On 16 March 2021, a methodist of the museum and educational department of Bolgar Museum-Reserve Sagirova L. Sh. held an interactive event on “Grandma’s box” for the students of the 4th grades of Bolgar Comprehensive School №1. At this event, children looked at a tablecloth as one of the main attributes of everyday life. The students knew that a tablecloth is a textile product for covering a table. The expression “to set the table” related to a tablecloth. There were linen, silk, lace and embroidered tablecloths.
Tablecloths were part of the bride’s dowry. Girls embroidered and crocheted eating utensils (tablecloths, napkins and others) in advance when they had free time and went to a sit-round gathering.
Carl Fuchs noted, “… Tatar women are handworkers. If they have guests, they hang all their needlework on walls on the strings and cover the tables with colorful tablecloths”.
There is a respectable attitude to a tablecloth in the saying “Skatertiyu doroga” (“Good riddance”). Giving this pep talk people wished someone’s way to be as smooth as a tablecloth put on the table.
Tablecloths are not only a piece of history preserving the richness of generations but also a bright voice for the bases of traditions and culture inherent in Tatar nation.

 
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