03/02/2008
Matreshka – is an old wooden toy, it is not even one toy but a set of nesting dolls. Matreshkas are the most desirable souvenir that foreigners may bring from Russia with love. Each doll except the last one, the smallest consists of two parts. The smaller doll inserts into the bigger one. Matreshkas can be of several shapes spherical, in the form of a cone or cylinder, but what is really unlimited is the fantasy of the painter inventing new plots and characters to paint the dolls. The name Matreshka came from the popular female name of 19th century Matrona or Matrena. The affectionate diminutive name was Matreshka or Matryoshka. Derived from the Latin root " matrona" this name has its deep significance "mother", "respected lady", or mother of a family. Placing one toy inside another one was a symbol of fertility, fruitfulness and perpetuation. Nowadays, Matreshka is considered to be the symbol of Russian women. It is the personification of Slavic lady’s strong character, her strength of spirit and vivid beauty. People say there is some special thrill in Each Matreshka as every Slavic wife or Slavic bride has.
