Portuguese valentine's love handkerchiefs trinket tray

This folk square design is one of the most popular Portuguese folk-art patterns. It's a hand-embroidered Valentine's message in symbols and words. Today we can find it in clothes, shoes, also in tablecloths and kitchen towels, and accessories. Lenços dos Namordos or sweetheart’s favors or Sweethearts´ handkerchiefs, - also known as Love handkerchiefs - are an old girly Portuguese tradition. It dates maybe from the 17th century. In Northern Portugal, in the Minho region, these embroidered handkerchiefs were used in the flirting or conquest of a man's love. They were a romantic public declaration. These squares were made of linen or cotton and had embroidered messages dedicated by a young woman to the man she is in love with. The woman would send it to the man and, if her love was returned, he would use the handkerchief in public. In case he didn´t, the girl's romantic dream was over. Often these handkerchiefs have rhyme and misspellings in cursive handwriting because women were not enough schooled so they would write like they spoke, and married young. The motifs theme are reproduction (branches), love (dove, heart), the union (the key that unites two hearts), loyalty (dog), and nostalgia (messenger pigeon with envelope and ship). You can also find blackberry vines, bouquets, butterflies, religious symbols, etc. Linen is embroidered in cross stitch, running, and stem stitches. This charming Portuguese tradition inspired this product that is ideal for romantic couples or any romantic celebration, for example, Valentine’s Day, Wedding Anniversaries, Romantic Birthdays, or for any occasion when one feels like surprising a sweetheart, a wife or maybe a mother or a sister, with a sweet and loving surprise.