PROJECT
SPADCHYNA
Houseware
During for a long time the Belarusians have been villagers. But now more and more people move to live in cities. But we believe that we, Belarusians should be aware of those household items of our great-grandparents. Today they seem to us like a miracle.
We don't know some of them. We had an opportunity to hear about the others or even to see them.
The main things in every house were KUFAR, RUSHNIK, CHYGUNOK and KALAYROT.
KUFAR
KUFAR or a box was used to store a variety of things. They put all the most expensive and valuable things in it. The dowry for a girl was collected in a KUFAR too.
This vessel is generally used for cooking in a conventional Russian oven. Its unusual shape allows to put it in the oven and extract it from the oven with a special device - tongs (uhvat).
CHYGUNOK
RUSHNIK
It is widely used for a variety of ceremonies. But also a RUSHNIK is used as a talisman. In Polesie RUSHNIK consecrated in the church on Easter was hung on the door to protect the house of thunder. It was left there for as long as there was no longer booming.
KALAYROT
This device is for mechanized spinning of flax and wool at home. It comprises the following working components: a wheel; pedal actuated (rod, pendulum); actually spinning apparatus consisting of a rod with an inserted coil and small rings connected by cords with the main wheel.
KALAYROT appeared in Belarus in the 16th century in manufactories. In peasant life they exist from the middle of the 19th century, especially in areas of intensive flax growing in the north and east of Belarus. A spinning spindle dominated on the south of Belarus .
MASLABOYKA
It is a cooperage, a vessel for churning. It is a narrow high barrel of staves. There is a hole in the middle of the lid for the whorl (for beating). Its upper part extends outwardly. A circle with holes is attached to the bottom (an extended version) or crossbar (impact part). You can see MASLABOYKI these days.
PRAS
Device for smoothing out wrinkles on tissue. A PRAS with coals inside had appeared by the middle of the XVIII century.
The heating irons were the most common. They were put in the oven to be reheated. Alcohol PRASY were much more expensive. In the XIXth century they costed a small flock of sheep. An electric PRAS appeared in the late XIXth century.