A rushnyk is an embroidered decorative towel made of homespun canvas, which was formed by interlacing threads, most often made from linen yarn. This is an object of folk culture and art of the Eastern Slavs.

Since olden times in Rus, the rushnyk had not only an aesthetic purpose, but also a ritual one. The patterns that craftswomen embroidered on the towel served not only as an adornment of an everyday item, but were also a symbolic reminder of the ties between people and their ancestors.

There were different types of such towels. Making wedding towels, for example, was considered the duty of the bride. Our ancestors perceived the towel as a canvas on which the past, present and future were depicted with a red thread. People believed that in the process of embroidering a wedding towel, the bride embroidered her family future. That is why it was allowed to embroider only in a good mood.

Women made towels not only from linen, but also from hemp. Its width was 30–40 centimeters, while the length could reach three or more meters. To decorate the towel, the embroidery technique, lace and ribbons were used.

Various symbols were used in embroidery on towels. Until the 18th century, each embroidered pattern had its own sacred meaning and ritual purpose. After Peter the Great’s reforms, everyday motifs began to appear in embroidery, which did not carry any ritual meaning, and by the end of the 19th century, embroidery had almost completely lost its ritual significance.

At present, the old Slavic traditions are almost forgotten, but people still decorate homes with rushnyks — they are used in various rituals in some regions of modern Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Towels adorn the icons, shrines, door and window openings, and also decorate the walls. These towels can currently be found among Orthodox Christians during the celebration of Easter and the consecration of Easter cakes. Such towels can be decorated with patterns featuring eggs and willow twigs.