A belt is an essential element of a Nenets woman’s outfit any time of the year. Being a precious amulet, it has not only a decorative but also an important sacred function. A girl would usually receive her first belt from her mother as soon as she starts walking. It does not matter whether it is a braid, a ribbon, or a simple rope — the most important thing is for a child to get accustomed to the feel of the belt.

The importance of a belt is emphasized greatly by Nenets parents. They teach their children from an early age that the belt is their best friend, which will always support their posture and protect their back, which is as important as the head. There are strict rules for handling the belt: it should not be thrown, trampled, or stepped on.

Nenets women tie their outerwear with a belt that is three or four meters long. In the past, belts were purchased from Russians — for example, the Nenets of the Kanin Peninsula bought belts in the village of Oma. The belts were homespun, made of wool dyed in different colors. At one end of the belt, there was a copper buckle, which could be rather large — up to 20 centimeters in diameter.

The tradition of putting on a belt has remained unchanged for centuries. At the buckle, women fold the belt twice to make it wider and tighter. Having put the belt around the waist, they thread the longer end through a ring in the front and tie the two ends together. The belt can be wrapped around the waist and threaded through the buckle several times. In this way, it forms a kind of corset, supports the wearer’s health, and is imbued with magical properties.

A properly worn belt supports the woman’s abdomen and protects her from certain diseases, especially after childbirth. Moreover, elements of Nenets women’s clothing have a front opening, and the belt helps to secure the clothes and keep the wearer warm. Metal is traditionally perceived as a symbol of purity by the peoples of the North.

The symbolic meaning of the belt is that, according to the Nenets, only lazy, unkempt, and good-for-nothing people do not wear a belt. A Nenets without a belt can very rarely be seen in the tundra. Moreover, a person cannot be considered neat, businesslike, and serious-minded if their belt is worn out or not worn properly.