WAYUU TEXTILE ORIGIN
DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THE WAYUU TEXTILE?
There are many versions of the origin of these weaving techniques that are so representative of the culture of Colombia, however the most famous is the legend of the Wale'Kerü spider.
This legend says that this weaving spider was the one who taught the Wayuu woman to weave. It all starts with a girl, who approached the spider and recognized and admired the way she wove. The spider was moved by the girl's words and decided to teach her the art of weaving. According to this, the girl spent several moons weaving and learning all the weaving techniques. When the girl was ready, the spider disappeared and she returned a woman full of knowledge, knowledge that she shared with the women of the community.
RITE OF "EL ENCIERRO"
To keep the art and culture around Wayuu weaving, the communities practice a ritual when girls are given an initiation. This practice is carried out from their first menstruation, where nutrition and body care is very important. Girls are prepared for this moment around the age of eight, where mothers and grandmothers talk to them about that moment. Once the first bleeding appears, the girl enters the ritual phase where she remains lying on a hammock hanging from the ceiling. According to this, the girl must cut all ties with her male brothers. Once this is over, their hair is cut and they are bathed at midnight in the presence of guests who are essential members of the community. From there, the girls begin learning about the importance of being a Wayuu woman based on weaving techniques, This process can take from six months to a year counted in moons and suns.
The presence of Wayuu women in the community is super important and this is the way in which they have transmitted and preserved their culture through generations.