Proverbs and the Syrian Handicrafts

“God bless our ancestors; they left nothing not proverbed” is a phrase that probably no Syrian or anyone who has visited or lived in Syria has not heard. Usually, this statement is used prior to a traditional proverb, a poem phrase, or a part of an old song to emphasize an idea and make sure there are no doubts about it. It is said that the traditional proverb consists of 4 elements: short sentences, direct meaning, good imagery, and good writing, and that’s definitely what we found in the Syrian proverbs.

Syria’s ancestral spoken heritage, which has been transferred for generations, is considered the essence of knowledge and legacy that our ancestors have built throughout the years. It has been transformed by time to maxims about life, the thing that encourages repeating it when one needs to gain the benefit of its wisdom. This spoken heritage became like a linguistic creativity that people are always happy to hear, and enjoy it every time they hear it.

If we look closely at the variety of Syrian handicrafts that is practiced in almost every village and city, we discover that it’s not only a solid activity that transfers raw materials to artistic pieces, it is also a living journey that is deeply connected to Syrian heritage, including the spoken one, as well. We might be lucky that we do still have the accessibility to reach the heritage related to handicrafts and its rich details.

Let’s imagine today a woman holding her knitting tools, sitting in her house in a village at the cliff of a mountain, or let’s close our eyes and imagine a man bending on his loom in a historical market place, looming a beautiful rug. Let’s imagine the households enjoying their creative works in their own way, reciting poems and proverbs about it.

Here are some of them:

Proverbs that talk about the importance of the handcraft and its value in the Syrian society:

(The assonance is lost in the translation! The idea what is remained)

• Work is like a golden bracelet in hand.
• Work for free and do not sit doing nothing.
• Who holds a craft, holds a castle.
• Work dirt, and not laziness Saffron.
• Who works for his food, his folks are blessed.
• Work till you die and do not ask for your enemy’s help.
• This work has taken a piece of my hand.

Proverbs that show the will to be specialized in work:

• The man is like an obelisk, he works only one thing.
• The craft that is not yours, will destroy your life.
• Who works a lot of crafts, will have little money.
• Because he worked too many things, he is now jobless.

Proverbs that describe how hard it is to craft

• The craft of loom is unbearable.
• Creativity in the loom is not by talking.
• Building a wall from threads.