The folk toy of Kursk Region

 

The folk toy is one of the important monuments of the traditional culture of the Russian people. It is a traditional element of parenting.

The word "toy" is interpreted as an object specially created for play, fun. Each folk toy is a unique cultural phenomenon at the level of a genuine work of art.

It should be noted that in the territory of the Kursk Region, traditional folk toys have been practiced since ancient times. For example, the simplest rattle toys (5-7 centuries BC) were found during archaeological excavations near the village of Makhnovka in the Sudzhansky district. Today you can see them in the regional Museum .

The center of the painted clay toys of the Kursk Region is the village of Kozhlya, Kurchatov district. This toy was known in all corners of Russia in the 19th and 20th centuries. It was made of local clay of a grayish color, then fired in a furnace and painted with red, blue, yellow and green colors.

The famous Kozhlyansky whistle toys were very funny, as they were created for children, for play and fun.

Today, the traditions of making rag and straw dolls are being revived in the Kursk Region.

The straw doll, according to folk tradition, was made from the straw of the last sheaf. Fastening of the elements took place with the help of threads and knots, and then the doll was dressed in traditional clothes.

Traditional Russian rag dolls were divided into play dolls, amulets, and ceremonial ones. All such dolls were supposed to be "faceless". Our ancestors believed that a doll with a "face" gained a soul and became dangerous for a child. Amulet dolls were placed in children's cradles "from the evil eye".

Today we can safely say that the Russian folk toy is an important ethnic element and a monument of the traditional culture of our people; the heritage of our ancestors. Kursk craftsmen and craftsmen are actively reviving this business. Now you can find a lot of different invitations to master classes on making folk toys - rag dolls. Thanks to such masters of our nightingale region, a thin thread of traditions and customs that connect the past, present and future generations is strengthened and not lost.

Our resources:

1. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ilsv9y4ibNtCol7xGrBuLIak73boHleJ/view
2. https://ok.ru/group53870866858217/topic/66810083382761
3. https://prazdnichnymir.ru/slavyanskie-kuklyi-oberegi-obo-vseh-ponemnogu-1/