How to make a Maslenitsa doll yourself

Many people prepare for the Maslenitsa holiday in different ways. Some come up with funny contests, prepare traditional treats in the form of pancakes, while others make funny toys symbolizing the Eastern Slavic holiday. This article will discuss how to make a Maslenitsa doll with your own hands.

The origins and meaning of the celebration of Maslenitsa

In Ancient Rus', this Orthodox folk holiday was celebrated in the first days of spring (the second week of March).

Initially, Maslenitsa was celebrated to improve the fertility of the land. Peasants truly believed that their relatives, who gave their souls to God, could influence the quantity and quality of the harvest.

Every year the number of supporters of this theory grew. Over time, the celebration of the East Slavic holiday took on a traditional character.

Many people in Rus' were sure that spring is the best time to appease God. And the Almighty, in turn, will have mercy on mere mortals and heal their children from fatal diseases. It will also help protect against the evil eye and black magic.

The process of creating the Maslenitsa doll

The main symbol of the holiday was considered to be a kind of doll, which people made from improvised means. Nowadays, this tradition has become a thing of the past, and only a few make dolls for Maslenitsa.

The doll "Maslenitsa" is made by hand as follows:

1. Take a rag and fold it into a ball shape with a radius of 5 cm. This will be the head of the future doll.
2. Take a piece of fabric measuring 20 x 20 cm and place the previously formed ball in the center.
3. Fold the cloth into a triangle and wrap it around your head several times using a red thread.
4. Proceed to making the arms. For this purpose, you need to fold the fabric in the shape of an airplane and wrap it with thread on the sides.
5. Wrap the arms crosswise, thus forming the doll's skirt.
6. Take a multi-colored fabric and add it to the skirt. Then you will need to wind the fabric around the figure several times clockwise.

What can you make a Maslenitsa doll from?

In the old days, Maslenitsa dolls were made from improvised means. The materials used for this purpose were not particularly important. The main thing was to put your soul into your work to please God.

After the end of the holiday, Maslenitsa dolls stood in people's homes until the following year. A few days before the next Maslenitsa, it was customary to burn the symbol of the previous holiday.

Farmers who ignored this recommendation risked being left without a harvest this year. This is why the pupae did not last long.

Now, only specific materials can be used to make the Maslenitsa doll. The most common ones will be discussed below.

Maslenitsa doll made of bast

In Rus', bast shoes were made from this material. Now you can make a beautiful doll from it, which will decorate the celebration of an Eastern Slavic holiday.

The features of making a doll from such material are as follows:

1. Before starting work, the bast of a deciduous tree must be soaked in warm water and left for three days. This will increase the strength of the future product.
2. It is advisable to use linden bast according to ancient Russian tradition.
3. You can always find a master class on making holiday toys on the Internet.
4. After finishing the work, you must not drip candle wax onto the doll. This is a bad omen that can lead to unfavorable consequences in the future. It was previously believed that such behavior would anger the higher powers and lead to massive fires. Therefore, it is better not to take risks.

From threads

This method of making a Maslenitsa doll is relevant for those who knit. Sewing a product from threads is not an easy task. It is a complex technical process that requires a person to be highly concentrated. The main thing is to do the work accurately.

A Maslenitsa doll is made with your own hands in the following sequence:

• First, you need to tie the doll's head. To do this, you can wrap some rags with threads.
• Tie the body.
• Make a skirt or a sundress.

Made of fabric

Detailed instructions for making such a doll have already been presented above. This toy has several distinctive features:

• Beautiful design. If all the rules are followed, the result should be an elegant doll.
• The combination of white and red colors cannot help but distinguish the product from similar ones.
• Possibility of using eyes for greater verisimilitude. Buttons, pebbles, paper and other small objects can be used as pupils.
• Snow-white shade. Before making the doll, the fabric must be washed.

This method of making a Maslenitsa doll does not require special training and skills. Only manual dexterity is important. You can make such a toy by watching a training video on the Internet.

Doll made of grass, hay or straw

This is an alternative option for those who do not want to spend a lot of free time on a doll. With the help of hay, the product can be made in a few minutes, observing the basic rules and technology of production.

It is recommended to use only long grass for ease of manufacture. Small blades of grass are too laborious to plant.

Step-by-step master class on creating a doll "Home Maslenitsa"

A universal lady, which many people make on the eve of Maslenitsa. This procedure is carried out in several stages, each of which deserves some attention.

Necessary materials

To make the doll "Home Maslenitsa", you will need:

• Scissors.
• Bast.
• Multicolored ribbons.
• A piece of wire.
• Broom.
• Sintepon.
• Threads. It is advisable to stock up on multi-colored threads.

Manufacturing procedure

A step-by-step, ritual master class on the topic of making a doll "Home Maslenitsa" (it is also called a doll for home comfort) looks like this:

1. Prepare everything you need to complete the task. This includes the tools, instruments, and materials described above. In some cases, additional equipment will be required.
2. Start shaping the head. To do this, you need to fold the bast into two parts.
3. Tie the material with threads at the top.
4. Take the second smaller bunch and cross it with the first one, tying it with threads. This will create a base for the hands, which will then only need to be decorated with decorative materials.
5. Tie threads to the ends of the second bunch, thus creating doll palms.
6. Tie the head with white fabric, twisting the material several times diagonally in a clockwise direction. If desired, decorate using improvised means.
7. Decorate the doll's chest using padding polyester. At this point, the manufacturing procedure can be considered complete. However, for greater attractiveness, you can continue to decorate your product further.
8. Attach a dress to make the image of a Russian woman more realistic. For this purpose, you will need to buy a ready-made multi-colored piece of fabric and tie it around the body. This is not a mandatory condition.
9. The last stage involves decorating the product. This involves adding eyes to the doll, flowers in her hands, a scarf, a headscarf, etc. Here, each person has the right to decide for themselves what they want to see on their creation.

The main thing is not to overdo it. According to ancient Russian custom, the doll will need to be burned on a fire before the next Maslenitsa. This must be done within a year.

Instead of a dress, you can make a sarafan for the doll. Moreover, each person independently chooses the length of the clothes. The dress can completely cover the doll's legs. This is even better than using short skirts.

You can sew a scarf from red threads yourself, or you can tie a regular kitchen towel, cutting it a little. This product will emphasize the individuality of the doll.

This article presented the main methods of making the Maslenitsa doll, and also considered the history of the appearance of such products. This custom has survived to this day. Anyone can make dolls with their own hands for Maslenitsa. It will not take much time.