Faceless holiday dolls of the Slavs: why did they not draw faces in Russia?

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

In the old days in Russia, children played with rag dolls, which, as a rule, did not have faces. Why? Was it really just that the craftswomen were too lazy to draw the doll's eyes, nose and mouth? No, there were completely different reasons for that.

Magical meaning

According to the Orthodox faith, man was created in the image and likeness of God. A doll, on the other hand, is an inanimate object. However, if she looked like a person, then she would also embody the image of God. Therefore, making her look like a human was unacceptable. On the contrary, our ancestors believed that an unclean force, for example, a demon or a brownie, could enter a humanoid doll. As a result, a child who plays with a doll may suffer: he will get sick or other troubles will befall him.

It is not for nothing that in our time, dolls with human faces, in which evil spirits inhabit, appear in many horror films. Dolls in Russia served not only as toys, they played the role of amulets. Moreover, for both children and adults. In ancient times, dolls protected people from diseases, evil spirits, and various misfortunes.

It was believed that dolls made without the use of a needle and scissors possessed the greatest magical power. During their manufacture, the fabric was not cut, but torn. That is how these dolls were called - "rags". Often they did not have not only faces, but also arms and legs.

Dolls-amulets

Even before the birth of the child, they made a "dream book" doll, which was placed in the cradle so that the baby slept soundly and calmly. Before the baby was baptized, a swaddled baby doll was placed in the cradle. It was usually made from pieces of old clothes. After baptism, the doll was kept together with the child's baptismal shirt. In the northern regions of Russia, the birch doll was popular.

They made it from birch bark rolled into a tube. A sheet with a protective prayer or conspiracy was put inside. "Berestushki" was also called "grandmother's dolls", since they were usually given to their grandchildren by their own grandmothers. For the wedding, the newlyweds were presented with lovebird dolls: the male and female figurines had one common hand, symbolizing the strength of the marriage union. They were made from three red patches of the same size. Pupae were fixed on a towel.

When the firstborn appeared in a young family, the "lovebirds" were removed from the towel, which was then used in the household. The dolls themselves were given to the child to play, or simply kept in the house. A ten-handed doll was presented as a wedding present to a bride or a newly married woman. According to legend, the doll was supposed to help the young mistress to keep up with everything, and also contributed to harmony in family life.

The “krupenichka” doll was considered the talisman of the whole family. They did it after the harvest. The body of the pupa was a bag of grain. It was believed that such a doll would bring prosperity and well-being to the house. In addition, "krupenichka" symbolized fertility, so it was popular with women who wanted to have children.

In the south of Russia there was a tradition of making amulets for dwellings in the form of dolls, which were called "day and night". It was supposed to make such a doll on New Year's Eve from fabrics of dark and light colors, which symbolized night and day, respectively. In the morning, the doll was turned towards itself with the light side, and in the evenings - with the dark side. This was necessary so that the day or night would pass peacefully. The doll-"broom" saved from quarrels and discord in the house.

They made it from grass, bast or straw, putting on a handkerchief and a sarafan in accordance with local traditions. They also made twelve dolls, swaddled them like babies and fastened them together, and then placed them in a secluded place behind the stove. These dolls were called "fevers". They were believed to protect their hosts from disease.

Dolls for the holidays

There were also special ritual dolls that were used in various magical rituals, including those associated with holidays. So, the "shearing" doll, made from the first compressed sheaf, was "responsible" for a rich harvest. The goat doll was used in Christmas carols. The “sacrum” doll was placed at Epiphany by a bucket of consecrated water.

During Maslenitsa week, a doll called "home carnival" was hung out of the window. By Palm Sunday, they made red-faced Easter dolls, which it was customary to give to wanderers and pilgrims. Ivan Kupala was dressed with a "kupavka" doll, on whose hands they hung ribbons, denoting girlish desires. Then the tapes were removed and allowed to float along the river. It was believed that they not only contribute to the fulfillment of desires, but also take all adversity with them.

By the way, even today you can buy or order a faceless amulet doll that serves one or another magical purpose. If desired, children can also play with such dolls, but a modern child is unlikely to be greatly interested in a toy made in accordance with ancient traditions. Today, few people remember the original sacred purpose of such things.