Siglas Poveiras - Current Use of Siglas

Current Use of Siglas

The use of the Latin alphabet to identify boats occurred only very recently in Póvoa de Varzim, when comparing with other fishing communities that used some kind of marks. In 1944, in a set of 25 boat marks, only one used the Latin Alphabet: F.A. de Francisco Fogateira, that substituted the marks: lanchinha and "double of two piques in cross and coice". In Aver-o-Mar, in a group of 38 boats, eight vessels already used the alphabet and marks.

Despite not having the use of previous periods, the ''banheiros of Bairro Norte district still place their family mark in their belonging at the beach, the same occurs in the family's home and the mark is written in the belongings. The Casa dos Pescadores da Póvoa de Varzim, the fishermen association, still accepts marks as correct forms of signature. Marks are also used to decorate the city, as in pavements. Street plates in the city center of Póvoa de Varzim use them to revive the use and as a local identity by placing several marks belonging to traditional Povoan families.