In the old days, in almost every hut you could see a homemade doll. A beneficiary or Vesnyanka, Bereginya or Plantain - it does not matter. The main thing is that each of them, including the most revered Krupenichka, or Zernovushka, was called upon to protect the home and household. And therefore, a motanka - the so-called any home-made doll - was always given the most honorable place in the hut.
Why Krupenichka?
The peasants were very sensitive to the processes of sowing and harvesting grain. Indeed, the well-being and how she survived the harsh winter depended on what kind of crop the family received. For this reason, the Slavs from pagan times came up with the idea of sewing a doll, which they stuffed tightly with groats. Initially, it was buckwheat, buckwheat, then the oats, rye, and peas most demanded by the peasants were added to it. It was they who were usually sown by ordinary people in their fields, and they themselves ate all winter. Although in wealthy families there were more expensive wheat or rice, which, respectively, constituted the inside of Zernovushki.
The most common version of why they called this doll-amulet Krupenichka is the legend of the appearance of buckwheat in Russia. Allegedly, the Tatar-Mongols captured the hardworking daughter of the Russian prince. But the girl refused to marry their khan, who in revenge and out of a desire to break Krupenichka’s pride - that was the name of the beauty - sent the captive to work in the fields. From morning till night she did not straighten her back. And somehow the pilgrim passed by. She felt sorry for the girl and turned her into buckwheat seed so that she could safely hide. And having returned to the Russian lands, she threw grain into fertile soil. It sprouted and turned into a krupenichka bush, i.e., buckwheat. The wind blew and blew 77 grains in all four directions. So buckwheat appeared in Russia, which has become the main food for many families. It was she who was originally supposed to fall asleep in Krupenichka. Later, a tradition appeared to fill the amulet with any other grain that was grown in the family. And along with Krupenichka other names of this motanka began to be used - Zernovushka or Zernushka.
What is the meaning of the doll?
Krupenichka's amulet had a clear purpose - to attract wealth into the house and provide its residents with a well-fed life. At the same time, several Grains stuffed with different cereals could be stored in the hut. Accordingly, each of them had an additional value:
- buckwheat has been reputed to be a source of wealth and abundance;
- oatmeal - health and physical strength;
- pearl barley - satiety;
- Rice - wealth.
One type of cereal was poured into the Zernovushka or several at once - in the first place, everything depended on the wealth of the family. It was believed: the more Krupenichek is in the hut, the more prosperous the life of households will be. Moreover, they certainly tried to keep one of them untouched until spring - this symbolized the protection of the house from troubles and the evil eye.
When did Krupenichka do?
Traditionally, the doll was made in the fall after harvest. It was tightly packed with fresh, selected cereals - preferably obtained from the first sheaf - and left until spring, when it was time to plant the fields. It was believed that the first handful thrown into the ground should be extracted from the Krupenichki doll. This promised a good harvest in the future and renewed it, bringing wealth to the family. The motanka itself was betrayed by the elements - earth or fire - or dismantled into shreds and stored until the fall, when it was time to assemble a new doll-amulet.
Krupenichka could open in the winter. This happened if the croup ran out in the house. It happened that it was Zernovushka who saved the household from starvation. By the way, a stranger could immediately determine whether the family lives richly: Krupenichka is tightly packed - everything is fine, it is thin - there is trouble in the hut.
If several winders were stored in the house, grains were taken from them just to add it to the brew. It was believed that such food has healing properties and promotes health. For the same reason, from time to time the Grains were given to children - playing with her, they were supposedly charged with energy and strength.
What does the amulet look like
According to legend, any motanka, including Krupenichka, should not have a face. This is due to the Christian faith that an evil spirit can infuse a doll with a face. Otherwise, everything depended on the imagination of the craftswoman and the capabilities of the family.
Traditionally, the doll-amulet was preserved by Krupenichka - photos confirm this - they tried to make it chubby and elegant. On top of the bottom shirt - a sundress and an integral part of the peasant's clothes - an apron. Completed the outfit was a gas-coat and a scarf. Additionally, the doll was decorated with a warrior - a ribbon tightening hair. They put small spoons, keys, etc. into the hands. Bright beads were hung around the neck.
In some families, next to Zernovushka, one could see her comrade - the puppet Bogach, who was also tightly stuffed with grain. In general, the better and more elegant the amulets were, the better off the family lived.
Where was the doll stored?
The best place for a doll-amulet Krupenichki has always been the Red Corner. It was next to the icons that she turned into a real defender of the hearth. If there were two rooms in the hut, a small Red Corner was arranged near the table and shelves for utensils. The amulets were also set here.
In modern houses and apartments, Krupenichka can often be seen in the kitchen, next to the cabinets in which supplies are stored.
Making Krupenichki
In the old days, it was a whole rite. Moreover, it was important not only how to make the Krupenichka doll cute and eye-catching, but also how to give it magical power. So, in order to charge the doll with positive energy, during its manufacture it was supposed to read prayers, which should come from a pure heart. Another option is to hold the finished Krupenichka in your hands and tell her how you want to see your house.
Now about how traditionally Russian dolls made a talisman.
The first step was to prepare a canvas or linen bag under the cereal - in the end, it was the body and head of Krupenichka. The first option - to fold in half the flap of the right size and sew the sides - you get a kind of pipe. Tie the bottom edge from the inside with a strong thread and turn it to the front side. Now the resulting bag can be filled with cereals. It remains to tie the upper edge of the pupa. Then gently turn the resulting frill into the bag and secure it well so that grain does not spill out of Krupenichka. The second option is to roll a roll of thick paper and wrap it in several layers with a cloth. The result is the same pipe, but without stitching. Further, from it all the same way you can make a bag.
The next step is to highlight the head of Krupenichki. To do this, you need to bandage the upper part of the bag filled with cereals with a thread. The doll found a body and a head. You can decorate it.
- At the neck level, with the help of a red thread, wind lace, which along the length should reach the legs of Krupenichki. The bottom shirt turned out.
- In a similar way, put the doll in a sundress, on top of which fix the apron. The latter may consist of several shreds of various fabrics, for example, plain cotton and guipure. To make the apron look natural, it must be placed on the top of the doll with the wrong side up, wound to the body at the neck level and then lowered down.
- For a caftan, prepare a long piece of fabric and cotton handles folded into narrow tubes (preferably flesh-colored). The latter attach to the opposite edges of the gas cabinet and wind it into the fabric, moving to its center. Fix the caftan on Krupenichka, ensuring that the handles are on the sides. Fix the gas cabinet with a red thread.
- To put on an openwork warrior from a strip of fabric on your head and tie a large scarf, which should hide all the working threads.
It must be remembered
The craftswomen, who began to manufacture the doll-amulet Krupenichki, the description of which is given above, necessarily followed several important requirements.
- Only natural fabrics and threads were used. The use of scissors and other sharp objects, including a needle, was excluded. All shreds were torn by hands, and the details were wound to Krupenichka with a red thread. Hence the name of all Slavic dolls-charms - motanka.
- The craftswoman should have started manufacturing the amulet exclusively with pure thoughts and a calm soul. It is advisable that no one was around. The exception is a close relative or girlfriend.
- It was impossible to interrupt work on the doll, it was supposed to do it for several hours and with the rising moon.
- A coin was put at the bottom of the bag. Then the Krupenichka doll, made with its own hands and according to its design, brings not only wealth, but also good luck.
Krupenichka these days
From ancient times it was customary to give such a talisman for Kolyadki and all Christmas holidays, since they are associated with fertility and a good future harvest. Nowadays, a doll is often offered to new settlers and newlyweds - after all, both of them need the help of a talisman for the first time. Although such a gift will surely be glad to any person. Especially if the donor makes a doll-amulet Krupenichka with his own hands and puts a piece of his soul into it.