According to the tradition of the Mayans from the Guatemalan highlands, when children are scared or have nightmares, they give them worry dolls before they go to sleep. Then, they put them under the pillow, and when they wake up, their worries are gone.
Worry dolls are incredible pieces of a traditional Guatemalan legend. According to this legend, the exact origin of which is unknown, the doll worries about the problem instead of the person, allowing the person to sleep peacefully.
So when the person wakes up, the doll will have relieved all of the concerns that would normally keep them awake. The worries stay with the doll, which will have to be caressed to prevent it from being in pain.
Although there are many different types, worry dolls tend to measure between 10 and 20 millimeters. They’re made by hand using a base of wood or wire. The face is usually made of cotton, cardboard, or clay, and the clothing can be made with wool or aguayo, a traditional Guatemalan cloth.
In Guatemalan culture, these little figures were originally intended to alleviate children’s nighttime anxiety, but today it’s also common for adults to use them. They’re usually kept in boxes or cloth bags in groups of 6, one for each day of the week, giving them the option to rest for a day. They usually come with the following instructions:
- Concentrate on your concerns or problems when you go to bed.
- Tell the doll what you want them to take away.
- Put the doll under the pillow.
- Caress the doll’s tummy a few times so that your sorrows don’t hurt it, and in the morning, they’ll have disappeared!
The dolls are used as dreamcatchers and amulets, offering you a chance to unload your daily suffering in a natural way. This beautiful tradition promotes a very healthy psychological habit that everyone should try to achieve every day: releasing the mind of your preoccupations so you can sleep soundly.
Each one is different. Yours will be picked at random, although since nothing is an accident you will get the one/ones that are right for you! These are handmade by women in Guatemala. These are super cute and kids love them. My mama gave me these growing up and they made me so happy. Also Reiki charged by me for peace of mind! They are between 1-2 inches tall.You will receive 1 doll.