Bird of Happiness (toy) facts for kids
The Bird of Happiness is a special wooden toy from northern Russia. It's shaped like a bird and is known for bringing good luck and well-being. People in Russia, especially the Pomors (who live near the White Sea and Barents Sea), created this unique bird.
What is the Bird of Happiness?
The Bird of Happiness (in Russian: пти́ца сча́стья) is a traditional Russian handicraft. It's a wooden bird made without any glue or nails! Artisans carve thin pieces of wood to create its wings and tail. These pieces are then carefully spread and curved to look like real feathers.
How is it Made?
This special bird is usually made from soft woods. These include pine, fir, spruce, or Siberian cedar. The way it's made, with thin, wavy "feathers" from split wood, is why it's sometimes called a "wood chip bird." The craft started in the Arkhangelsk region of Russia. Some people also call it a "Pomor dove."
What Does it Mean?
The Bird of Happiness is more than just a toy. It's seen as a good luck charm, or an "amulet." People hang it inside their homes. It's believed to protect the family and bring happiness and good fortune.
According to old stories, the wood chip bird brings many good things to a house. It's also a symbol of the sun. People would hang these birds in almost every farmer's home. You could find them in the "icon corner" (a special place for religious images), above the dining table, near the stove, or over a baby's cradle. When warm air moved, the birds would gently spin around.
The Story of the Bird
The legend of the Bird of Happiness comes from the far North, in the Arkhangelsk province. A long time ago, a hunter lived there. Winters in the North are very long and cold, with lots of snow and freezing temperatures. One year, the winter was especially harsh. The hunter's house became very cold, and his youngest son got sick.
The boy was ill for a long time. He became very thin and pale. No one seemed to be able to help him. The hunter was very sad and worried about his son. He asked his son, "What do you wish for?" The boy quietly whispered, "I want to see the sun..." But how could the hunter find the sun in the middle of a long, dark northern winter?
The hunter was deep in thought. He heated the furnace to warm the house, but fire is not the sun. Suddenly, he noticed a glowing splinter of wood in the fire. A smile appeared on his face. He knew how he could help his son!
The hunter worked all night. He carved a wooden bird, making thin wood chips for its feathers. He decorated them carefully. When he finished, he hung the bird above his son's bed. The bird seemed to come alive! It began to spin and move in the warm air rising from the furnace.
The boy woke up, saw the spinning bird, and smiled. He exclaimed, "Well, here is the sun!" From that day on, the child began to get better very quickly. Because of this story, people believed the wood chip bird had special powers. They called it the "Holy spirit," the guardian of children, and a symbol of family happiness.
