One thing that always worried me, was to see handicraft in shops windows that doesn’t have anything to do with our region. I’ve already seen ceramic tipically from Alentejo, or even other products called handicraft, in which they are only handicraft pieces because they were put on the shops shelves manually.

Our region is rich in handicraft: from wood carvings to tapestry, tanoaria, embroidery, linen, basket weaving, and of course, the handicraft of the gastronomy, which has already been talked about in this site. But what is really the tipical handicraft of the region? And which of these is the mark of our municipality?

Some that come to mind is the Copper Workings, and the basket weaving. Once more, I’m forced to look back to my childhood memories, when I used to watch my grandmother make brooms, from corn Paínço, which grows from normal corn, when in full growth, the tops of the plant , and tied with wicker on sticks that wood become the broom stick. And what about the basket weaver, that with the noble wood of the chestnut tree made and still makes today, (despite the old age and the poor health that compromises the production), beautiful baskets, that are not so much used today in agriculture, but are used to store fire wood in the more favourable houses, that gives the house a more rustic look. Yes... thats right. The handicraft of today, which is used to decorate houses, bought by the more favourable, educated people, was once used in the day to day life of the population... I can still remember the baskets, that even manure used to carry, on the heads of the women of the village... I still remember Dª Aida Abranches(a Lady of the town, with certain social standings), that on a certain day said with a look of indignation, " I don’t know how these Creatures (women) don’t get tetanus from carryying these baskets on their heads."

It is good to try to preserve everything that links us with our roots... Handicraft is a good example, they’re references that makes travel in time. But, qualifying handicraft to a typical region is perfect nonsense, and does not make sense.

I remember the "wooden spoon maker" of Digueifel... He made the famous spoons of wood, the banner of Handicraft of a neighbouring municipality, but which is also ours.

There’s talk of a region, that has places more relevant in what we’re talking about, due to the particulares of the same, such as the peculiar way of life and customs. I’m talking about the whole region of the Serra de Estrela, where the handicraft of the gastronomy is the most important, but with the wool working is also a priority. The linen that is grown, sown and beaten on the looms. The Brass factories, closely linked to the production of cheese of the Serra. The cheese IS the true symbol of tipical handicraft. The Milk Can and the Acinho are primary handicrafts, but also other forms of trays and buckets... and even the beautiful Cão de Serra(regional bred dog) is the handicraft of generations of genetic preservation...

Curiosly,when talking of the Serra da Estrela, I remember once more the town of Digueifel. Jorge dos Carvalhais, that has one of the largest herds of sheep in the region, who uses the Acinho and also has a few Cães of the Serra... Even I had a dog when i was a child, his name was "Já Disse" which means " I’ve already told you", the name came from a joke. How I miss "Já Disse", and what pride I still have when I read things like.. " these dogs distinguish themselves for their big bodies, docil behaviour towards their owner, inteligence in their functions, and bravery in a fight against wilod animals..." This reference has the intention of marking our municipality os one of the most beautiful Tourist Zones of our Country.even with all these references, I still forgot to mention the toys, the pottery, the miniture hoses, the water wheels and the olive and grape presses made out of granite blocks, etc....

Joaquim Nobre

Translated by: David A. Fidalgo

davidjs900@yahoo.com