Handicrafts with Irish palm

“El Pesebre del Atlántico” is the name by which Usiacurí, a municipality in the Atlántico department of Colombia, is also known.

It got this name, as the story goes, because its picturesque houses were placed on irregular topography, as a Christian Christmas tradition.

Between 70% and 80% of economic activity of this municipality, is the production of handicrafts on the base of the Irish palm.

Crafts that are not only known in the country, but also abroad territory of Colombiasince craftsmen have a large participation in international fairs, where they carry their wallets, bags, purses, bread containers and mats, among other things. The list of products is long.

The old generations they made their handicrafts with palm from Cuba, they brought it from this country, he says Panama Americacraftswoman Katherine de la Hoz.

However, there comes a time when the Cuban palm fails to enter the country and they start a new search for subject and that is when it comes to Usiacuri: palm of the Irish.

According to de la Hoz, it does not grow in Usiacuri, because the plant does not develop in the place as it should, that’s why they bring it from other places. It must be large so that a long bud grows out of it, after the process, the palm tree leaves to weave.

The craftsman tells that the first craftsmen started making braidsHowever, a visitor from Europe came to Usiacurí and brought a chest made of thread, and the girl replicated the chest, but did not give it a shape. “A gentleman made her a wire structure, and she covered it Iraqi palm tree, and from there they started working with the wire and palm of the Irish. Among other things, furniture, chests and bread baskets were made”.

Then they plunged into basic stitchesof which there are several and are currently applicable.

In 1990, dyes came in and they started to dye the palm with a natural material such as achiote and avocado seed, this gave pastel or earthy tones, then came the anilines. For this process, they use a large pot to dye the palms.

learning and teaching

Stitch sampler in hand, de la Hoz says no one taught the techniques, “we saw our parents and when we were 6 or 7 we already knew how to braid… which is the first thing you learn”.

However, at the moment there is a subject Trade and Industry in the school of this municipality entrepreneurship“they already teach children to knit… that’s an advantage”.

Tourism

Usiacurí is one hour from Barranquilla (Colombia) and in addition to seeing its beautiful handicrafts, you can visit Church of Saint Dominic from Guzman.

On the site you can see the images created from the project “Usiacurí is more”which bet on art and culture to make this territory visible.

And if you are planning to go to Barranquilla and have not yet decided where to stay, one of the options will be the Barranquilla Marriott Hotel located in Puerto Colombia. From this point it will be very convenient for you to reach Usiacurí.