History of Russian mittens. Origin and history of mittens in Russia The old name of mittens

And the other - for all other fingers. Mittens are more effective at keeping hands warm than gloves, since individually the fingers freeze quickly. Usually knitted from wool, but can be made from leather, jersey, and other materials and combinations thereof. Mittens are often an integral part of the national costumes of northern peoples.

There are also mittens designed specifically for the military, where in addition to the thumb compartment, there is a compartment for the index finger (so that it is possible to pull the trigger without removing the mittens).

Mittens are often a piece of workwear.

At the beginning of the 21st century, mittens became a fashion accessory, often made of genuine leather (sometimes suede), natural fur, embroidery, and rhinestones were used as trim.

Etymology

According to one of the versions put forward by Max Vasmer, the word "mitten" comes from the phrase "Varangian mitten", probably reflecting the fact that this garment was borrowed from the Varangians.

According to another version, the word "mitten" comes from the Old Russian verb "variti" - "protect", "protect"; then "mittens" - "guards", "protectors" for hands (Lev Uspensky).

According to the third version, the mittens got their name from the process of their processing - knitted mittens could be boiled to give greater density.

Varieties

A photo	Name	Description
	Knitted mittens	Typically handmade.
	Mittens in national costume	Mittens are found in the national costume of the Saami (Norway), etc.
	Mitten-tack	Used to avoid burns when in contact with hot kitchen utensils.

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Notes

Literature

Mittens - Concise Household Encyclopedia / ed. I. M. Skvortsov and others - M .: State Scientific Publishing House "Great Soviet Encyclopedia" - 1959.

An excerpt characterizing Mittens

- Voila l "agrement des camps, monsieur le prince, [Here is the pleasure of the camp, prince,] - said the officer on duty.
They went to the opposite mountain. The French were already visible from this mountain. Prince Andrei stopped and began to examine.
- Here is our battery, - said the staff officer, pointing to the highest point, - that same eccentric who was sitting without boots; From there you can see everything: let's go, prince.
“I humbly thank you, now I’ll pass alone,” said Prince Andrei, wanting to get rid of the officer’s headquarters, “please don’t worry.
The staff officer lagged behind, and Prince Andrei rode alone.

The Russian word "mittens" comes from the phrase "Varangian mitten", perhaps this indicates that this garment was borrowed from the Varangians. Varangians in Russia were called people from the Scandinavian countries.

Another version of the origin of this word is from the Old Russian verb "variti", "varovati", that is, "protect", "protect". From what? Yes, from the cold! But there is a third: the word "varegs" - from "cook", that is, earlier knitted woolen mittens were brewed in boiling water to make them denser and warmer.
In different regions of Russia, mittens were called differently: feltings, wire rods, braids, bundles, ties - according to the method of their manufacture. There were also fur coats, fur coats ... These, it is easy to guess, were made of their fur - deer, dog, goat, wolf, bear, etc.

In Russia, mittens have been known since the 13th century, but in peasant life they probably existed before. Why did the boyars and nobles not use mittens? There was simply no need for them. Remember the saying - to work carelessly, that is, badly? The boyars and nobles wore clothes with very long sleeves, in which they hid their hands from the cold. Such clothes were warm, but completely uncomfortable for work.

Fashion has changed, sleeves have been shortened, and there is a need for hand protection. So the mittens moved from the worker-peasant life to the nobility. And they look much brighter and richer!

Mittens were divided into men's and women's. Women's - smaller, more elegant, multi-colored. Men's ones are simpler, knitted without a cutter, so that it is more convenient to work and easy to throw off your hands, wipe off sweat or smoke.

Usually, several pairs of mittens were worn: first knitted (they were called undershirts), and then fur ones - with fur outward (furs). To work on top, they put on canvas, leather or horsehair knitted. On holidays they wore undershirts with ornaments, on weekdays they wore plain ones.

In Russian traditional clothing, the sleeves were sometimes very long, they "replaced" mittens. But the Russian tsars put on fingered mittens, i.e. gloves. They were fur-trimmed with beaver. After that, mittens began to appear in others.

In the 19th century, girls and young married women from wealthy families wore knuckles (mittens) on major holidays - long narrow fingerless gloves. They were knitted from white cotton threads. By the early 20th century, they had almost universally disappeared from rustic costume.

Mittens in Russia had many names - varegs, mittens, vargas, varyashki, vachags, divers, tufts, tufts, sleeves, ties. An old Russian custom is known - before the wedding, the girl had to demonstrate her skills. In addition to sewing a wedding dress, the bride presented the groom's family with patterned stockings and mittens. Moreover, all products had to be with different ornaments.

For gentlemen, they were made of velvet, brocade and morocco, decorated with pearls, beads, precious stones, gold and silver embroidery. Such masterpieces were even inherited from generation to generation. And peasant mittens also underwent certain changes - the usual mittens appeared for all of us.
The fact is that gradually a separation of concepts began to occur: mittens - something that is made of fur or fabric, and mittens - only knitted. They often wore both, especially in the far north: on the outside there is a large fur mitten, under it is a knitted mitten, thinner and more delicate. Such mittens were called undersides.

The meaning of ornamental elements on Russian mittens

The mitten was not only a piece of clothing that protected from the cold, but also a work of art and even a kind of message: its beautiful, sometimes very complex multicolor pattern could carry certain secret information. For example, a drawing of a fish is a symbol of fertility, the sun, goodness. A chain of rhombuses is the tree of life, crosses are fire or the sun.

By the way, the complex knitting technique did not appear in Russia. Even earlier, it was mastered by other peoples. The most skilled craftsmen were considered Italians, Spaniards and Scandinavians. The skill of knitting came to us from Scandinavia, and the first to pick up knitting needles there were men.

In Russia, women knitted. This was learned from childhood, because the girl had to have time to prepare her dowry for the wedding. It was necessary not only to sew a wedding dress, embroider towels and tablecloths, but also to give the groom's family knitted stockings and mittens with colorful ornaments.

Now mittens are as popular as in ancient times. Only, of course, they are no longer inherited. Mittens are a purely practical thing. However, modern fashion designers have again turned their attention to them. After all, what could be more comfortable than a good old warm mitten? A patterned knitted mitten looks great with a modern plain jacket, with a knitted hat and scarf, and with bright high boots that are fashionable today. Usually several pairs were worn: first knitted, and then fur - with the fur out. On holidays, they wore colored mittens with a pattern. On weekdays, it's monotonous.

The patterns on the mittens, however, were different: charm patterns with birds, crosses, triangles and stars, rhombus patterns symbolizing the sun, goodness, happiness, rhombus chain patterns meaning protection from dark forces.

The patterns on mittens are as significant as all ornaments in folk art. Stylized birds, flowers, rhombuses, crosses, triangles, hooks, paws of a star, stripes in complex combinations, pleasing to the eye - these are amulets that passed from mother to daughter, protected a person from evil forces, helped in a good deed. The word "ornament" comes from the Latin "ornamentum" - decoration. In Russia, the word "pattern" was more common, bearing the same meaning - decorating the surface of an object.

The elements of the ornament suggest to the person the surrounding nature, his habitat, climate, customs of the people, the outlines of the human body and surrounding objects. Ornament in the past was never purely decorative. Each of its elements had a certain meaning, was a conditional, but understandable image of the laws of nature: birth, life, death. The ornament can be called the ancient language of communication between people.

The tradition of decorating household items, clothes with patterns that carry a protective function has existed in Russia since pagan times. With the adoption of Christianity, this tradition did not disappear, it changed and survived to the present day, however, having partially lost the charm of the patterns.

The symbolism of ornaments is the same for many peoples. For example, a diamond has many meanings. Once it was a symbol of the sun, a sign of fertility, agriculture, goodness, happiness, full of life. A rhombus with a dot in the middle denoted fertilized land, sown fields. It was this ornament that the bride most often used when knitting her dowry.

A chain of rhombuses is the "tree of life", a rhombus with extended sides protected from the pranks of dark forces, it was with this sign that the Slavs decorated the log cabins of their houses.

If the mitten is covered with crosses, do not be afraid. The cross is a symbol of fire and the sun. The "knitted" sun is a symbol of light and life-giving.

The most common after the geometric - floral ornament. Its main motifs are stylized flowers, shoots, leaves, and plant branches. There are other types of ornament: animalistic (birds, animals, insects), natural (waves), teratological (fantastic or fabulous animals or their parts). Another large group is objects created by man: tools, tools, weapons, buildings.

Ornamental motifs can be either finite (for example, a "star") or endless (for example, a wavy line). The final ornament creates a feeling of staticness, the endless one - an idea of mobility. A zigzag stripe or a "rope" pattern knitted on a mitten meant a wish for longevity to its owner.

It was believed that the places through which an evil force could penetrate were the edges of clothes, sleeves, collars, stockings, mittens. To protect yourself from it, you need to protect yourself by decorating these places especially brightly and in many colors.

The color palette of patterns of Russian mittens

When knitting patterns, color plays no less a role than the ornament. Traditionally, colors, as well as patterns, depended on the purpose of the product. Previously, on everyday things, the patterns were simpler (dots, crosses, strokes) and the colors were more modest: black, gray, white. Festive mittens were knitted with bright threads of contrasting colors. The following stable combinations were common: red-green, black (blue)-yellow, black (blue)-red. The borders that bordered the main motifs of the pattern were most often knitted, combining red and white threads.

The favorite colors of mittens among the peoples of Pomorye were combinations of green and red, yellow and purple, orange and blue, they were considered harmonious in the 19th century. The need for such bright combinations was due to the thirst for color in the long polar night.

The color of earlier products was ocher-yellow (with a hint of tobacco green), red-brown - without sharp contrasts. Calm soft colors were obtained by dyeing wool with natural dyes: stems, flowers and plant bark.

The invention of the knitting bed in the 16th century influenced the development of knitting. Having spread quite quickly across Europe, machine knitting in the 19th century began to displace hand knitting. Mass production of the same, standard items has replaced for us skillfully and lovingly made handicrafts.

Despite this, the charm of handmade remains, and hand-knitted products are valued more and more every year. Because each handmade thing is unique, a piece of soul is invested in each. Knitting the same things for me, for example, is simply not interesting. Every time I want to create something new. I haven’t finished knitting one pair of mittens yet, but the sketch of the next one is already ripening and I want to quickly start implementing what was planned. And how nice it is to see the admiring glances of fellow travelers, looking at my mittens with interest in winter. After all, they are my amulet, which is always with me in winter!

With the onset of the winter season, the question of how best to warm up and at the same time maintain maximum comfort becomes very relevant. Fingerless gloves, like the usual version of this wardrobe item, are an indispensable thing in order to protect hands from hypothermia and to protect them during work.

What are fingerless gloves called?

This wardrobe item has an interesting history of origin, it first appeared in ancient Egypt and symbolized luxury and prosperity. Many would be interested to know what fingerless gloves are called? There are two variations of their names:

Mitts- such a designation was given to them in France in the 18th century. A characteristic feature is that they were kept on the hand due to small jumpers between the phalanges or only due to the plasticity of the material from which they were made. Among noble ladies, French products performed an aesthetic role, they complemented them. In working-class neighborhoods, mitts were used to make work more comfortable.
glovelettes- these are fingerless gloves that arose in America among "informals" already in the 20th century. Their difference from mitts is that these models have “fingers”, but they are cut off to the middle and open the upper part of the phalanges. Winter fingerless gloves, as well as the summer version of this thing, have earned great love and recognition from bikers, motorists, cyclists, so these products appeared. Subsequently, they were chosen by show business stars for their performances, and then they began to be widely used on the catwalks during fashion shows.

Women's Fingerless Gloves

The accessory, which is used by the fair sex, performs not only a practical function, but also a decorative one, to create stylish images. This is due to the fact that the contrast of the fabric and the opening fingers and skin fragment look incredibly feminine. There are two variations of applied fingerless glove styles that are diametrically opposed:

A somewhat brutal look, which is achieved by combining leather and jeans accessories with leather jackets.
A gentle and romantic image, this effect can be achieved if you use openwork models. An interesting variation would be if you use warm, large and even coarse-knit fingerless gloves in combination with light dresses. With the help of such a contrast, you can achieve incredible femininity.

Depending on the style, the following types of products can be distinguished:

with jumpers, while the phalanges remain completely open;
with phalanges closed to the middle;
with a fastened mitten;
in the form of solid pipes that do not contain compartments for palms and fingers;
short, medium or long fingerless gloves.

Fingerless leather gloves

Leather accessories are associated with rocker or, and they are really popular among motorcycle enthusiasts. They are also good in combination with casual clothes. With the help of leather models, you can create not only bold images. Particularly courageous girls dress them with a classic or light airy dress. This contrast looks very stylish.

Women's leather fingerless gloves are in great demand among the fair sex who drive. But the leather that is used to make them differs from the material used for ordinary accessories in its strength and elasticity. With these characteristics, a maximum fit to the hands is achieved, which makes driving a particularly comfortable ride.

Knitted fingerless gloves

Knitted accessories are traditionally associated with winter wardrobe. They can be made from both soft cashmere and thick durable yarn. Such models are perfectly combined with knitted things of different textures. They are suitable for almost any outerwear: jackets, down jackets, fur coats and sheepskin coats. Long knitted fingerless gloves are used in combination with outerwear that has a three-quarter sleeve. The combination of high mitts with a sweater with short sleeves looks original, if at the same time the skin area on the forearm remains open.

Long fingerless gloves

In recent seasons, the trend is winter outerwear with a short sleeve, which can have a very short length or three quarters. As an addition to them, they use long knitted fingerless gloves, which look incredibly organic in this case. Similar accessories are successfully used with knitted sweaters and even warm sundresses. There are several options for how to wear mitts:

leaving an open area of \u200b\u200bthe skin in the area of \u200b\u200bthe forearm;
deliberately using products of very large length, leaving them half-mast and thereby creating folds.

Fingerless driving gloves

Driving products are designed to give you maximum driving comfort. The main function that gloves for a driver without fingers should perform is to achieve close contact with the steering wheel, which is made possible due to the softness of the material. This is what makes them different from conventional models. The leather that is used for manufacturing is characterized by special properties:

incredible softness (sheep skin possesses it);
elasticity, strength, high thermal protection (deer skin);
unpretentiousness in care, long service life (goat skin).

Fingerless gloves for driving have a number of undoubted advantages, which include:

preventing hands from slipping on the steering wheel;
ensuring tight contact with the steering wheel;
freedom and ease of control of all levers and buttons on the panel;
protection of fingers from hypothermia;
contribute to the fact that the grip strength decreases, so the hands get less tired;
special cutouts on the knuckles eliminate discomfort when bending.

must exactly match the size;
tight fit, as they can stretch over time;
the material must be non-staining;
machine processing of seams.

Lace Fingerless Gloves

Lace accessories are traditionally used to complement evening dresses and light flying or chiffon. Their style can be both ultra-modern and retro. Depending on the style, openwork fingerless gloves can be of the following varieties:

long (they are combined with open dresses) and short (combined with any festive outfit);
made in light or dark colors;
the usual form or with a loop that is worn on the middle finger, while the hand looks very elegant.

Short fingerless gloves

If long accessories perform an aesthetic function, then short ones are considered more convenient. They provide comfortable work that needs to be done in a cool room, very convenient when they are used while driving. Shortened fingerless gloves for training are very popular with athletes, they can feel as comfortable as possible during training. This style is versatile and goes with almost any outfit.

Fingerless sports gloves

Sports models have a special structure that is different from ordinary products. At the same time, the stylish design allows them to be successfully used outside the gym, they are especially popular with lovers of extravagant images and bikers. Combined with jeans and fingerless sports gloves look simply unbeatable. The characteristic features of the products are:

the presence of an inner part with a leather reinforcement that protects the hands from calluses;
performance of the hygiene function, which is very important when using sports equipment;
for manufacturing, modern synthetic material is used, which allows the skin to breathe and makes classes comfortable. So, fingerless cycling gloves are equipped with special holes for ventilation, which eliminates the likelihood that your hands will sweat during the trip.

Men's fingerless gloves

Not only women want to feel comfortable and look stylish, but also a strong half of humanity. For lovers of brutal images, men's leather fingerless gloves are designed. They can be perfectly combined with denim and leather clothing. Such accessories are extremely relevant among motorists, the problem of a cold steering wheel in this case will disappear by itself.

Children's fingerless gloves

With the onset of the winter season, it becomes very important for every mother to ensure that her child is protected from the cold while walking. Fingerless gloves for children perfectly cope with this task. They will not only save from frost, but also provide comfort to the baby during the game. Models have clip-on mittens that can be worn or removed at any time.

Mittens– Knitted mittens with a compartment for the thumb.

Mittens are a kind of mittens and differ from them in the way they are made: mittens are always knitted.

History of mittens

The first mittens presumably date back to the first millennium AD. They were discovered by archaeologists on the territory of Latvia. In this country, women knitted mittens for the whole family and approached this process creatively. Each pair was intended for a specific person and had a unique pattern and color, which were designed to carry magical power and protect the owner from all adversity. Festive mittens were knitted in bright, contrasting colors. On everyday models, the ornaments were simpler, and the shades were muted. Black, gray and white colors were predominantly used.

Mittens were always included in the dowry of every Latvian girl. The richer it was, the more beautiful and warm pairs could be found in her chest. Mittens were considered an excellent gift and were often inherited. Young girls knitted mittens for the young people they liked, as surviving folk songs and legends tell. Men proudly wore such gifts. Acquaintance could begin with a compliment to mittens, a conversation would start.

Russian mittens

The skill of knitting came to Russia from Scandinavia, where it originated in the Viking Age. Knitting was taught to girls from childhood, so that by the time of marriage they had time to prepare a worthy dowry for themselves.

In Russia, the first mention of mittens dates back to the 13th century, but it is believed that they appeared in peasant life much earlier. Peasants who worked in any weather needed practical, waterproof clothing, so they put on mittens under leather mittens.

Traditionally, mittens were divided into men's, women's and children's. The latter were particularly bright and multicolored. Men's mittens for everyday work were most often plain and loose, so that if necessary they could be easily thrown off the hand.

Most often, mittens were knitted from sheep's wool and were called bundles. Mittens also had many names depending on their purpose: gifts, bottoms, dates and others. Noble nobles and boyars for a long time wore clothes with very long sleeves that protect their hands from the cold. When the fashion for long sleeves passed, they also had a need for mittens. Models for the nobility were embroidered with expensive threads, decorated with elegant ornaments.

Patterns on mittens in Russia, as well as in Latvia, had a sacred meaning. The most common were ornaments with birds, rhombuses, triangles, stars and stripes. Mittens with complex combinations of such patterns were used as amulets and were traditionally passed down from mother to daughter.

Machine made mittens

In 1589, a revolution took place in the history of knitting: William Lee, an English parish priest from Calverton, designed the first knitting machine. The new technology made it possible to mass-produce knitted items throughout Europe and partially replaced hand knitting.

Modern mittens

Modern mittens are distinguished by a wide variety of models and colors. In addition to traditional models, currently available:

mittens for two (with one mitten designed for two hands)
models in the form of animals, most often bears and cats
Fleece mittens in the shape of a cat's paws
models combined with mitts, where the compartment for four fingers is put on according to the principle of a hood.