Garlic Kinder Necklacez
Garlic pendants. Not something I expected to write about. But here we are.
Somewhere between Slavic vampire repellent and Soviet aromatherapy lies the Kinder Surprise garlic necklace[01]. Common in Russian kindergartens. Peak winter immunity drip. If you grew up in Ukraine or Belarus, you probably made your own; chopped garlic, rhinestones, alphabetic beads. My friend Dany said it was required in his classroom. Like… mandatory.
This dates back to 1918. During the Spanish Flu, people wore garlic around their necks to "purify the air". Garlic’s been doing too much for too long. And in WWII, Russians called it “penicillin from the garden.” Despite modern medicine stepping in, Garlic Kinder necklaces are here to stay. Teachers make it an arts and crafts thing. Some even host garlic pendant workshops for parents[02]. Meanwhile, I had Flintstones vitamins. Smh. Missed opportunity.
How to Build a Garlic Kinder Necklace
Find a yellow capsule from a Kinder Surprise eggHeat up an awl or small nailPoke ~30 holes (so the garlic vapors canbreathe)Stuff it with chopped garlicDecorate with stickers, beads, rhinestones—dealer’s choiceHang it on a ribbon so it sits at chest levelWear with confidence
