The matryoshka, commonly known as the nesting doll, is one of the most classic representations of traditional Russian peasant life. Beautifully handcrafted and intricately ornamented, these figurines are the evidence of Russia's enduring folkloric past.
The matryoshka doll is barely a hundred years old. The first doll, known as the "rooster doll" was created in 1892 by Vasily Zvyozdochkin.
Matryoshka translates to "little mother" in Russian. A common misconception is labeling the nesting dolls as "babushka dolls," especially in countries outside of Russia who are not aware of the true context of the largest doll as the mother. So, matryoshka would be the correct way to call the nesting dolls.
True babushka dolls are depicted wearing the colorful "babushka" kerchief commonly worn by Russian women. In addition, babushka translates to "old woman" or "grandmother" in Russian.
The matryoshka doll is one of the most popular souvenirs for tourists because it synonymizes with Russia. The price largely reflects on their age, painting (especially the hand-painted ones) and the amount of dolls in a set.
It starts with the largest doll of the matryoshka set, which represents the importance of the mother, or matriarch, of the family. The smallest doll of the set is often called the "seed" or the baby.
Altogether, the individual dolls are designed to nest inside one another and symbolize the mothers carrying on the family legacy through each generations. In other words, the mother literally "contains" her children (or their spouse and other relatives) within her.
Matryoshka dolls are handcrafted with painstaking skill and an eye for details. They are usually made with high quality wood, especially birch. A turning machine is used to carve the dolls into the cylindrical shape that we all recognize.
To prevent the wood from chipping and absorbing the paint, the doll is coated with a starch-like glue (doubling as a primer), which keeps the wood protected. After painting the intricate details with bright colors, each doll is coated with a few layers of lacquer, which gives off a shiny finish.
There are many occasions that make matryoshka dolls wonderful gifts. You can give a doll to someone special as a housewarming gift, for mother's day or even as a collectible in your home. They are also given to children as toys to play with.
For Russians, the matryoshka doll is more than just a toy. It is a heartfelt symbol of their deep and authentic love for their home nation. For foreigners, it's a classic souvenir of their travels and a dream of ancient Russian peasant beliefs.
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