Magic belt for childbirth

The magic belt was used to relieve labour pain at a time when medical pain relief or other health services were not yet available. The belt was tied around the belly of the woman in labour. The aids hidden in the belt were small magical objects, such as a five-kopek coin, bone and piece of umbilical cord. The bone is probably the claw of an animal. The coin was in a small fabric bag. The belt comes from the village of Pisto in East Karelia.

SU5004:1a-e. Photo: Matti Huuhka, 2010.