What is Tatreez and what is its symbolism?
Tatreez, the traditional Palestinian embroidery, has long served as a visual representation of Palestinian life and culture. This intricate craft is not only a symbol of artistic expression but also an essential component of Palestinian identity, deeply embedded in our culture.
My mother has always had traditional clothes adorned with Tatreez, which were passed down from her mother. I have loved wearing my traditional clothes, especially since they were passed down to me from my grandmother and are a part of my family history. I used to wear them a lot when I was younger. Wearing these clothes with beautiful patterns made me curious about the art of tatreez. It seemed to be such a big part of our history, but not many young people understood the underlying themes. I have known that Tatreez is a part of Palestinian heritage and has always been intertwined with our culture, but I never knew the history, the importance, significance, and how it represents the Palestinian people and their lifestyles.
I take it as a personal mission to be the link between Palestinian history and art and the young Palestinian community today, dispersed throughout the world. behind Palestinian Tatreez. and passing on the knowledge to my community to anyone who is unaware and wants to learn more about the art of Palestinian Tatreez and the history of Palestinian traditions.
DISCOVERING THE HISTORY OF PALESTINE THROUGH ART: TATREEZ
Tatreez Piece #1
This piece was my first Palestinian embroidery piece, created for a school project. It was centered around educating audiences about Palestinian embroidery. I had decided to center the piece around the colors red and black. These colors are very prominent within Palestinian culture. They are the colors most commonly used in Palestinian embroidery and are recognizable to audiences. I wanted to create a piece to educate audiences on the importance of embroidery and chose these specific motifs. I had also chosen these specific motifs to serve as a basic representation of Palestine as well as its rich history. For example, the border motif, the Star of Bethlehem, holds a significant place in Palestinian history as the star that shone when Jesus was born. I had chosen this motif to represent one example of the rich history of Palestine, as well as to highlight the religious significance that Palestine and our motifs hold. Not only for Palestinian Muslims but Christians alike, which makes Palestine a place of great religious importance.
The interior of the piece is decorated with motifs depicting Cyprus trees, which represent everlasting life. It was also chosen to represent the Palestinian nature and landscapes that are being eroded and destroyed. Within various cities in Palestine, different styles of Tatreez and motifs have been adapted. The design of the Cyprus tree that I had chosen was from Gaza, as I wanted to represent my home city and my family’s ties to the land. Finally, within the center of the piece is a motif that represents the moon, which serves as a symbol for Islam, the primary religion in Palestine, as well as hope, clarity, and peace.
Tatreez Piece #2
Tatreez is more than a decorative design, but is additionally an alternative method of expressing our culture. Emphasizing how, within diasporic communities, there is a wide array of cultural communication, Tatreez can be utilized as a method of visually communicating and representing the diversity of Palestinian culture.
In this context, the nature throughout Palestine holds great significance and is woven into Palestinian embroidery. Through the theme of nature in Tatreez, we demonstrate an appreciation for our lush flora, but also use it as a quiet act of resistance to emphasize Palestinians' claim to their land. Therefore, I sought to represent Lillies, such as the Madonna Lily, which are native to parts of Palestine. This motif originated from Ramallah, Palestine.
It is interesting to me to notice how aspects of global culture are becoming more accessible. Whereas, typically, traditional Tatreez motifs would be copied from books or past works. I was able to source this motif from an online website that compiles traditional Palestinian motifs. Such access demonstrates how individuals within the diaspora are adapting aspects of Palestinian culture to be more accessible to Palestinians around the world.
Zanbaq/Lily Motif originating from Ramallah, Palestine