If you are reading this apart from our other special on Lancha Poveira, then in brief, this area ( Póvoa de Varzim) North of Porto has some amazing boats. (Check the above link to go to our cultural pages for the article.) From this same area is a kind of local short hand “language.” Glance at the photos included first. (p1, p2)This pictorial language was not a language per sec but was used for the people to refer to a few basic things. The symbols were normally written using a razor on wood, but in painting form on boats. (pic 3) The “language” called siglas was primarily used as a signature for the family coat-of-arms in order to mark family belongings. (see pic 4)
Siglas Poveiras or Marcas is the name of the system.
(p, 1)
Siglas poveiras pic source (1)
—————————————–
(p, 2)
___________________
pic 3
__________________________________________
Family mark describing ownership of a private garage in Rua Cândido Landolt in Póvoa city center. pic 4
________________________________________
According to Santos Graça, the siglas were inspired by daily objects of Póvoa de Varzim residents:
lanchinha — Poveiro Boat (port)
lanchinha — Poveiro Boat (nose)
mastro e verga — Barco Poveiro with hoisted sail
coice — Barco Poveiro (an area where women pushed for Ala-Arriba)
padrão — Cruzeiro of the Cemetery of Póvoa de Varzim
grades de dois e três piques — Gratings (Agricultural object used in the smoothing of the farm fields after harvest in Giesteira, Póvoa de Varzim)
sarilho and meio sarilho — Sarilho (object used by women to make hanks of wool or hemp in Póvoa de Varzim)
