Monday, August 06, 2007

Chinese Matryoshkas upset Orthodox Church


One Chinese town has been flooded with Russia's wooden Matryoshkas. But inside them you will find not the usual nesting dolls, but something absolutely different - so different that it's caused outrage in Russia.


It's been a symbol of Russia since the end of the 19th century - a wooden doll neatly carved and hand-painted which opens up to reveal another wooden doll inside, which in turn splits in two. Matryoshkas are intended to be enjoyed both for their craft and as a toy.In China this kind of folk art has been made into a trash bin. The town of Heihe not far from Russian border decided to decorate its streets with ornate garbage cans.Locals like the idea. But just over the river, in the Russian city of Blagoveshchensk, the reaction has been quite the opposite.

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