Discover how diverse cultures worldwide mark a girl's first menstrual period—known as menarche—with meaningful rituals that celebrate her transition to womanhood.
Reactions to a girl's first period vary: some feel embarrassed, others view it matter-of-factly as a natural step toward adulthood. Regardless, every girl experiences this milestone, influenced by factors like age, body type, environment, nutrition, and geography.
Suriname's multicultural fabric—blending Creole, Indigenous, Javanese, and other influences—shapes unique rituals, often intertwined with religion. In Creole traditions, rooted in African heritage, a woman is considered ritually unclean for seven days, irrespective of her cycle's length. Traditional rules prohibit her from sharing a bed with her husband, cooking for him, or touching him during this time.
The Wajana people of Suriname's interior perform the 'Maké' ant test. Girls endure large red forest ants pressed against their bodies on wicker mats for three minutes, remaining silent to symbolize their shift from child to near-adult. Some faint from the pain; boys face similar trials with ants or wasps during puberty. This ritual was publicly demonstrated in Paramaribo during a National Independence Day event.
Creole rituals, adapted from African origins, vary by faith—Christian or Winti. Families may recite prayers, offer a boiled egg and red lemonade for fertility and prosperity, and gift a gold ring for protection against evil.
Javanese Surinamese communities celebrate with the jaran ké pang, a trance-induced horse dance where performers mimic animals, sometimes consuming glass or hot coals. This mystical tradition marks special occasions like menarche.
Suriname reflects broader worldwide practices. Here are notable examples:
Families share red rice and beans to honor the occasion.
Elders educate girls on feminine powers, bodily changes, and sexuality.
Practices vary by tribe and region; in Kenya, customs differ significantly by community.
Navajo: Girls run barefoot races to demonstrate strength, wear special attire, and the tribe enjoys corn custard.
Nootka: Girls swim back from the open sea alone, greeted by the community.
Mescalero Apache: Annual four-day public festivals (with boys singing tribal history) followed by private celebrations honor all girls' menarche from the year.
Religions like Judaism, Hinduism, and Islam view menarche as the onset of fertility, often initiating wife-training. In some developing regions, this sadly leads to child marriages, though girls remain children biologically and emotionally.
No formal rituals exist, but life changes: outdoor play ends, non-family male contact ceases, and girls learn homemaking skills to prepare for marriage.
Did your family mark your first period with a special tradition?
