What do worry dolls represent?
The story of the worry doll is a local Mayan legend. The origin of the Muñeca quitapena refers to a Mayan princess named Ixmucane. The princess received a special gift from the sun god that allowed her to solve any problem a human could worry about. The worry doll represents the princess and her wisdom.
What are Guatemalan worry dolls used for?
According to the tradition of the Mayans from the Guatemalan highlands, when children are scared or have nightmares, adults give them worry dolls before they go to sleep. Children put them under their pillow, and when they wake up, their worries are gone.
Do Guatemalan worry dolls work?
Most adults will say that these worry dolls don’t really work. But there is certainly something deeply soothing about saying your worries out loud and putting them away. The physical act of talking to these Guatemalan worry dolls and putting them away really does help.
What is a worry doll made in Guatemala?
Description and material Worry dolls are mostly hand-made. In Guatemala, they are made of wire, wool and colorful textile leftovers. The dolls are then dressed in traditional Mayan style. The size of the doll can vary between ½ inch and 2.0 inches.
How do I get rid of Guatemalan worry dolls?
It is said that using someone else’s worry doll causes bad luck. To get rid of old or damaged trouble dolls safely, you may want to bury them off your property or somewhere you don’t travel to.
How do worry monsters work?
Simply let your child write or draw their worries and pop it into the monsters mouth, whilst they’re sleeping remove the worry from the monsters mouth. When your child wakes they will see no worries left behind as the monster has eaten it and also you will be able to know what is worrying your child so you can help.
How do you make a worry monster?
You just need to make sure it has a mouth that you can put your worries in. You could give your monster some personality by adding wool, string, pipe cleaners, googly eyes etc. When you have a worry that you are ready to let go of, you can write or draw it on a piece of paper and pop it in the monster’s mouth!
What are Guatemalan Worry Dolls?
The Legend of the Guatemalan Worry Doll. Worry dolls (also called trouble dolls; in Spanish, Muñeca quitapena) are small, hand-made dolls that originate from Guatemala. According to legend, Guatemalan children tell their worries to the Worry Dolls, placing them under their pillow when they go to bed at night.
What is the history of Guatemalan Worry Dolls?
In the dolls original Guatemalan tradition, a local legend about the origin of the Muñeca quitapena refers to a Maya princess named Ixmucane. The princess received a special gift from the sun god which would allow her to solve any problem a human could worry about. In traditional and modern times, worry dolls are given or lent to brooding, anxious or sorrowful children.
What is the origin of worry dolls?
Worry dolls are thought to originate in Guatemala, where they were given to those who had trouble sleeping due to worries. The idea is that you can share one worry with each doll, for a total of six worries, and let the doll worry for you so that you can sleep. It’s like a brain dump, but much more fun.
