Moydodyr
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Moydodyr (Russian: Мойдоды́р) is a 1923 fairy tale poem for children by Korney Chukovsky about a magical creature by the same name. The name "Moy do dyr" is literally translated as "Wash 'til Holes"; the common English translation is "Wash 'Em Clean".
Plot summary[edit]
The poem is about a little boy who does not want to wash. He gets so dirty that all his toys, clothes and other possessions decide to magically leave him. Suddenly, from the boy's mother's bedroom appears Moydodyr—an anthropomorphic washstand. He claims to be the chief of all washstands, soap bars, and sponges. He scolds the boy and calls his soap bars and sponges to wash him. The boy tries to run away, chased by a vicious sponge. The chase is described as happening on Petrograd streets. Finally they meet Crocodile, who swallows the sponge and becomes angry with the boy for being so dirty. Scolded by Crocodile, the boy goes back to Moydodyr and washes himself. The poem ends with a moralistic note to children on the virtue of hygiene.
Adaptations[edit]
Influence in culture[edit]
Moydodyr character became a symbol of cleanliness in Russia and is often used to advertise detergents and other products.
There are statues of Moydodyr in Sokolniki Park, Moscow (2012)[1][2] (55°47′42″N 37°39′58″E / 55.795054°N 37.666111°E), its twin in Kazan (2013),[3], in Novopolotsk, Belarus (55°31′33.37″N 28°39′59.27″E / 55.5259361°N 28.6664639°E), in Noginsk. In 2008 a monument to Moydodyr-mommy with Moydodyr-baby was installed in Novgorod.[4][5]
Gallery[edit]
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Moydodyr in Moscow -
Moydodyr in Children's Park in Novopolotsk -
Moydodyr in Noginsk -
Tyre wash service "Moydodyr"
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References[edit]
External links[edit]
- Nikolay Kalashnikov. Two Moydodyrs. On the 1939 and 1954 cartoons "Moydodyr" drawn by same artist Ivan Ivanov-Vano. Part 1, part 2.
- The English translation of the book on Web Archive