The debut of Dolly Bureau Volume 3 (All About Tiny Dolls) is approaching and not all small dolls could be included in the book. Over the spanning days and weeks, I'll be posting additional information related to the miniature doll theme.
First up are worry dolls. They are also known as trouble dolls, traditionally handmade in Guatemala. They are very tiny, about 0.5 to 2 inches tall. They are usually made of cloth, yarn, wire, wood, straw, and/or sand. My mother gave me some of these dolls as a child. Later, I purchased more in Arizona and New Mexico while on a road trip. They came in the little decorated yellow boxes pictured.
According to the legend of worry dolls, if a worry prevents a person from sleeping (especially a child), they are supposed to tell the worries to the dolls and then place them under their pillow. The anxiety is transferred to the doll and the person is able to sleep peacefully through the night.