman (changeling,

Columns,

Doll of happiness,

Bunny on your finger, etc.

Amulet dolls

are called upon to protect the inhabitants of the house (pets) from hunger, from disease, from bad people.

(amulets of home, prosperity, amulets of health, childhood)

Diaper,

Day-night (home amulet,

Kuvatka,

Zernovushka (bagach)

Fever - shakers, etc.

Ritual dolls

Every nation has its own rituals. Our ancestors used dolls for seasonal holidays, weddings, and the birth of a child. For example, Maslenitsa was burned, asking for the departure of winter and the approach of spring, “Go away snowy winter, come red summer.” It was believed that all sorrows, illnesses and troubles went into the sky with smoke.

(rites of the calendar cycle, life cycle, invocation of spring)

Zolnaya,

Vesnyanka,

Berestushka,

Verbnitsa,

A couple (lovebirds), etc.

Many folk rag dolls are often very difficult to classify as one type; one doll can belong to two types at once. For example, “Bunny on your finger” is a protective and gaming doll, “Ash” is a ritual and protective doll.

Be proud that you are joining folk traditions and culture.

« Those who don't play with dolls don't know happiness!»-

says a Russian folk saying