Initially, a svetets was a small forged “fork, ” in the cleavage of which a burning splinter was placed, serving to illuminate the room. Later, the number of “forks” began to increase, which made it possible to illuminate vast living spaces, for example, during spinning or other activities in the evenings, especially in the cold season.

During the period when the land was not covered with snow, most of the Russian population in rural areas was engaged in agricultural work, which fell during daylight hours, after which people went to bed. In winter, there was much less to do, and the days were shorter, which made it necessary to have additional lighting.

The svetets presented in the museum’s collection consists of two forged “petals” bent in a ribbon shape, coming out of one base. Between them there is a straight pin.

A trough with water (postavets) was placed under the svetets to ensure protection from falling sparks and coals. In the space of the hut, it could be placed near the stove, on the table, or driven into the wall in a convenient place. Over time, a svetets got a special stand. Long pine chips were used as splinters, which, due to their resinous nature, gave the greatest amount of light.

Svetets was used in the homes of a significant part of the population. Only the upper strata of the population — nobles, royal officials, clergy — used more expensive candles and oil lamps. However, they often had multi-fork complex svetets in their living rooms, because pine chips almost do not give smoke and smell, unlike wax candles and fat, which was burned in oil lamps.

Svetets are known from archaeological excavations of ancient Russian monuments (for example, Staraya Ladoga, 10th century) and were a part of Russian culture for many centuries. Until the 1920s, the luchina remained the main source of illumination for the peasant hut. It was only during this period that kerosene and electric lamps began to gradually replace it. However, in some areas, primarily in Siberia, the svetets continued to be used later, until the 1950s.

In Russian folk art, svetets is the hero of many riddles: “Gavrilo is standing — his face is dirty,” “Dirty Eroshka has one twisted leg and drops coal crumbs” and others.