Petrushka

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For a ballet by Stravinsky, see Petrushka (ballet)

Petrushka (Russian: Петрушка) is a stock character of Russian folk puppetry known at least since 17th century. Petrushkas were used as marionettes, as well as hand puppets. Traditionally he was a kind of a jester distinguished by red dress, red kolpak (a kind of pointy hat) and often a long nose.

The name is actually a hypocoristic for "Pyotr" (Пётр), which is Peter in Russian (incidentally, it is the Russian word for parsley). However, the character has little or nothing in common with such stock characters as Petruccio or Pierrot. Petrushka is rather a Russian Punch or Pulcinella in character.

Initially, Petrushka was a character of typical slapstick comedy targeting the adult audience. When gradually the puppet theatre has become predominantly children's entertainment, Petrushka became less vulgar and aggressive.