The Mythical Russian Picnic Blanket
Folktales
can be told about almost anything, including objects, items, and ideas. Take
this story about a legendary bit of cloth, for example. It is fantastical and
wonderfully filled with promise. But one must know what to say and how to treat
this special item or else…
The Russian magical blanket - Skatert-Samobranka - is a
picnic cloth that performs miracles. With the utterance of a few special words
it can be filled with food and drinks. This is good news for one who is very
hungry or very eager to eat and drink.
Perhaps one of the best known versions of this story
is “Who is Happy in Russia?” written by Nikolai Nekrasov.
In it there are seven Russian peasants who travel
together all over the country. When they met people who live in rural areas
they ask them if they are leading happy lives.
One time a small bird seeks help from the travelers to
save her tiny chick. In return she promises to show them a white blanket that
is enchanted. Supposedly it can provide them instantly with food and vodka if
they very gently and softly request it to do so.
Once rolled back up the blanket can conveniently also make
the food crumbs, plates and cups disappear.
There are, of course, geographic versions. In some instances
it provides only the food items that have been requested and still in others it
is more like a carpet.
However, in all cases courtesy and respect are also
required from those who call upon the blanket. Or else, as some renditions
suggest, the food crumbs will stain the blanket and spilled salt will forever
make the food almost too salty to eat.
Also, these tales are imbued with a warning about the
need to take care of this very special item. Blankets that develop rips and
tears cease to offer up their magic.
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Photo: Illustration for N.A. Nekrasov's tale.
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