8 Unique Traditions That Are Proudly Embraced by Women in Different Countries

Traditions define who we are. Although many customs have perished as humanity has progressed, some survived and continue to exist today, and new ones have emerged. Blowing out candles on your birthday cake is one of the oldest traditions still practiced today, and the meaning behind it is that with every candle, we mark a new milestone in life. With that, we’ve found some exciting folklore that women practice worldwide.

The village where men are banned

There is a society in Umoja (Umoja means unity), Uaso Kenya, that is governed entirely by women. Men are forbidden to live there unless they grow up there. It was created in 1990, and its sole purpose is to shelter women who’ve been mistreated by their husbands. All females in this village were previously members of the Samburu. They have schools, and their primary income source is tourism and jewelry.

Extraocular implants

There is a new body piercing tradition that has been developed in the Netherlands. Extraocular implants are tiny platinum objects that can be any shape. They are surgically inserted inside the surface of the eye for decoration. This procedure is forbidden in some countries because there isn’t enough evidence to support its safety.

Large foreheads & hair covered in clay are considered beautiful

In the African Fula tribe, women with large foreheads are considered to be the most beautiful. Traditionally girls pull their hair to make it look like they have big foreheads. And in the Himba tribe, girls cover their hair with a mixture of ochre pigment (natural clay) and butter fat to protect their hair from the harsh sun and view it as attractive. This has been practiced for generations and is still done today.

Women can have more than one partner

In many parts of the world, men are the ones who approach women and propose to them, but that is not the case in this small community in southern China where the Mousu people live. After a couple gets married, they don’t spend time together.

Women are allowed to have more than one partner. The children are raised by their mother and live with her side of the family. The father of the kid is not present in their lives. When some property is passed on to the next generation, it is usually given to the females, and the oldest daughter becomes the head of the family.

Enlarge earlobes

The Dayak people in Indonesia have a rich tradition, especially the women. They believe in beautifying themselves by doing tattoos and elongating their ears. Earlobes on older generations are typically extended, with silver or iron earrings dangling down to their shoulders. The girl with the longest earlobes is considered the most beautiful in the village.

Scarification

Around the world, tattooing is usually done using a machine and ink, but in the Karo tribe of Ethiopia, it is done by scarring. Karo people are naturally artistic, and it is their tradition for women to scar their bodies in patterns to make themselves more beautiful.

Crying for days before the wedding.

Tujia people from China have a curious tradition when it comes to marriage. Before women get married, they must cry at night for the whole month before the big event. After 10 days, the bride’s mother joins her, and they cry together. 10 days later, the grandmother and her sisters will join in, and all of them cry their hearts out.

This practice is believed to make the wedding seem much more enjoyable.

Matriarchal society

Minangkabau is the largest matriarchal society in the world, located in Indonesia. In almost all cultures, when a man and woman get married, the bride moves to the groom’s house, but in Minangkabau, the roles are switched. This may sound like females control everything, but both genders contribute equally in this society.