The Love Handkerchiefs

A tradition from northern Portugal that dates back to the XVII century.

 

Women from lower-class families embroidered them as a way to show their love to a special someone. If a man accepted the handkerchief, it was a public declaration of their love. If he rejected it or broke their promise, he had to return the handkerchief and any personal items he had received.

​

These handkerchiefs were often made by women who were not well-educated, so they often had spelling mistakes. However, this did not stop even the nobility from using them. In fact, some people believe that the handkerchiefs became even more popular because they were seen as a symbol of love and commitment, regardless of social class.

​

The graphic motifs are usually linked to:

 

- Love: lovers, brambles, keys, hearts;

- Fidelity: doves, dogs;

- Marriage: religious symbols, crosses, vases, candelabras;

- Agricultural life: baskets, ladders, pitchers, barrels;

- Emigration: boats, doves with letters.