One of the gifts I received from the Ukrainians at our Christmas party was a beeswax candle in the form of a traditionally dressed woman. This little figurine combines two Ukrainian folk arts -- that of making beeswax figurines, and of making motanka dolls, a talisman for protecting the family.
True motanka dolls are made of cloth and thread, but not sewn. They are featureless and normally have a cross of wrapped threads across their face. The tradition is very old, with motanka dolls being made 5000 years ago. Usually made with old cloth salvaged from items of family members clothing, the materials cannot be pierced or cut. Each cloth motanka is thus unique, but these modern wax versions are made in a mould.
Motanka dolls might be put in a baby's crib or given to a traveller to ensure they came home. To make a motanka for a specific purpose it must be done at the appropriate phase of the moon for that purpose. A motanka must be finished in a single day, and threads must be wound clockwise. They cannot be made on Fridays and Sundays. The maker must be thinking positive thoughts, so as to infuse the motanka with the right vibe. It seems to me they have some affinity with corn dollies, and indeed, apparently some motanka were made by plaiting and twisting straw.
In Soviet times the tradition was discouraged and the skills for making them nearly lost, but there has been a recent revival.
If you want to make one for yourself, here is an online tutorial: https://ukrainian-art-experience.com/what-is-motanka/
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