O bordado na economia do município de Timbaúba dos Batistas (Rio Grande do Norte)

Abstract

The Timbaúba dos Batistas (Brazil) embroidery is key element to identify the economy and the culture of the city. It reflects faithfully its culture, the origins, the people, that is, the embroidery has a great representation in Timbaúba of the Baptists. The art of embroidery is in the secular practice of women, and recently also of Timbauban men. This art was brought to the Serido region through the women of the Portuguese colonizers, being considered the cradle of this art the Island of Madeira (Portugal). Through the embroidery of the Island of Madeira, a little of Portuguese culture was better known. This Lusitanian heritage is perpetuated to the present day and is practiced by thousands of people as a taste to decorate clothing and domestic accessories, and is even a therapeutic practice. In past centuries, the practice of embroidery served as a constituent element in the feminine formation, above all, in the construction of the role of the "stuck-up girl". Thus, embroidery was practiced only by women as time passes or to adorn their wedding dresses, however, today, embroidery has become an attractive way to obtain income for thousands of families from all over Seridó, being a convenient economic alternative for those who do not have other economic activity. Thus, this research proposed as a general objective to analyze the embroidering activity in the city of Timbaúba dos Batistas / RN. Specifically, it sought to understand its economic importance for hundreds of Timbuktu families and to understand its cultural importance to the city. The results indicate that this activity is essential for the survival of the Timbaúba do Batistas families.