Where Do Worry Dolls Originate?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Worry dolls (also called trouble dolls; in Spanish, Muñeca quitapena) are small, hand-made dolls that originate from

Guatemala

. According to legend, Guatemalan children tell their worries to the Worry Dolls, placing them under their pillow when they go to bed at night.

Who created the worry doll?


The Ancient Mayans

came up with a wonderful remedy to help children to express their worries and sleep soundly – they created Worry Dolls with their children. Worry Dolls, or Muñeca Quitapena, are small hand-made dolls that originate from Guatemala.

What are Worry Dolls used for?

Worry dolls, also known as trouble dolls, are tiny hand-crafted dolls that originated from Guatemala. According to local legend, they have

the power to take away trouble by worrying for you while you sleep

.

Are Worry Dolls safe?

Worry dolls feared

a safety hazard

by trading standard chiefs. The tiny little toys which are said to take away children’s worries at bedtime have sparked fears that they could be a choking hazard. … Due to their small size a child could potentially put them in their mouth and choke. They also have sharp points.

Can you share Worry Dolls?

The tradition of these tiny dolls tells us that

children can share their worries with them before going to sleep at night

. The child slips the dolls under their pillow and they will take over the duty of worrying so that the child can peacefully sleep.

What is the story behind worry dolls?

The story of the worry doll is

a local Mayan legend

. The origin of the Muñeca quitapena refers to a Mayan princess named Ixmucane. The princess received a special gift from the sun god that allowed her to solve any problem a human could worry about. The worry doll represents the princess and her wisdom.

Are worry dolls bad luck?

Worry dolls are a positive resource that originated in South America, and have subsequently become used around the world. They

are not linked in any way

to voodoo, or bad luck, but are a resource to alleviate anxiety and worry in children.

How do therapists use worry dolls?

“When a person cannot sleep well due to worries, they tell the worries to a worry doll. They then

put the doll under their pillow and during the night

the worry doll worries in the persons place, allowing them to sleep well and awake refreshed”.

How do I get rid of worry dolls?


Before bed

is ideally when a child confesses their fears, sorrows, and worries to the doll. They whisper their problems, then tuck the doll under the pillow. While the child is asleep, the doll does all the worrying, thus relieving the little one of all the concerns that would otherwise keep them from sleeping soundly.

What is a worry monster?

What is a Worry Monster? A worry monster is

deisgned to discuss and reduce worries

. Children write or draw their worry onto a piece of paper and then feed it to their worry monster. Once the monster has eaten it, the worry can then be discussed and shared with an adult.

Are worry dolls cursed?

They realize that all of the perpetrators had purchased worry dolls from Chloe and that she had taken them from Matt. Della tells them that the dolls were once capable of strong healing magic, but

became cursed after she gave them to a young Henry, as his sorrow and darkness from

his father’s death corrupted them.

Are worry dolls good for kids?

They really are

great little tools

to get children to think about any worries they might have and also start talking about them.

Can you reuse worry dolls?

If a child has more than one worry, more dolls are needed as each doll deals with one fear. Other children, however,

reuse their worry doll many times

and tell all their worries to that particular doll. … Many parents remove the doll during the night. This gives further proof to the child that their worries are gone.

Can I make my own worry doll?


Wrap

Twigs

Wrap the twigs with various colours of yarn or embroidery floss. To secure the starting piece, leave a little tail, and wrap over it a few times with your yarn. Do the same when changing colours. To finish, cut your yarn and knot to secure, or dab with a bit of glue from a low heat glue gun.

Can you name worry dolls?

Worry dolls (also named

trouble dolls

; Spanish Muñeca quitapena) are small, mostly hand-made dolls that originate from the highland indigenous people of Guatemala but are also found in Mexico.

Maria LaPaige
Author
Maria LaPaige
Maria is a parenting expert and mother of three. She has written several books on parenting and child development, and has been featured in various parenting magazines. Maria's practical approach to family life has helped many parents navigate the ups and downs of raising children.