Damascus, Jan. 27 (SANA) In Syria’s Jazira region, traditional crafts are more than decorative arts—they are a vital part of the area’s cultural and social identity. For generations, women have been the backbone of these artisanal practices, using inherited skills to create textiles, embroidery, carpets, and wool- and cotton-based crafts that reflect local traditions and daily life.
These crafts were never merely economic activities. They preserved collective memory, reinforced women’s roles in society, and showcased their creativity and economic contributions.
From Home to Craft
Researcher Ahmed al-Hussein, writing in Folk Heritage (issues 36–37), notes that rural and semi-nomadic women historically combined household duties with productive work. In villages and deserts, crafts were largely women’s domain, while men in cities focused on trade-oriented production. Using locally sourced materials and knowledge passed down from mothers and grandmothers, women created essential household items, food products, and artisanal goods—reducing costs and supporting family income.
Woolen Textiles and Weaving
Woolen textiles form the centerpiece of these crafts. Women spun sheep’s wool and goat hair using traditional tools like the spindle, then wove them on horizontal looms to produce rugs, floor coverings, and storage containers. These items had practical uses—covering tents, transporting grains, decorating animals—while incorporating geometric designs and colorful patterns that reflected local aesthetics.
Bedding and Household Textiles
Women crafted household bedding, including dawashiq (traditional mattresses) and quilts. Constructed from layers of fabric, stuffing, and decorative stitching to prevent clumping, these pieces were made from local wool or cotton and provided comfort and warmth for families.
Clay Ovens and Food Crafts
Women also built clay ovens, or (tannur), using local clay, straw, goat hair, and salt. These ovens baked bread, roasted meat, and cooked meals, becoming a focal point of daily life.
Tradition Meets Modernity
While modern tools have eased production and cleaning, they have also contributed to a decline in handcraft skills and product quality. Many traditional leatherworking and weaving techniques have faded, and ready-made textiles now replace handmade bedding, reducing women’s active role in household craft production.
This shift reflects a broader loss of generational knowledge and versatile skills that once defined women artisans in Syria’s Jazira region—skills rarely found among urban craftspeople.
Folk Heritage magazine, published by the Syrian Ministry of Culture’s Directorate of Intangible Heritage, documents and studies local traditions, preserving Syria’s rich popular culture for future generations.
R.D
