Golden Grass

Lia Mara

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Gold of Jalapão

Golden grass only sprouts in the paths of Jalapão. It’s the thin stem with intense metallic shine that is used by local women, with gifted hands, to turn the grass into a variety of craft items: bags, earrings, bracelets, hats, mandalas (wall-hangings), baskets and various objects of decoration. These pieces with unique beauty have crossed Tocantins’ borders, winning markets in all Brazilian states and also abroad.

The art of working with golden grass was taught to local women by Mrs. Miúda, a matriarch of the town of Mumbuca, municipality of Mateiros. Previously, the technique was passed by indigenous who inhabited the region to Mrs. Miúda’s grandmother and then to her mother.

Today, the techniques of golden grass handicraft are still taught from generation to generation in the village of Mumbuca and also in the cities of Mateiros, Ponte Alta, Novo Acordo, Santa Tereza, Lagoa do Tocantins and in Prata, a village of São Felix do Jalapão County.

The grass

Actually, what is called golden grass (syngonanthus nitens) is the stem of a small white flower from the “always-alive” family. In the flower are found the seeds that guarantee the perpetuation of the plant (native of Jalapão), and income for hundreds of Jalapão families.