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https://www.sulawesi-experience.com/news/toraja-funeral-ceremony.html

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https://www.britannica.com/topic/Western-Wall

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Around the world, when it comes to having babies, every culture has its own special customs. This is a topic we've been curious about for a while now, in particular we were keen to investigate pregnancy, birth and parenting practices of Indonesian women living in Jakarta.

An opportunity presented itself to find out more while chatting with Aulia, the manager of BNB Terogong (many of you will know it as Bless Cafe) in Cilandak. I'd just ordered my regular almond milk smoothie and Aulia shared that she was expecting her first baby, and a conversation began. As the weeks and months passed Aulia shared more of her experience with me, and we compared notes of my Australian experience. Coming from different cultural backgrounds, it was clear there were differences in our experiences, and I have to say the most interesting part of our conversations were differences in culture.

Ahead, Aulia talks about Javanese pregnancy traditions, forbidden food, food cravings, (and her husband's!) the most important advise her mother and mother in law gave her, naming her baby, post-natal jamu and more.

Thank you, Aulia for sharing your story! And isn't baby Eke just beautiful!

Aulia and Steven's background:
Aulia and Steven both grew up in South Jakarta, Indonesia. Aulia's mother is originally from Semarang, Central Java, and her father is from Bandung, West Java. Steven's mother is from Solo, Central Java and his father is from Manado, on the Island of Sulawesi

Javanese Pregnancy Traditions

On birth announcements:
In the Javanese tradition there is a Mitoni ceremony, a ritual for the safe passage of a woman's first seven months of pregnancy, (7 bulanan). Mitoni comes from the Javanese word 'pitu' or seven. The Mitoni celebration takes place in the 7th month of pregnancy and includes 'Sungkeman' and 'Siraman'. Sungkeman is when both the expecting mum and dad ask forgiveness from their parents in order to have a smooth and healthy pregnancy journey until labor.

is from the word , which means 'to take a bath'. This holy bathing ritual in Mitoni is done to purify the would-be mother and the baby. The expecting mum is bathed with water filled with 7 flowers and usually the oldest member of the family starts the procession.

Back when my grandmother was still alive, we followed this tradition when my sister and sister-in-law were pregnant. My grandmother has since passed away and the last time my mother had a grandchild was 10 years ago. So this time we didn't do any of this with my pregnancy.

On the role of your mother:
My mum and mother in law gave me advise throughout the entire pregnancy. Their advise included to always pray for my health and that of the baby, and about certain foods that I can not eat during pregnancy.

Other traditional advise included: to bring or wear something sharp on my shirt (for example, small scissors or a pin, to bring a bangle inside my bag everywhere I went. (A bangle is a species of plant in the ginger family and is also a relative of galangal.) It is believed to protect you from any evil spirit and also to put a Sapu Lidi (a broom) made from pohon aren (palm tree) in my room (for the same purpose as the bangle.)

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Pregnancy & Birth Traditions in Indonesia : Aulia's story - A Journey Bespoke

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Around the world, when it comes to having babies, every culture has its own special customs. This is a topic we've been curious about for a while now, in particular we were keen to investigate pregnancy, birth and parenting practices of Indonesian women living in Jakarta.

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Japan rituals for childbirth and post birth

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Japan rituals for childbirth and post birth

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-keisha

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1. OBIIWAI (celebration of OBI, a belt for kimono)

The first "dog day" of the fifth month of the pregnancy is the day to do the ritual called OBIIWAI. This is the ceremony to tie a cotton belt around a woman's abdomen to protect a baby. People usually go to a shrine to do this ceremony praying for a safe delivery and a healthy baby. This "dog day" is decided based on the Japanese original calender. It is chosen because dogs are known to have easy deliveries. So the ancient Japanese people started to pray on this day for good luck during delivery. And still nowadays it's the first gift a mother can give to her baby.

2. OSHICHIYA (the seventh night after the birth of a baby)

Photo by Studio Loupe on Flickr

The seventh night after the birth of a baby is time to announce a baby's name officaly to the family. Usually the father draws the baby's name and the date of the birth on a white sheet of paper using Japanese traditional caligraphy, and posts the paper on the wall. Also the family will have a celebration dinner together. This is the first ceremony of the baby's life after it enters the world.

3. OMIYAMAIRI　(the first visit to a shrine)

Photo by wakanmuri on Flickr

After the first month of a baby's life on earth, the family takes him or her to a local shrine to show their new baby to the gods. The baby is dressed up with a fomal dress gifted from the mother's family, and a grandmother holds the baby to go to a shrine. The shrine offers a prayer wishing the happiness and good health for the baby.

4. OKUIZOME (the first bite of food)

Either 100 or 120 days after the birth is the ceremony of okuizome. A very traditional Japanese full-course meal with fortuitous foods is served for the baby. Parents buy a full set of new red dishes for a boy or new black dishes for a girl to serve the meal. At the ceremony the parents take turns feeding the baby, wishing he/she will have abundance of food throughout his/her life.

5. HATSU-ZEKKU for girls (the first hinamatsuri)

Photo by ai3310X on Flickr

For a girl, the first March 3 of her life is the first hinamatsuri. Hinamatsuri is for all the girls to celebrate. The first hinamatsuri is very special for the family. Parents decorate the hina-dolls in the house, and enjoy serving very colorful sushi and special sweets and Japanese sweet sake to share in the joy of having a baby girl. The root of the event goes back to the arisotcratic culture during the 8th century, and the hina-dolls well demonstrate the elegant life of the emperor and noble families of that era.

6. HATSU-ZEKKU for boys (the first boys day)

Photo by tonygonz on Flickr

The first May 5 of a boy's life is also special for the family. The samurai dolls and armors are decorated in the house, and outside of the house koinobori (carp banners) are put to show that there is a boy in the family. There are special sweets only for this season of the year wishing the successful life of a boy. This event can go back even to the 7th century.

7. THE FIRST BIRTHDAY

Besides celebrating the first birthday with a party, big feast and a cake with a candle, in Japan some parents make the baby walk alone carrying 1.8 kilograms of mochi (a sticky rice cake considered to be very sacred food in Shintoism) on a baby's back. The baby doesn't need to be able to walk with the mochi, but by doing so the family wishes to give sacred power to a baby's life.

8. SHICHI-GO-SAN for girls (celebration of seven, five and three years old)

Noeko Yamashita/Flickr

At the ages of three and seven, girls have Shichi-go-san celebration. They all dress in the formal kimono, and visit a shrine with a family to have a special prayer. This custom originates some of rituals in the 8th century, and became popular among the public at the end of the 19th century. Nowadays this is one of the best time to take a memorial photo for a family. Girls get dressed up like princesses in formal kimono and make-up.

9. SHICHI-GO-SAN for boys (celebration of five and three years old)

Boys celebrate their Shichi-go-san at the ages of three and five. They also dress up in formal kinomo just like shogun or noble samurai of the Edo era, and go to a shrine with a family just like girls do. Instead of make-ups, boys hold a small sword imitating a real katana.

10. SEIJINSHIKI (celebration of adulthood day)

Keiko Shih/Flickr

In Japan the borderline between a child and an adult is at the age of twenty. Seijinshiki is a big celebration day for the young at the age of twenty. They all dress up in the formal kimono for adults, and join the ceremony in their hometown. For the young people this is the beginning to be a "real" member of society: they can vote and legally drink alcohol, and they begin other social obligations. For parents this is the last ceremony to give their children besides the wedding, they can feel relieved from the biggest part of the responsibility of raising children.

These ceremonies are not just wishing the happiness of a baby but wonderful opportunities to remind everyone of Japanese traditions and cultural heritage, including those of the younger generation and generations to come.

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10 Japanese Traditional Rituals to Give Every Child a Happy Life

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There are no parents in the world who don't wish the best life for their children. Just like any other country, Japan, as a country full of unique history and traditions, has grown many rituals to celebrate the birth and growth of a baby for their happy life until he/she becomes an adult.

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Taking dead bodies for a dance in Madagascar - BBC News

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link: 7 of History's Most Notorious Serial Killers | Britannica

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Here, Living With Dead Bodies for Weeks—Or Years—Is Tradition | National Geographic

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Sky Burials tradition

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Sky Burials: Tradition Becomes Controversial Tourist Attraction | Short Film Showcase

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Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta City, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia

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It's a coming of age ritual for boys at the age of 10-16 years old. This ritual consists of a circumcision, which is a must for Muslims. For the Javanese people, Supitan is an important ceremony and it can also be as 'conversion' to Islam.

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Salah satu bagian dari upacara daur hidup masyarakat Jawa adalah upacara supitan, yakni upacara sunat atau khitan bagi anak laki-laki. Sunat adalah proses memotong kulit zakar sehingga kepala penisnya terlihat, dengan maksud untuk menghilangkan sesuker atau kotoran yang ada dalam penis. Bagi penganut agama Islam, proses ini adalah hal yang wajib dilakukan.

Berikut adalah tahap-tahap pelaksanaan Supitan untuk Putra Dalem (anak Sultan) yang dilaksanakan di lingkungan Keraton Yogyakarta, berdasarkan Pranatan Lampah Lampah atau pedoman tata laksana pada tanggal 12 Mei 1975.

Satu hari sebelum pelaksanaan upacara, gamelan Gangsa Slendro dan Pelog ditata di G edong Gangsa sebelah utara dan selatan sejak pukul 15.00, lalu mulai ditabuh hingga pukul 18.00 oleh Abdi Dalem Punakawan Kridamardawa. Sementara gamelan Kanjeng Kiai Kebo Ganggang ditata di Bangsal Mandalasana.

Selain itu, krobongan, atau pekobongan (bangunan berbentuk bilik kecil non-permanen) sudah mulai ditata di sebelah timur Bangsal Manis dan tetuwuhan (berwujud berbagai jenis daun, tandan pisang beserta batangnya, sebagai perlambang kesuburan) ditata di selatan Tratag Bangsal Kencana, sementara sesaji dipersiapkan oleh Abdi Dalem Wedana Keparak. Sesaji supitan ini berupa tumpeng rombyong, tumpeng gundul, pisang ayu, pisang pundutan peken, seekor ayam hidup dalam keranjang, dan sepasang kembar mayang.

Krobongan

Di hari yang sama pukul 15.00, para Bendara Putri beserta istri para Bendara (keluarga dekat Sultan) dipersilakan masuk ke dalam Kedhaton untuk menghias tempat tidur anak yang akan disunat, kemudian menempati Bangsal Pengapit. Lalu para Bendara yang akan disunat dipersilakan menempati Bangsal Kasatriyan ditemani para Bendara Putri dan istri Abdi Dalem Bupati yang sedang bertugas.

Sesampainya di Bangsal Kasatriyan, para Bendara yang akan disunat menjalani siraman (dimandikan). Usai siraman, para putri dipersilakan kembali ke Bangsal Pengapit. Pukul 19.00 para Bendara Pangeran, Bendara Kakung (yang sudah disunat), serta Mantu Dalem memasuki Gadri Kasatriyan melalui Regol Kemagangan dengan mengenakan pakaian peranakan. Setelah menyantap hidangan makan malam, acara pada hari itu pun berakhir.

Keesokan harinya, Senin, pukul 8.00 pagi gamelan sudah mulai ditabuh oleh Abdi Dalem Punakawan Kridamardawa. Putra Dalem yang akan disunat sudah mengenakan busana pukul 9.30 pagi dan para Bendara Putri serta istri para Bendara, Wayah Putri, dan istri Abdi Dalem Bupati menempati Bangsal Pengapit. Sementara itu para Bendara Pangeran dan para Bendara yang sudah disunat menempati sisi timur Tratag Bangsal Kencana di sebelah utara.

Abdi Dalem Pengulu, Abdi Dalem Bupati Mantu Dalem, Abdi Dalem Bupati Punakawan, Abdi Dalem Sipat Bupati, dan Abdi Dalem Bupati Pensiunan sesudah sowan caos bekti di keraton, kemudian menuju Bangsal Kotak. Ketika para Bendara Pangeran telah memasuki Bangsal Kencana, lalu mereka maju ke sisi utara Tratag Bangsal Kencana.

Jam 9.45 pagi, Sultan memasuki Bangsal Kencana megenakan pakaian takwa, kemudian memanggil Putra Dalem yang akan disunat yang sedang berada di Bangsal Kasatriyan. Setelah menempati Bangsal Kencana, para Putra Dalem yang akan disunat kemudian melakukan penghormatan sebagai tanda bakti, atau caos bekti kepada Sultan. Sultan kemudian mengutus salah satu Bendara Pangeran untuk memeriksa kesiapan ubarampe Supitan. Ketika Bendara Pangeran yang diutus telah kembali dan menyatakan bahwa sudah siap, Sultan kemudian memberi dhawuh (perintah) agar Putra Dalem yang akan disunat memasuki Pekobongan.

Setelah menempati pekobongan dan para Abdi Dalem telah berada di posisi masing-masing, Abdi Dalem Pengulu memimpin doa secara adat. Kemudian ditabuh gamelan Kanjeng Kiai Kebo Ganggang memainkan gending Kodok Ngorek. Seorang Pangeran Sepuh ditugaskan untuk memangku Putra Dalem yang disunat.

Putra Dalem yang telah selesai disunat kemudian duduk di kursi di Bangsal Kencana. Setelah minuman selesai disajikan, Sultan memberi dhawuh kepada para Bendara yang menemani Putra Dalem yang telah disunat untuk kembali ke Bangsal Kasatriyan, sementara para Abdi Dalem diperkenankan untuk mundur. Setelah Sultan meninggalkan tempat, upacara pun selesai.

Pada upacara-upacara daur hidup yang diselenggarakan untuk Putra Dalem (anak Sultan), termasuk Supitan, keraton selalu memberi kesempatan pada para kerabat dan Abdi Dalem apabila hendak ikut serta. Sentana Dalem (kerabat) atau Abdi Dalem yang turut disunat dalam upacara ini disebut dengan bela. Pekobongan untuk bela Wayah Dalem memiliki ukiran yang berbeda dan ditempatkan di dekat pekobongan untuk Putra Dalem. Sedang untuk bela dari Abdi Dalem tidak disunat di pekobongan, tapi cukup di kamar.

Bagi masyarakat Jawa, Supitan adalah upacara yang sangat penting dan menjadi perhatian istimewa. Tiap anak laki-laki harus disunat sebelum menginjak dewasa. Supitan dapat dimaknai sebagai upacara inisiasi, peralihan manusia yang berada dalam suatu krisis agar dapat berada dalam tingkatan kehidupan yang baru. Peralihan yang dimaksud dalam Supitan adalah peralihan seorang anak laki-laki ke masa dewasa, sehingga upacara Supitan dilakukan ketika anak berusia 10-16 tahun. Di samping itu, Supitan juga dianggap sebagai peresmian masuk agama Islam sehingga juga disebut ngislamke, atau mengislamkan.

Daftar Pustaka:

Anonim. 1975. Pranatan Lampah-lampah Karsa Dalem Nyupitaken Putra Dalem, 12 Mei 1975. Yogyakarta: Karaton Ngayogyakarto Hadiningrat

Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Anom. 2000. Petunjuk Tentang Susunan dan Kelengkapan Sesaji dalam Upacara Adat di Lingkungan Karaton Ngayogyakarto Hadiningrat. Yogyakarta: Kalurahan Putri Karaton Ngayogyakarto Hadingrat

Y.S. Suwito, et al. 2009. Upacara Daur Hidup di Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta Jilid 1. Yogyakarta: Dinas Kebudayaan Provinsi Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta

Wawancara KPH Pujaningrat pada 11 Agustus 2017

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Supitan, Upacara Menuju Kedewasaan bagi Lelaki

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Salah satu bagian dari upacara daur hidup masyarakat Jawa adalah upacara supitan, yakni upacara sunat atau khitan bagi anak laki-laki. Sunat adalah proses memotong kulit zakar sehingga kepala penisnya terlihat, dengan maksud untuk menghilangkan sesuker atau kotoran yang ada dalam penis. Bagi penganut agama Islam, proses ini adalah hal yang...

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THINK Global School - The World's First Traveling High School

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Ready to embark on the educational journey of a lifetime?

A passion for travel. A strong academic record. And the desire to improve the world as you experience it. If this sounds like you, you just might be our ideal candidate! Start your application with a five-minute inquiry form - you never know where you might end up.

It all starts here.

Sign up if you would like to receive occasional news from us.

Ready to embark on the educational journey of a lifetime?

A passion for travel. A strong academic record. And the desire to improve the world as you experience it. If this sounds like you, you just might be our ideal candidate! Start your application with a five-minute inquiry form - you never know where you might end up.

It all starts here.

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The Culture of Tattoos in Japan | THINK Global School

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A passion for travel. A strong academic record. And the desire to improve the world as you experience it. If this sounds like you, you just might be our ideal candidate! Start your application with a five-minute inquiry form - you never know where you might end up. It all starts here.

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https://www.pitbulltattoothailand.com/tattoo-knowledge/what-are-sak-yant-tattoos-history-meaning-designs/#:~:text=They%20were%20originally%20introduced%20to,get%20linked%20to%20is%20Buddhism.

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Inuit boys and girls around the age of 11-12 would have to explore the wilderness to practice traditional skills passed on from their ancestors to the young men and women
(number 6 on link)
-keisha

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13 Amazing Coming of Age Traditions From Around the World

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Here are thirteen of it the world’s most diverse coming of age traditions that celebrate the transition from childhood to adulthood.

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https://whenonearth.net/thimithi-fire-walking-festival/

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https://indonesia.tripcanvas.co/strange-rituals-and-traditions/

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Bar Mitzvah is held for the boys, whilst Bat Mitzvah is the equivalent for the girls. These are the Jewish religious rituals to commemorate the religious adulthood on their 13th birthday for boys and 12th birthday for girls. They're required to read the Torah, chant the Haftarah, lead a prayer service, vow to love; honor; and keep the Holy Torah.

Buddy: Dhafin

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Jumping stone is a ritual for a...

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Female circumcision, in some part of the world, is a rite of passage, And for the community in eastern Uganda it's also a landmark between being a girl and a woman, which must be celebrated.

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0313 #10 Sabiny circumcisions, Rite of Passage

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Apache girls take part in ancient tests of strength, endurance and character that will make them women and prepare them for the trials of womanhood.

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Girl's Rite of Passage | National Geographic

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In Benin, boys move toward manhood in a test of endurance by the sting of a whip

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Amazon Rainforest, Codajás - State of Amazonas, Brazil

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Amazon Rainforest, Codajás - State of Amazonas, Brazil

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Amazon Rainforest, Codajás - State of Amazonas, Brazil

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It is a test of manhood in the Amazon jungle by initiations with ants.

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Initiation With Ants | National Geographic

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As a sign of entry into manhood, boys of this tribe suffer thousands of razor-blade cuts to make their skin resemble a crocodile's.

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Suffering a Thousand Cuts | Taboo: Skin Deep

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Metatah is one of the religious ceremonies that must be done by the Balinese Hindus (Hindu Dharma) adherent. Metatah is a ceremony to smooth six upper teeth of teenager by using the tight-fisted.

The filing ceremony of the six teeth is a symbol of filing six human natures which are considered as enemy of human being. Those six enemies are: Kama (uncontrollable desire); loba (greed, always want to get more); krodha (unmanageable anger); mada (intoxication that brings dark thoughts); moha (confusion that lead to someone unable to finish tasks perfectly); matsarya (jealousy that caused hostility). Those Six natures that are enemies of human are called sad ripu.

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METATAH - Upacara Potong Gigi - TEETH FILING Sacred Ritual - Balinese Hinduism Ceremony [HD]