Of Russian origin: Koromyslo
A girl with koromyslo. Konstantin Makovsky, 1874. For centuries, women in Russia’s rural areas have depended on yokes - U-shaped wooden devices called koromyslo to haul heavy buckets of water from fresh water sources such a0s rivers and wells to their homes.
The beams are cut long and are steamed to allow them to bend slightly, while remaining strong enough to sustain the weight of buckets, baskets, or small tubs. Most koromyslo are made of beech, birch, hazel or maple and have grooves carved in the center for the neck. In addition, the ends have hooks, used to secure portable products (i.e. water, clothes or produce washed in the river). Koromyslo balances across the shoulders and upper back to distribute weight and make transporting goods easier.
Women gathered and chatted at the river before filling their buckers and walking the often long distance back home. The tradition of fetching water is accompanied by a ritual. Two empty buckets should be held in the left hand, and the koromyslo held in the right. The beam is loaded back to front as opposed to front to back.
In the past, in some villages, Russian brides would bring a decorated koromyslo complete with bucket of water on their wedding day. If a girl managed not to spill a drop, it was a sign of her strength and of the balance she would bring to her new family.
Written by Staci Bivens for RT
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