Moidodyr shown on Russian postage stamp. 1993

Moydodyr (Russian: Мойдоды́р) is a 1923 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

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 another recurring character from Chukovsky's books—the Crocodile. The Crocodile swallows the sponge and becomes angry with the boy for being so dirty. Scared by the Crocodile, the boy goes back to Moydodyr and takes a bath. The poem ends with a moralistic note to children on the virtue of hygiene.

Adaptations

  • Moydodyr (1927 film)
  • Moydodyr (1939 film)
  • Moydodyr (1954 film)

Influence in culture

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 / 55.795054; 37.666111), 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 / 55.5259361; 28.6664639), in Noginsk. In 2008 a monument to Moydodyr-mommy with Moydodyr-baby was installed in Novgorod.[4][5]

References

  1. ↑ "Monument to Moydodyr (Moscow) - 2022 All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (With Photos)".
  2. ↑ №145 МОЙДОДЫРУ
  3. ↑ Памятник Мойдодыру в Казани
  4. ↑ Памятник Мойдодыру в Великом Новгороде
  5. ↑ Памятник семейству Мойдодыров установили в Великом Новгороде
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