Engineering:Venik (broom)

A typical Russian venik

A venik (/'vɛnɪk/ VEH-nik; Russian: веник, tr. venik) is a Russian type of broom made from a bundle of twigs tied together to form a stout pole, used for sweeping indoor spaces, but sometimes also used outdoors. Historically, it has also been used for dusting clothes and as a bath broom used in saunas, such as Russian banyas. Veniks can be made from both natural and synthetic materials.

Max Vasmer's Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language [ru] points to the Old Church Slavonic word 'вѣникъ', Slovenian 'venik' and Czech 'věník', which all translate to Russian as 'tuft.'

Description

Veniks are typically made up of a tuft (usually 20 to 50 cm) of stems (twigs) of shrubs, grasses, or synthetically manufactured fibers tied together to form a stout pole used as a handle, akin to that of a broomstick. Although historically they were manufactured by hand by craftsmen, the manufacturing process has been transferred to an industrial scale, to an industry standard set by the Russian Federation executive body [ru]: OST 56-31-91.

In culture

In Russian culture, the venik has historically had both good and bad connotations. It was seen as a place behind or under which a domovoy would hide, and similarly to the broom it was sometimes associated with the occult. However, it also sometimes served as a protective amulet, as well as a tool for fortune-telling. A venik was also often not thrown away, instead being ceremonially burned during Maslenitsa. The venik's cultural significance extends outside Russia: in Odessa Oblast, Ukraine , a large venik statue (six metres tall) was erected to commemorate the 620th anniversary of the foundation of Savran, a settlement in the area, which was recognized as the largest venik monument in the world.

See also

• Banya
• Sauna
• Bath broom