Pelenashka doll - a toy for a baby and the strongest amulet

Various amulets were of great importance in the life of the ancient Slavs. Among them, protective dolls made of fabric stood out. They were believed to protect against evil spirits and the evil eye. Such amulets were made for various significant events, to protect the house and its inhabitants, and to achieve wealth. Much attention was paid to issues of motherhood. Therefore, the pregnant woman and baby were protected with special care. For this, the Pelenashka doll amulet was used. It was done shortly before the baby was born, and it accompanied him until he was 2-3 years old.

The history of the appearance of the Pelenashka doll

The Pelenashka amulet arose thanks to the beliefs and traditions of the ancient Slavs. They believed that throughout life every person is subject to the influence of evil spirits. To protect themselves and their loved ones from troubles - illnesses and failures, our ancestors turned to the light gods for help and created special amulets with Slavic protective symbols.

One of these was Pelenashka. It was a fabric talisman, and it was made for a child, because children are the most defenseless against dark forces. Men were not allowed to participate in this activity - the pregnant woman herself or her mother did the dolling. According to tradition, Pelenashka was supposed to be born exactly one month before the baby was born. The doll was placed in a cradle, where she waited for the baby to appear. This amulet helped to fool the evil spirits, pretending to be a child and taking upon himself all the dashing things that were intended for him.

The diaper protects children, because they are the most vulnerable to evil.

Several ancient traditions are associated with this children's talisman:

1. In some cases, the Diaper was given long before labor began. Such a gift was presented to a young bride who had moved into her husband's house and placed on her lap. They did this so that the girl would feel maternal strength, soon delighting her relatives with the news of a new addition to the family.
2. There is another ritual associated with this doll. The man in labor dressed in women's clothes, taking the Pelenashka with him, and imitated the process of childbirth. The purpose of this action was similar - the performance helped to deceive Navi’s creatures, preventing them from getting to the mother and child and harming them.

What herbs are best to fill a fabric amulet doll?

Our ancestors not only knew about the medicinal properties of plants, but also attributed certain magical properties to them. Therefore, amulets dolls were often stuffed with one or another herb.

• Pansies reminded the traveler of a loved one.
• Anise protected from dark forces. It also helped a person to restrain himself in arguments and keep his mouth shut.
• Basil allowed us not to stray from the right path.
• Marigolds strengthened faith and contributed to the fight against adversity.
• Valerian gave me strength. A person could not feel tired for a long time and easily overcome obstacles.
• The carnation kept love.
• St. John's wort had a positive effect on health and brought good luck.
• Centaury guaranteed that the husband would return home from his trip.
• Calendula helped fight the cold.

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The meaning of the amulet doll Pelenashka

Outwardly, Pelenashka looked like an ordinary children's doll, but in fact she became not just the first toy, but also the first protector after her mother. No matter how hard the mother tries, she, busy with everyday worries, will not always be able to make sure that everything is in order with the child.

Therefore, the Slavs made a special motanka to protect babies. The diaper performed one single task, but a very important one, because the Slavs respected the tradition of procreation. They valued family.

Lyalka helped to ward off any negativity from the kids: the evil eye, unkind words, the machinations of dark entities. All this bypassed the owner of such a doll without touching him.

This amulet for a child has one feature - it does not reflect negativity from the owner, but takes it upon himself. For this reason, the doll needs to be replaced with a new one from time to time. Having collected a lot of nasty things, she will no longer be able to ward off the evil eye and damage as well as before.

Rules for making ritual dolls

Let's make a Pelenashka doll so that it “works.” Since this amulet is intended for a baby, it is necessary to sit down to perform it with pure thoughts and in a good mood. When making the Diaper, imagine a happy and healthy child.

All materials must be taken only natural, the same applies to threads. The color of the fabrics is selected in the same range. The base is always white, and all clothes and ribbons are colored.

Traditionally, scissors and needles are not used in the doll making process. All fabrics are torn by hand, and all elements are tied together with ribbons and threads. Now many have moved away from this rule, however, real craftswomen still adhere to this rule.

Nowadays, Slavic protective dolls are gaining popularity. Making them is not only a pleasant pastime, but also a way to join our culture and traditions.

How to use a doll amulet for a child

According to the rules, the Pelenashka amulet, made by the mother with her own hands, must accompany the child everywhere. Being in close proximity to the child, he will be able to protect him from morning to evening, wherever he is.

The diaper should accompany the baby absolutely everywhere.

When the baby is at home, you can hang it above the cradle or by the bed. It is better not to give the doll directly into your hands, because while playing with it, the child can pull the doll into his mouth and choke.

When you go out for a walk, don’t forget to take your Pelenashka with you. Our ancestors believed that young children are most susceptible to negative energy attacks. This way you can divert attention from the child, directing the gaze of neighbors and passers-by to the doll.

Ritual dolls then and now

Why do ritual dolls attract modern historians and simply lovers of Slavic culture? First of all, this is the huge role that these amulets played in the daily life of ordinary peasants. After all, for each stage of life, a doll was created that helped to undergo initiation, receive a new social role, and realize the new responsibility that a person assumed as he grew older.

They protected and guarded, deceived dark spirits and attracted wealth, helped young girls meet their loved ones, and mature women manage large households.

Dolls helped to live and cope with many events that were inexplicable to ancient man.

History of Pelenashka

A twist called “Pelenashka” was made by the eldest woman in the clan as soon as the family found out about the pregnancy. She, like other amulets, was made without a face so that evil spirits would not move into her.

Other sources say that Pelenashka was twisted by the expectant mother in the last month of pregnancy. First of all, such a twist was placed next to the woman in labor to facilitate the arrival of a new person into the world, and then the Pelenashka was placed in a cradle to warm it for the newborn. Next, the amulet protects the baby from the evil eye. This was especially true for children with birth injuries.

Later, with the advent of Christianity, the doll was removed immediately after the child’s baptism and stored together with the baptismal shirt.

There is another ritual in which Pelenashka was used. She was placed on the lap of the young wife, who after the wedding moved to her husband's house. It was believed that in this way maternal power passes to the girl. They resorted to the amulet if there was no small child in the house.

For twisting, fabrics from old clothes of the child’s father or mother and sheets were used. The worn fabric had a special generic power that was passed on to the baby. That is why new materials were not taken for amulets.

It should be very small in size to fit in the hands of a baby. When making the Pelenashka doll with their own hands, the craftswomen reproduced the three elements of a person: the head, the body and the navel, which was considered the vital center.

Ethnographic museums have preserved versions of Swaddling clothes not only made from fabric, but also from straw, wood, and bone. That is, any natural material was taken as a basis, which was then dressed like a baby.

Rules for creating a do-it-yourself diaper doll

Each reel is known for its own characteristics. This is not only the appearance of the doll, something that distinguishes it from others, but also special manufacturing rules, as well as its capabilities.

These are not just rules invented out of nothing to do, but ancient traditions that came to us from the past. Some simply do not think about their existence, while others know but neglect them. Such a frivolous attitude will have to be put aside when creating a talisman, otherwise it will not be able to acquire real magical power.

When making a doll, ancient rules and traditions must be observed.

How to make a Diaper correctly:

• For the doll, you need to take not new, but already used fabric. The one that served as clothing for the mother and father of the child. The Slavs believed that in this way they conveyed the strength of the parents to the doll, and therefore to the child himself. A rag amulet became a powerful protection for children.
• The traditional way of depicting a baby in the form of a doll included not only the torso with the head, but also the navel. The latter was usually “showed” with a thread, tying a knot in the front of the doll. Three vital forces were hidden in these elements - body, spirit and soul. The thread used was red wool.
• When creating the Diaper, another sacred number is involved - seven. The fabric representing the baby's body must be folded exactly seven times.

These are the basic rules that apply to the Diaper rag doll. But do not forget about the general recommendations that are useful when creating any amulet: you need to do it on a waxing moon, in pleasant weather, when you are feeling well.

Basic rules for making a traditional doll

In the folk beliefs of the ancient Slavs, this talisman symbolized the birth of a new life. They create a ritual object out of nothing, which is identified with the maturation of cells that transform into a living person. The body of the toy is “rolled up”, which symbolizes the development of the child in the mother’s womb. In order for the amulet to gain real magical power, it had to be made exactly as every Slav did in ancient times. Otherwise, the toy will not receive protective properties.

To make the folk doll Pelenashka according to the rules, you need to follow the following manufacturing principles:

1. Only old fabric is suitable for creating a talisman. A product made from the father's or mother's old shirt or sleeping sheet is suitable for a newborn. Ancient ancestors believed that such things attract parental protection, which will be beneficial for the child.
2. Do not cut or sew during production. Threads and scissors will ruin the traditional manufacturing plan, and the doll will not receive magical powers. It is allowed to tear the fabric and wind the threads. Cutting and sewing are not used, which is why the toy is often called a motanka.
3. To make a doll resemble a child, it needs to be given human elements of the image. There is always a head and a navel made of red thread, which is associated with the vitality transmitted from the mother. The diaper differs from other toys in that the navel threads are tied at the top. At the end of the work you need to bite it off with your teeth.
4. You cannot depict a face in the head area. The Slavs believed that if a home amulet is faceless, then evil spirits will not inhabit it.
5. During step-by-step manufacturing, elements of the sacredness of numbers must be applied - the fabric is wound 7 times, the threads are wound 4 times. The head needs to be sketched out to indicate the baby's personality.
6. The talisman is made by a pregnant woman or her mother. It is necessary to make an item in a good mood and without bad thoughts. Otherwise, the amulet will not protect the newborn. You need to finish making the doll in one evening. You can't interrupt yourself for other things. Fathers are not allowed to wind the talisman.
7. It is important to pay attention to the lunar calendar. The toy is made during the waxing moon or full moon.

Master class on making a Pelenashka doll

Making a Pelenashka doll is possible not only for skilled craftswomen, but also for beginners in needlework, because this is one of the simplest Slavic reels.

But don’t think that the amulet can be done in a hurry, literally on your knees. Take this matter seriously: select nice materials, fully concentrate on the work, putting aside all worries and any rush. This will charge the doll positively, saturate it with your energy and prepare it for use.

The materials for making the Diaper doll must be natural.

Materials for the doll:

• a piece of white fabric 30x30 cm;
• fabric of any color - also 30x20 cm;
• a bright piece of cloth for a scarf – 10x10 cm;
• a piece of fabric for a diaper – 25x25 cm;
• red thread;
• bright lace for tying;

With everything laid out on the table, take a few minutes to create a work environment. Close the door to your room if you are not alone in the house, turn off the music and put your phone on silent mode. Now you can get started!

Step-by-step master class on making reel:

1. Place a white piece of fabric on a flat, clean surface. Having leveled it, place a second one of the same size on top. It is added to increase the volume of the wrapped figure.
2. Fold the edge of the fabric lengthwise, folding it inward, and then cover it completely with the other edge. Wind the resulting piece into a roll, starting to move the edge of the fabric to the left. Try to find the golden mean - do not tighten the material too tightly, but also do not leave the twist too loose.

3. After wrapping the roll in the middle with red thread, take hold of the scarf. Lay the fabric for it in a diamond shape, bending the top part slightly inward. Place the bundle on top. Bring the fabric back and tuck it into the thread.

4. Lay out the fabric simulating a diaper in the same way. Fold the resulting triangular shape along the edges on top, and then tuck one of them inside. The second one needs to be wrapped behind the back, hiding the protruding corner inside.
5. The last step is to wrap the doll with string. Tie it tightly so that it does not allow the fabric to unravel, securing it all with a bow.

As you can see, making a Diaper is really simple. But behind the external simplicity lies an ancient tradition and great power that can protect the baby from anything bad.

The meaning of Pelenashka for the Slavs

The power of the Pelenashka amulet allows you to protect a pregnant woman and a newborn child from negativity. This is explained by the fact that the Pelenashka amulet had the ability to absorb negative energy directed from the outside and prevent it from reaching the mother and child. If the amulet was not made during pregnancy, then the mother should make it immediately after the birth of the child. Creation of the Diaper amulet symbolizes the creation of man and his birth. This process is very responsible, so when creating a doll you cannot be distracted by anything. By creating a doll, the ancient people stylized the complex life process: just as a person is born from small cells, so a doll is created from scraps. First, the body rolls up and this symbolizes the birth of a little man and carrying him into the womb. The twisting of the thread symbolizes the complexity of the organism. A piece of fabric used as a miniature diaper emphasizes that the baby is ready to be born.

We create a doll-amulet for a child “Kaluga Baby”

The above method of making reels is considered classic. But this is not the only technique that helps create a talisman for kids. There is another option. It is called “Kaluga Baby”. It differs not only in the way of swaddling, but also in its disproportionately large head.

How to make such a talisman:

1. Fill a 15x15 piece of fabric with fabric scraps to give it shape. After folding the fabric, tie red thread under the ball to form a head.
2. Wrap the ponytail under the head with a 7x8 piece of fabric. Its color should match the previous one. Secure the wound roll with a thread in the middle.

3. Now you need to make a scarf. Place a small piece of colored fabric folded in half on the baby's head, hiding the ends of the fabric at the back. Tie the scarf with a thread at the bottom to secure it.
4. We place a bright 13x15 piece of fabric under the figurine, slightly bending its upper edge. This will be a blanket. Fold the left side to the right, and then the bottom, as if crossing them. Fold the remaining right side to the right, hiding the end of the fabric at the back. Now all that remains is to tie the blanket beautifully with a ribbon and the doll is ready.

There is another way of swaddling, a little different from the previous one. The difference is that here you need to put an additional piece of material on the upper corner of the blanket, and then wrap it around the doll’s head, like a cap.