Motanka Doll Making Workshop (Ukrainian Guardian Doll)

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Step into the enchanting world of Motanka crafting— a timeless tradition steeped in culture and allure! These delightful dolls, crafted initially as symbols of fertility and protection, have been cherished by Ukrainian families for generations.

On Saturday, September 20th, join us for an immersive workshop with all the necessary materials provided. By the workshop’s end, you’ll proudly hold your very own Motanka masterpiece, equipped with the skills to continue this enchanting craft in the comfort of your home.

All workshop materials are provided, but you are welcome to bring your own fabrics, embroidery thread, wool, dried herbs, wheat, ribbons, or other decorations to personalize your Motanka.

*Suitable for participants aged 12+

The Motanka doll is an ancient Ukrainian family talisman. It symbolizes prosperity, goodness and hope. The first knotted dolls appeared about 5,000 years ago, and represented the unity of the family and the deep connection between multiple generations.

The name "motanka" comes from the word “motaty” (to wind) ie to make a knotted doll out of fabric, without using a needle and scissors. Motanka served as a talisman of human destiny. Our ancestors believed that destiny cannot be pierced or cut, so motankas were made with continuous threads and cloth to preserve their positive energy.

Generally dolls were in the shape of a human figure, usually a woman or a child, and were made from pieces of fabric from old clothes of family members connected by knots.

One of the most distinctive features of a motanka is its faceless head. Instead of a painted face, motankas are traditionally left blank or covered with woven cross-thread patterns. Our ancestors believed that giving the doll a face could tie a person's soul to it.

By remaining faceless, the motanka stays a neutral vessel of benevolent power – a pure guardian without a personal identity that might be corrupted. Often a cross of brightly colored threads is woven where the face would be, with horizontal and vertical lines intersecting.

This cross is an ancient solar symbol: the vertical line representing the connection between heaven and earth, and the horizontal line representing the link between past and future. In essence, the cross on a motanka’s face brings together male and female, sky and earth, ancestors and descendants – a cosmic harmony that blesses the home.

Links

• The Ukrainian Canadian Association of Yukon yukonukrainians.ca

Organizer

Ukrainian Canadian Association of Yukon

In the Yukon, our team provides resettlement services for Ukrainian newcomers: assisting with finding housing, work, and language training. We host regular events in Whitehorse to share Ukrainian culture and collect donations to support our work in Ukraine.

We send teams into Ukraine to deliver humanitarian aid and medical supplies to our partner organizations: the municipal civilian hospital in Yuzhnoukrains’k in south-east Ukraine and the Chortkiv Central City Hospital and the Charitable Foundation “Pokrova Chortkiv” which assists the Ukrainian Armed Forces and internally-displaced Ukrainians.