On February 10, 2023, within the Year of National Cultures and Traditions of the Republic of Tatarstan, an employee of Bolgar Museum-Reserve Sagirova L. Sh. in the museum “Town on the river” held an interactive event on “Wonderful valenki” for 14 students of Bolgar cadet boarding school.
Valenki is a kind of boots made of wool. However, for us, this footwear is so familiar and customary, that it needs no introduction. Foreigners see valenki as one of the unofficial symbols of our country and a colorful attribute of the Russian man.
Valenki have become popular since the 8th century. People flaunted them not only in winter but also in summer, as valenki are not afraid of neither frost nor heat. Valenki of our ancestors were little like today: they were low felt boots without cuffs, called “chuni”, “koty,” “valentsy”.
Pupils learned about the process of preparing wool, the work of a master-felter and the healing properties possessed by felt shoes. Children remembered about fortune telling on a felt boot at Christmas and about different games. Kids also carved a souvenir felt boot and painted it with Tatar ornaments.

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