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| | The sled is a popular type of carriage without wheels, usually having runners. Sleighs are driven by horses, deer, mules, bulls and dogs.
Sleds were ancient carriages developed from buck-rakes and used not only in the northern countries but also in southern countries, for example, in Egypt. Many people, already familiar with wheeled carriages, according to custom, used sleds in funeral ceremonies (Ancient Egypt, Ancient Russia etc.).
In pre-Pertine Russia, sleds were popular even in summer due to the inadequacy of roads and streets and also the comparatively low cost of sleds. In marshy places and woods, sleds were used in summers till the beginning of the 20th century. In Ancient Russia, a ride on a sled was considered as more honorable than on wheels due to which, the sleds were used during all grand occasions especially by higher ministerial personnel, preferring them even in summer till the end of the 17th century. Ancient sleds looked like a boat with edges, bent in front and back or a long box narrowing in the front, in which it was possible to lie. The large portion of the sled was occupied by a single horse and was driven by a driver who sat astride. Sleds distinguished with rich decorations at notable boyars especially those of grand dukes and kings; imperial sleds often cost 200 - 300 rubles. Usually, they traveled alone in the sleds and only rarely two people traveled in the sled, but during visits, for example, two boyars stood on the footboards and two stewards at the king’s legs on specially made steps or on “ledges” in King Aleksey Mikhailovich’s sled.
Female sleds are identical, with respect to shape as the ones used by men, but were a little bit wider and were equipped with poles on the sides and cloth was hung on poles; thus sleds were covered from the top and from both sides. In ceremonies, special importance is given to sleds in weddings and during funerals. In the first case, the bride was offered the most elegant sled, covered with satin, velvet and with rich carpets and the harness is decorated accordingly. The bride went to church with matchmakers, holding sables over her and back from church - with the bridegroom.
The first annalistic information about the use of sleds during funerals date back to the funeral description of Vladimir Svytoslavich approximately in 1015: the body of the dead man was not only carried to church in a sled but they also put him into the church on a sled. The latest information, before the 17th century also indicates the use of sleds during funerals of grand-ducal and a king’s family members. Sometimes, sleds served as a stretcher for the widow accompanying the coffin or mother of the dead person. According to the study of Professor D.N. Anuchin, sleds were used during funerals not only by all Slavic people but also in Finland, in Western Europe and even in Egypt (where mummies, in a standing position, were carried in sleds).
Modern use
Sleds are used in rural areas of those countries where a snowy winter is witnessed. Sleds are used also in sports (sled sports). In various areas propeller sleighs are used.
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