A Wayuu women’s right of passage
The creation of the Wayuu bag begins when a Wayuu girl goes from being a child to a woman. During her first menstrual cycle, she is obliged to stay confined to a hut anywhere from six months to a year. Previously, they used to stay confined for up to 7 years!
During this time, she is only allowed to have contact with her mother and her grandmother. Throughout these months of confinement, these 2 women will teach her everything she needs to know about being a Wayuu woman and caring for her future husband and children. It is during this time that she learns about the art of crocheting Wayuu bags. She learns the meaning of each pattern, shape and color used in her bags to carry on the craft of her people.