FestRider Photo Blog

“Summer Send‑Off” Festival

Krestiki (Omsk Region)
Full Story: 75 photosQuick Impression: 33 photos
The festival kicks off at the historic Artamonov family home
A carpet served as home decoration and showcased the mistress’s level of skill
The interior is arranged just as it was decades ago — the family lived here until 1952
The main attraction of the house is the famous Krestiki carpets!
The craftswomen weave them by hand on a special loom
In Krestiki, every stage of carpet-making is alive, starting from spinning the yarn
Meanwhile, connoisseurs of traditional culture gather in the courtyard of the old house
Guests from Moscow and St. Petersburg become active participants in the round dances
Now it is time to make the dancers’ formation more complex
The circle dance segment takes up about 20 minutes of the grand program
The women of Krestiki village set an example of seamless, well-rehearsed performance
Leaving the historic house, the festival-goers walk in a column toward the festival meadow
Meanwhile, at the local Cultural Center, visitors can explore carpet-weaving in greater detail
The pile of Krestiki carpets is about 3 cm long, which gives them a fluffy texture
They feature bright floral motifs, and the background color needs not always be black
Here, village farmsteads have been set up, and guests are treated to pastries and tea
Everything around is a reminder of bidding farewell to a bountiful summer
…or simply watch the artisans at work
The program features mini-performances, songs and dances, and even a fashion show
Closer to the finale, it is the Krestiki performers’ turn: their polyphony is truly distinctive
We have already seen these women in a different role: talented people are talented in everything
On stage are representatives of the neighbouring Chistovskoye rural settlement
Like many today, their theatrical number ends with a treat for the audience
It is simply impossible to refuse the sweet delicacies without offending the hostesses
The program concludes with a folk costume fashion show: before us is a Krestiki “pair”
The Mordvin costume stands out with rich embroidery and practical jewellery
This “pair” was created in our time, but following old museum patterns
The women’s Komi-Permyak attire deserves a detailed introduction
Even the footwear in this set is authentic — bast shoes made of birch bark
The headdress indicates the social status of its wearer
The craftswomen share the history behind the outfits and reveal their sources of inspiration
The fashion show became a bright finale to the “Summer Send-Off” Festival
The sincere and hospitable residents of Krestiki are ready to welcome guests from all over the country!

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All photo stories: 43