ABOUT THE EMBROIDERED MOTIF
The valentine handkerchief (Lenço dos Namorados) has its origin around the XVII century in the north of Portugal, especially in the Minho region. Also known as “lenço de pedido”, it was an important part of the romantic courtship of the couple.
The story tells that a young woman of marriageable age embroidered a white cloth of cotton or fine linen and in it she expressed the feelings towards her beloved. The embroidery was abundant in floral motifs, symbols of love and messages in verse. Each motive had its own meaning. Thus, a key represented opening the heart to her beloved one; a little bird, the messenger of secrets; a heart was the symbol of love; a cross, the desire to get married; a boat, the promise to return or the longing to see each other again, related to the enormous migratory flow of the time.
Packed with symbolism, these colorful handkerchiefs had another singularity: the verses were embroidered with many spelling mistakes, since young women of that time, with little or minimal education, made a phonetic transcription of their regional way of speaking. Once finished, the lenço (handkerchief) was passed discreetly into the hands of his namorado (boyfriend or lover). If the young addressee wore the handkerchief in public in a visible place on his clothing, it meant that a loving relationship had begun that would often end up in marriage. If the feeling was not corresponded , the handkerchief had to be returned to the girl.
The story tells that a young woman of marriageable age embroidered a white cloth of cotton or fine linen and in it she expressed the feelings towards her beloved. The embroidery was abundant in floral motifs, symbols of love and messages in verse. Each motive had its own meaning. Thus, a key represented opening the heart to her beloved one; a little bird, the messenger of secrets; a heart was the symbol of love; a cross, the desire to get married; a boat, the promise to return or the longing to see each other again, related to the enormous migratory flow of the time.
Packed with symbolism, these colorful handkerchiefs had another singularity: the verses were embroidered with many spelling mistakes, since young women of that time, with little or minimal education, made a phonetic transcription of their regional way of speaking. Once finished, the lenço (handkerchief) was passed discreetly into the hands of his namorado (boyfriend or lover). If the young addressee wore the handkerchief in public in a visible place on his clothing, it meant that a loving relationship had begun that would often end up in marriage. If the feeling was not corresponded , the handkerchief had to be returned to the girl.
Over the time, those colorful stories embroidered on cloths were kept in cabinets and drawers, becoming a beautiful reminder of the romantic and personal history of many families. Nowadays, the Lenço dos Namorados is still an authentic and traditional gift as a symbol of true love or friendship.
