Members $20, Nonmembers $30. 90-minute performance. Register below.

Join the Museum and Grunya for a special Easter concert featuring religious songs, Easter greetings songs (волочебные), St. George’s Day songs (егорьевская), and spring ritual songs (веснянки). Grunya will bring shepherd’s horns and string instruments and will also perform comic songs with puppets designed by Ksenya Litvak. The audience will be invited to participate in khorovod circle dances.

The Boston-based ensemble Grunya performs traditional songs from different regions of Russia, as well as from Ukraine and Belarus. The members of the ensemble are not professional singers, but represent different occupations, backgrounds, and ages. Through singing, Grunya develops a language environment for families, supports language skills for children, uncovers Slavic culture and history, and practices a joyful way of celebrating holidays and important life events.

Grunya will also have on exhibit and for sale traditional Slavic embroidery, painting, rug dolls, and handmade cards in collaboration with Nina Vinogradova (doll maker), Tatiana Shpotova (embroidery, doll maker), Katya Popova, Ghilyana Dordzhieva, and Polina Vikova.

Rag dolls (Krupenichka)

The name “Krupenichka” is derived from the word “krupa” (grain) as the first grains of the harvest were poured into the doll and kept in houses for well-being and prosperity. These traditional faceless rag dolls with layered clothing were made with grain and lavender.

Mezen’ painting

The decorative red and black folk painting of wooden household items known as Mezen’ painting (Мезенская роспись) was preserved in villages along the Mezen’ River bordering the Russian taiga and tundra. This ornamental style is rooted in the ancient art of the Finno-Ugric peoples, particularly the Saami, indigenous people of Northern Europe. Every detail (square, diamond, twig, spiral, and zigzag) is deeply symbolic and tells the story of nature. Three layers represent the upper, middle, and lower worlds, filled with birds and animals. Seeds, roots, flowers, and leaves symbolize fertility and abundance.

Embroidery

Red on white, white on red – this is a traditional combination of colors for Russian embroidery. One of the most ancient in traditional dress was the “painted” or “long-standing” stitch which is visible on both sides of the fabric. This seam was widespread in the northern regions of Russia, where we find embroidered images of female figures, horsemen, birds, animals, and geometric ornaments.