From:

Vologda region.

Time:

1870s-1890s.

Age group of a wearer:

20-45 years old (from the marriage to the end of childbearing age).

Social category of a wearer:

a married woman.

Embroidery is made by

Margarita A. Kozhina.

The shirt is sewn by

Irina Zhoukova.

In accordance with its ritual purpose (energy exchange between a woman-harvester and the Mother the Damp Earth), the dress is made of a red cloth mostly. The white part is edged with an archaic-style pattern. It consists of:

1. stylized Trees of Life
2. triangles: actually, remains of and ancient symbol of the Delivering Goddess (see a sketch)

Areas of the most intensive energy exchange are heavily decorated with a floral design. These areas are:

1. sleeve ends and cuffs: a woman works with her hands, so her energy "drops" from her fingers and palms;
2. a hemline: it is a symbolic border between a woman and Earth;
3. chest area: similar to breastfeeding her baby, a woman symbolically "breastfeeds" the Mother Earth.

1. Traditional Russian Costume. Sergei Glebushkin's private collection (a photoalbum).
2. "Men and Women (male and female roles and parts in traditional Russian culture)" (encyclopedia)
3. F.M.Parmon, "Traditional Russian Costume as a Source of Ideas"
4. V.Ya.Propp, "Russian Agricultural Rituals"