Taboo

When I read about different cultures and their rituals and ceremonies I always wonder how they came about. Some of them, to me, seem really extreme or even taboo! Yet people abide to the customs. Think about it, if someone told you that in order for yourself to be considered a man, you had to endure the painful ceremony of having thousand cuts over your body, would you accept it? Or if you had to plunge your hand in a pot of boiling oil without getting burnt in order to be deemed innocent in a conflict?

Papua New Guinea consists of many different tribes who follow different customs. A standard origin story tells the tale of the Crocodile God, who created mankind. In honour of the Crocodile, young men of one of the tribes undergo a painful initiation ceremony whereby bamboo slivers are sliced into their chests, backs and buttocks, to mark their transition into manhood. The process begins with the group of young boys locked in a hut known as the “spirit house”. Initiates are scared with the mark of the crocodile. Cuts tell everyone to recognise them as initiated men. If they can suffer this pain, they can shoulder the pains of adulthood. One initiate mentions the process is akin to making “blood porridge". The young boys aged 11-30 are pinned down by their uncles while tribal cutters slice their tender skin with razors. They are allowed to chew leaves which have the effect of a strong drink but no anaesthetics are given. I watched this on National Geographic Channels’ program “Taboo”. I thought it would be good if I added it here.

Take a look.

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/places/index.html

Another ritual in Papua New Guniea ( I presume, practiced by another tribe) is known as “Blood Initiation”. This tribe believes that when a mother gives birth, much of her blood remains in the child. This, to them is considered unclean. Hence, in order to expel the "contaminating influences of women", they go through a series of rituals to clean their systems.

1) Pit pit canes down the back of their throats then pull them out, to empty their stomachs.
2) To get rid of contaminants they breathed in, sharp weeds are shoved into each others’ nostrils. Blood and mucus pour freely.
3) To complete, they must expose themselves to another ordeal. Cleansing another part of their body exposed to female polluted food- the tongue. Razor sharp arrow slices into the tender flesh repeatedly.

If you listened carefully to the video clip, Pune’s (excuse me if I spelt his name incorrectly) father mentioned that “ those who become too scared to participate in this ritual eventually find out they are less attractive to women, and don’t have the same energy in making gardens etc..and remain miserable bachelors till death”.


http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/places/index.html

Reading about these rituals already give me the creeps, watching them only strengthens my grip of the arm rest on my chair, imagine having to undergo it!! I thank the Lord for making me a woman. Haha. Nevertheless, if I was male, I think I’d rather remain a wimp and not go through the formal transition into manhood. =) It is difficult to comprehend the reasons for having to go through these "tests". Personally, I find these rituals pretty much extreme and I find it hard to accept these practices. However on second thoughts I guess its similiar to accepting the Hindu rituals such as Thaipussam or Thimiti (fire walking). Each culture would have different view points about the traditions of other cultures, but eventually, everyone has to accept the different "templates of living".