The Museum of Myths and Superstitions of the Russian People is located in Uglich at the address: st. January 9. This unusual and interesting institution was founded by Daria Alien together with Alexander Galunov. Initially, the Uglich Museum was conceived as a creative workshop. To get inside, you must have certain information: you must know a kind of password. It sounds as follows: "We are from acquaintances and friends."
What is a museum?
The museum is housed in an apartment where all kinds of “evil spirits” of Russia have accumulated. In mid-2000, the founders of the Museum of Myths and Superstitions of the Russian People in Uglich, who are the indigenous inhabitants of St. Petersburg, decided to change their place of residence. They packed up and moved to a quieter place, and more remote from noise and fuss. Here they created a workshop, which was located in an old wooden two-story house. The opening of the museum took place just at the time most suitable for such a place - on Christmas night 2001. Guests were able to see a one-of-a-kind exposition.
What can I see
In the most unique museum of Uglich, you can get acquainted with various characters known for Russian folk tales, as well as legends. So, there is an opportunity to see Babu Yaga, ghoul, ghoul, hell. In addition, various mythological creatures "live" here: the bird Sirin, the brownie, as well as the kikimora. What are these creatures? The founder of the museum fashioned their figures from wax - so that they turned out to be life-size. Daria did everything herself - she worked with wax, cut and sewed costumes, made stuffed birds. The appearance of the heroes of the Museum of Myths and Superstitions in Uglich was carefully recreated from manuscripts, books, legends, and various legends that were brought to Russia from ethnographic expeditions. All this has become the basis for modeling sketches. Thus, heroes were created that aroused fear and respect in our ancestors at the same time.
Museum Architecture
The interior of the rooms in which the figures are located looks like an old peasant dwelling. In this place there is an opportunity to observe such attributes that are part of the old Russian hut. In the canopy there are working tools that are necessary for agriculture. In addition, there are baskets, pots, caskets and chests: they resemble those in which the housewives once kept supplies. Everywhere you look, everywhere in the Uglich Museum there is an old kitchen utensil. You can also notice the traditional amulets, talismans, small bunches of healing herbs, meticulously embroidered by someone with rushnyks, brooms, spindles and other objects that best recreate the picture of old times.
The stands of this cultural institution are equipped with archaeological finds. These exhibits have gone out of use many years ago, which causes even greater interest among visitors. The local library provides the opportunity to read various articles on the subject of local history, as well as unique scientific papers from respected authors.
Excursion to another reality
The Uglich Museum allows you to make an interesting journey into the world of folk traditions and celebrations, learn a lot of interesting things about ancient gods, shamans and magicians. In addition, visitors to the museum can get information about some esoteric practices that have been preserved since ancient times, hear the transcript of some tales and legends, and get information about amulets and talismans. Visitors will discover some ancient ways of healing from all kinds of diseases that our ancestors used. In addition, quite popular and unfamiliar fortune-telling will be presented to a modern person. Note that for a large number of Slavs, such beliefs constituted a whole part of their life and allowed them to answer many vital questions.
The Museum of Myths and Superstitions gives people the opportunity to find out how various conspiracies, customs, sayings were born. Thus, the museum helps visitors get acquainted with the history of superstitions that live in the people's memory, as well as with Russian culture, traditions and the way of life of our ancestors.