the sun, and expresses the idea of fertility and protection against evil. Ducks, in the centre of the rushnyk, symbolize the element of life-giving water. In wedding folklore a duck and a drake symbolize a bride and a groom, in other words a pair of ducks is a symbol of family life. Another common symbol on rushniks are birds. During a wedding ceremony, the bride and groom are standing on a Rushnyk called a pidnozhnyk, which translates as step-on towel. What happens to the pidnozhnyk is that the bride will drag the towel behind her, and her bridesmaids follow behind her. Tradition has it that when the bridesmaids follow behind the pidnozhnyk, they are following the path of the bride and will hopefully be married. Etymology Words with the common suffix "-nyk" ("-nik"), denoting agent nouns, indicate a general association of the new word with the base one. Rushnyk: from ruka, hand Na-: a prefix meaning "on", i.e., the thing is supposed to be put onto something Nabozhnyk: from Boh, God Naobraznyk: from obraz, literally "image", meaning "God's image", i.e., icon Nakutnyk: from kut, corner, meaning the corner where an icon is hung (by East Slavic traditions). Pidnozhnyk: from pid (=under) and nohy (=feet) See also Balochi needlework References External links Virtual Guide to Belarus - Belarusian Rushniks Slavic culture Textile arts of Ukraine Textile arts of Russia Religious objects Textile arts Linens Embroidery