Traditionally, with the birth of a child, a cradle appeared in the peasant’s house. It was the newborn’s first “earthly abode”. During the first days of life, the baby stayed close to the mother — in her bed or on the warm stove, often in a wicker basket. After a few days, it was moved into the cradle.

Russia had many types of cradles, varying by region. They were crafted from planks, twigs, or woven from bast or birch bark; the sides might be made of bast, while the bottom could be woven or covered with cloth.

Typically, the father made the cradle, and the mother sewed a canopy for it. This canopy protected the child not only from bright light, drafts, and insects, but also from evil spirits and the evil eye. Most often, it was stitched from the hem of the mother’s sundress or the skirt she had worn during pregnancy. In wealthier households, the canopy was made of fine fabrics and decorated with embroidery, lace, and ribbons.

Before placing the baby in the cradle, ritual actions were performed: the cradle was fumigated with incense, sprinkled with Epiphany water, blessed beneath an icon of the Mother of God, and small icons were hung nearby. Crosses were also carved into its walls. All these measures were meant to create a “good home” for the baby while in the cradle and to shield it from the harmful influence of unseen forces.

The cradle was always suspended above the floor. It was believed that a baby came into this world from another — sometimes hostile — realm, and that realm might try to take it back. To prevent this, the baby’s connection to the earth had to be broken; therefore, the cradle was never placed directly on the ground.

The cradle displayed at the Unecha Museum of Local Lore was made by a young father. It consists of a rectangular wooden frame covered with durable gray canvas. At each corner, sturdy ropes are attached and knotted together. A wooden hook is fastened to this knot, and the cradle is suspended from a ceiling beam that supports the roof.

Sometimes the cradle was hung from a long wooden pole inserted through a ring in the beam. The cradle hung from one end, while a rope or belt was tied to the other, allowing the mother to rock the child gently without looking up from her work. The pole was typically made of birch or spruce — woods prized for their flexibility.

The baby remained in the cradle for up to one and a half to two years, tightly swaddled in a narrow, long (up to two meters) cloth. It was then moved to sleep on a bunk, usually because a new baby had arrived. A special ceremony marked the elder child’s departure from the cradle: a man would put on a sheepskin coat inside out, attach a fake beard, take a stick, and — pretending to be Buka, a mythical forest spirit — rush into the house, seize the cradle, and carry it away. The children were told, “Buka took your crib — now he’s going to rock his own baby in it!”