The custom of pryanik-making in Russia has a long history. Pryaniks appeared long time ago and were first used for rituals. During Christmas holidays town and village dwellers made baked figures of cows and other animals to present to the carollers who came to entertain them, figures of birds symbolizing the advent of spring.
Among the Russian pryniks, northern ones, the so-called kozooli occupy a special. The origin of the word may be explained by the fact that the most popular shape of such pryaniks was that of a sheep or a goat.
The Arkhangelsk pryanik was officialy acknowledged as a form of folk art in 1913 when the Second Exhibition of Folk Crafts was held in Moscow.
Arkhangelsk kozoolyas vary in shape and color: they may have the form of sheep. horse, a reindeer, a basket and so on. They are usually of brownish shade and are decorated with coloured icing. Icing does not cover the whole surface. It is piped in wavy lines, curls, zigzags.
The museum offers an excursion about the history and traditions of Arkhangelsk gingerbread. Plus, you can participate in a workshop «kozuli». You can also buy traditional northern gingerbread here as a souvenir.
Photo credits to: Alena Samsonova, the museum of Arkhangelskii pryanik- kozulya.