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String snake

From Attu Project

A string snake is a type of wooden trinket common to the Collective Kelelemi Republic. String snakes, popular among children, are modeled to resemble the native Kelelemi snake.

Design

A string snake consists of several cylindrical pieces of wood threaded along a length of string or similar material. Traditionally whittled and assembled by hand, string snakes usually feature intricately carved details and patterns. The string threaded through the pieces of wood is tied at each end; this allows the holder to produce a rattling sound by shaking the toy. Some string snakes have small beads inside hollow cylinders of wood to make the rattling louder. String snakes vary greatly in size, length, and number of components.

In culture

String snakes are Sorewa in origin. The string snake was originally created to ward off real Kelelemi snakes from settled areas, though the trinkets became popular toys among Sorewa children. As wood carving is practiced by the Sorewa people, string snakes could be produced frequently and with little cost. String snakes eventually gained popularity among Sawaji and Kawakia children, becoming a fairly ubiquitous children's toy.