The nomination "Our Brothers": For the second year, the Tailed one has been a symbol of Russian traditions and rituals of the population of the Ryazan region.
Efrosinya Mikhailovna or Frosenka is the name given to the cat at the Ryazan Regional Scientific and Methodological Center for Folk Art. She appeared in the walls of the institution by chance, just came to the carved veranda and decided to stay here, she liked the atmosphere and the staff so much.
"It was at the end of 2022, and we considered it a good sign, since according to the Eastern calendar, the symbol of the coming year in 2023 was a Cat. We noticed that Frosenka has a special gift for sensing the moods of others. When the building is bustling and creative, she disappears unnoticed, preferring to quietly hide in a cozy corner. But in moments of rest and on weekdays, she certainly appears next to me, purring affectionately," says Tatiana Kudimova, head of the media project Implementation Department at the Ryazan Scientific and Methodological Center.
Frosya has become an integral part of the workflow and a true star of the institution. Every day, together with the employee responsible for cleaning the premises, she conducts a thorough inspection of the workplaces. It is considered an obligatory ritual to lie down on some chair or window. Employees take pictures of her, post pictures on social networks, and invite guests to look at the adorable pet.
"On behalf of our Frosenka, we publish information about the traditions, rituals and peculiarities of the life of the population of the Ryazan region. And for good reason. The image of a cat embodies the wisdom, beauty and cunning of a nineteenth-century Russian woman. Each publication is a kind of diary of our heroine. Efrosinya Mikhailovna shares stories from the life of the institution, tips on how to hold a holiday, some kind of ceremony, prepare a traditional dish, how to run a household, and so on," Tatiana Kudimova continues.
The staff of the center is convinced that such a cat project allows to increase the recognition and attendance of the folk-art center, as well as to broadcast the traditional folk culture of the region in an easy way. It makes him closer to people. Especially for those who are not indifferent to cats.
And this year, Efrosinya took part in the competition from the Ministry of Culture of Russia "The Tailed Guardian," writes the publication 62 INFO. She became the winner of the online voting and reached the final of the competition. The whole of Ryazan and the Ryazan region voted for her. Frosya has her own column in our official VKontakte public page under the hashtag #Efrosinyanaradnaya.
Photographs of the Ryazan Regional Scientific and Methodological Center of Folk Art.