Padaung Tribe of Myanmar

The Padaung Tribe of Myanmar has rich and diverse ethnic minorities. This tribe is often not seen in the lowlands but when they are, if at all, they tend to congregate around Loikaw near the border with Thailand. This tribe only consists of around 7,000 members; nonetheless they have created huge speculation and an adverse amount of interest toward themselves due to the fascination of their culture and ethnic tendencies. Neck-stretching Padaung women are often named the longneck women of Myanmar. The practice of neck stretching is a strong belief of the Padaung women and this custom is an expression of feminine beauty at its best. The brass coils these women wear are fitted at the age of 5 and as the young girl will grow, more large coils will be added. The more coils that a woman will wear, will judge the respect they receive from other tribe members. Despite the worry of breaking the neck, it is possible for the Padaung women of Myanmar to remove the brass coil rings if they so wish. The Padaung Tribe These Mongolian people have an interesting lifestyle. Aside from the neck stretching and rituals that follow which will lie on the horoscopic findings of the Village Shamans, there are many other beliefs that are followed in an every day lifestyle. River valleys are the destination of choice for this tribe and unlike many other tribes; these tribe people very rarely leave their villages unless they have to. Houses in these villages will usually stand in small, neat squares with the houses made of bamboo (woven and split) with palm leaf roofs. The shades in front of their houses are occupied with the Padaung people who consistently weave textiles, blankets and tunics on a daily basis. The Padaung men are seen less than the Padaung women. The men are usually tending to crops in the nearby fields, assisting in the living and surviving of a very secretive tribe that is rich in culture.

Mursi People
The Mursi people are located in Ethiopia, close to the Sudanese border. The population of this tribe of people is around 7,500, all of which are very close and hold onto their rituals and beliefs very tightly. Location of the Mursi People The Mursi people reside in mountains between the Omo River and its tributary the Mago. The destination for their living is one of the most isolated in the world, making it obvious why their beliefs have lived on as strong as they ever were with no interruptions. Despite being one of the most isolated areas, the Mursi people have neighbours nearby who also follow deep cultures. The Ethiopian government have linked these people into one big group under the name of Surma. The group comprises of: Aari Banna Bodi Kara Kwegu Me'en Nyangatom Suri Language and Culture The Mursi people have their own language which is also called Mursi. This language is closely related to the Surmic languages. The Mursi people are known to be extremely illiterate.

Animism is the name given to the religion of the Mursi people which includes the women having clay plates inserted into their bottom lips. The girls will be pierced at the age of 15 or 16 and will grow to live with these piercings. Other body ornaments are worn by both sexes of the Mursi people

Our American culture is by far what weve come to know as the norm when it comes to living daily. On average, the American culture is quite influential. Due to the effects of globalization and the Internet, cultures are converging. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, globalization is definitely not enough to suppress what is innately unique to every countrys culture. Here are a few unique cultures that you might find taboo for the American taste. A word of warning, two of the topics here may not be suitable for people with weak stomachs or sensitivities. 1. Duels Weve watched movies where the hero and the bad guy duel to the death dealing out ferocious punches, kicks, grabs and even shooting each other until one died. Duels still exist in some cultures, namely those of an indigenous nature. In the Philippines, tribes still duel to see who can lead the tribesmen in taking the throne. While dueling was widely practiced in the 15th to 20th centuries, dueling is quite different today. It is a sport. Restoring ones honor was the basic rule of duels. It meant that your honor can only be repaid by your willingness to risk it in a battle. 2. Eunuch Eunuchs are men who are castrated from birth. China is the country with such a tradition. A Eunuch gain immense power more than political entities, given that they served in the countrys Sui Dynasty. Eunuchs can serve in the Imperial Service as punishment or as employment. Castration allowed the male to have a childlike and inhuman flexibility, which allowed them favor in many culture due to the perfectness of the males pitch. Well, if youre willing to risk your manhood, you might just gain power. 3. Foot Binding This one comes from China again. Females in China have their feet bound by plasters, so tha their feet will not grow properly. The practice was intended to have the feet break and badly deformed. Most elderly Chinese women of today are disabled because of this practice. The intent of the practice was to honor the sacred tradition of China. As a patriarchal community, men were more superior than women. Feet, a tool for mobility, was only limited to men to perform well in their daily tasks. Women were seen as ornaments designed only for the benefit of the male. However, the mutilation resulted to the necrotizing flesh and deformed toes of the women, which were broken and constricted tightly.