Basketgem shares the weaving symbols and symbols: the totems or meanings of baskets in certain cultures

In many African tribes, woven baskets are not only daily tools but also symbols of family inheritance and social status. For example, the "Isichumo" baskets of the Zulu people in South Africa are woven from natural grasses and dyes, and the intricate geometric patterns represent different family or tribal identities. The Agaseke baskets in Rwanda (also known as the "peace baskets") were once exclusive to the royal family and now have become a symbol of national unity, even printed on the currency. They symbolize unity and collaboration (as weaving requires the cooperation of many people), the wisdom of women (traditionally woven by women), and wealth and status (exquisitely woven baskets are exchanged as valuable gifts).

Among the indigenous tribes in North and South America, the materials and patterns of woven baskets are believed to carry the spirituality of nature. The "double-woven baskets" of the Cherokee people symbolize the integration of heaven and earth, and the spiral patterns represent the cycle of life. The baskets of the California Indian tribes use three colors, red, black, and white, symbolizing blood, the land, and purity respectively. They commonly use ceremonial baskets for sacrifices or coming-of-age ceremonies, incorporating prayers during the weaving process, or funeral baskets to hold the belongings of the deceased and help their souls transition.

In Asia, baskets are often associated with agricultural harvests and auspicious blessings. The "zhaoli" in Japan is a bamboo-woven sieve basket used for filtering, symbolizing "sifting away bad luck". The Chinese bamboo-woven baskets with the character "Fu" are filled with fruits during the Spring Festival, implying that "happiness fills the home". The palm baskets in the Philippines are used for storing rice, symbolizing abundance. These baskets are applied during some national festivals. For instance, during the Loy Krathong Festival in Thailand, people put flowers and candles into small baskets woven from banana leaves and let them float down the river to pray for good luck. During the harvest festivals in India, newly harvested rice is placed in painted baskets to offer sacrifices to the Sun God.

Basket weaving in Europe is also full of symbolic meanings, often related to myths, witchcraft, and folklore. For example, in Celtic culture, wicker baskets symbolize vitality (as willows are easy to grow) and are used in the Beltane Festival. In Slavic folklore, woven baskets are used to hold "Easter eggs", representing new life. In Greek mythology, Demeter (the goddess of harvest) holds a basket of wheat ears, symbolizing the fertility of the earth. In Ireland, people believe that wicker baskets can "trap evil spirits", so woven baskets are placed to exorcise evil during Halloween.

In the Pacific island countries, baskets are closely related to religious ceremonies and maritime culture. The fish baskets in Hawaii are used for fishing, and the weaving techniques are passed down from generation to generation, symbolizing the blessings of the ocean. The "Kete" baskets of the Maori people are used to hold sacred items, and the patterns tell the history of the tribe.

Today, these traditional weaving techniques are applied in environmental protection campaigns, advocating a sustainable way of life.

From the family totems in Africa to the blessing symbols in Asia, from the spiritual weavings in the Americas to the harvest myths in Europe, baskets are not just tools for daily life but also silent narrators of human civilization. Their patterns, materials, and uses carry the understanding of nature, life, and beliefs in different cultures.