RUSSIAN PALEKH BOXES

The cold winter day was coming to a close. Grey clouds were floating high in the sky. The air was cold promising to bring snow tomorrow. At the window near the samovar there were sitting two women; one was about fifty years old, the other was about seventy. The first woman's name was Maria Andreevna and she was my aunty. The second woman was Pelagia Ivanovna and she was my grandmother. On the card table in front of them there were Palekh boxes of different sizes and shapes. Both women knew the tradition of Boxing Day from the times of the Russian Empire, when every member of the family, neighbours and servants were given a Christmas Box as a present. This tradition goes far back and takes us to the Bible. It was the custom of giving tradespeople and to employees a Christmas Box on the first working day after Christmas. The old people strongly believed in passing traditions to the new generation.

Maria Andreevna slightly smiled and took one of Palekh boxes into her hands. " This Box with the "Fire Bird" on it will be for Nina. When she was a little girl, I used to read her this story ." Fire Bird" is a folklore story about kindness, love, bravery. It teaches people to love animals and to be kind to them."

" Did the Bolshoi Theatre put on the ballet " Firebird" last summer ? - asked Pelagia Ivanovna.

" Yes, they did. It was a big success." The story "Firebird " is about Russian Tsar named Berendey who had three sons. The Tsar's palace was surrounded by a beautiful orchard, and among trees was a wonderful apple-tree which bore golden apples. One day the tsar discovered that someone was getting into his orchard and stealing his golden apples. He was furious and sent his guards to catch the thief. But though they watched all night they were unsuccessful. His oldest son told the tsar:" I will go and guard the orchard against the thief tonight, father." He laid down in the grass and soon fell asleep. The tsar's second son went to guard the orchard. But he, too, slept all night. Now it was the turn of the youngest son , Tsarevich Ivan to guard the orchard. Not to miss the thief he was afraid even to sit down. When he felt he was getting drowsy he washed his face with dew. About half way through the night, he thought he saw a light in the orchard, it became brighter and brighter until all the trees were lit up. Then he saw the light was coming from a Firebird, which was sitting in the apple-tree and pecking at the golden apples. He crept up very quietly and caught hold of the bird by the tail. But the Firebird spread its wings and flew away, leaving only a tail feather in the Tsarevich's hand.

Next morning Tsarevich Ivan told the tsar about the thief in the orchard and showed him the tail feather of the Firebird .The tsar was so impressed with the bird that he sent his sons to find and bring back the Firebird to him. All three sons went to look for the Firebird.

Palekh

In the forest Tsarevich Ivan saw a pillar with words written on it:

If you go straight - you will be cold and hungry

If you go right-you will be safe and sound but your horse will be killed.

If you go left - you will be killed but your horse will be safe and sound

The Tsarevich made the decision to go right, reasoning to himself that if he stayed safe and sound, he then might be able to save his horse. After long adventures he was able to save the horse and he came home with the beautiful Helen and the Firebird. The tsar Berendey was delighted to see Tsarevich Ivan with the Firebird. Soonafter they celebrated the wedding of Tsarevich Ivan and the beautiful Princess Helen. They lived happily ever after.

Palekh is an urban locality, a settlement and the administrative centre of Palekhsky District of Ivanovo region in Russia. Population: 5,337. Palekh has a very long history in Russian iconography, the art of painting Russian Orthodox Icons for homes and churches. The village emerged as a leading centre of Russian icon and mural-painting in the nineteenth century. Today, Palekh is known primarily for Palekh miniature. Following the October Revolution in 1917, the Palekh masters of iconography began to paint papier-mache boxes applying the same principles they had learned from painting icons. They used mainly tempera paints of bright colours over a black background. The work usually represents themes from real life, fairy tales, literary works and folk songs.

Tanya Tsishevski

August 2012