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Gross. Periods. Have you heard that before? Despite the much-needed attention paid to menstrual equity in recent years, there is still a huge disparity in attitudes about periods across the world. Menstruating people continue to bear the brunt of society's derogatory stigma. People's opinions toward time might change significantly per mile depending on their geographic location. This stigma towards periods can have a significant effect on the lives of people who have periods, causing them to lose out on opportunities and be shunned from the society in certain countries. We took a trip around the world, looking at how menstruation is viewed across the world, from being celebrated to banned.

Bali

When people first get their period, the Balinese hold a ceremony called Menik Kelih. The ritual is a blessings ceremony in which person is asked to "ask God to bless and lead them into a good life." This can be done at the person’s house or elsewhere, but not at the Pura (place of worship) because people who bleed are not permitted to join.

Brazil

In Brazil, seeing those who bleed for the first time is considered breaking news. Every member of the family and every friend must be informed about the event, which is more of a ritualistic celebration than anything else. It's wonderful how not only folks who bleed, but also others, are informed of the good news.

Croatia

Croatians, on the other hand, know how to have a good time!Croatian tradition is a step ahead. Instead of cakes and honey, the person toasts their first bleed with a bottle of red wine. It's a family tradition that the older members of the family continue as legacy.

Canada

Food makes everything better. In Canada, it's customary for menstruating people to go on a berry cleanse when they get their first period, even if it's a little out of date. They can't eat berries for a year, but they can pick and store them, and then eat to their heart's content once the year is up – a move that honors their period hood!

Fiji

Some families in Fiji set aside a special mat for those who bleed on their first cycle and educate them about the significance of this milestone. Families of people who bleed prepare a feast to celebrate their entry into period hood on the fourth day of their time, known as 'tunudra.'

Ghana

The Akan group in Ghana celebrates menstruating people’s first cycle as a time for older people to provide guidance and mentorship over a big feast. The elder folks impart wisdom to the younger, explaining menstruation, offering pads, and preparing the newly menstruating person for their time. It's a lovely, uplifting cultural tradition that promotes self-awareness, acceptance, and encouragement.

Italy

When Italian people have their first period, they are referred to as a "signorina," which means "miss" or "young lady." All who knows is that someone who gets the good news of their first period, thanks to their family and relatives. It's normal for these individuals to flush with happiness when they receive several congratulations in a short period of time.

Iceland

Baking a cake is the best way to share joy and Iceland follows it to the word! A cake baked by mother is given to one who bleeds when they get their first period. It's also not the regular average cake. It's all red and white to commemorate the latest achievement. I personally feel India should walk the same path.

Israel

It is not necessary for first periods to be difficult. We use the term "difficult" to refer to both pain and customs. In Israel, the person who gets periods is required to lick a spoon of honey as part of the rite. It is hoped that by doing so, all of her future times would become ‘easier' to manage. That's something no one will ever say no to!

India

Several societies in the south consider one who starts to menstruate on time is auspicious. In south India, the first menstruation is cause for celebration. The menstruating person is bathed by their close family and fed a healthy diet in the South Indian Culture, and yet kept isolated at first. The first menstruation, or menarche, is commemorated by the person’s family, and the occasion is normally as grand as a wedding. The menarche is regarded as a significant milestone in a menstruating person’s life. When a person who bleeds begins to menstruate, they are placed in a separate room with separate bed. People come to meet them and offer presents, candy, and flowers. The mother and other women give a ritual bath on the last day of their menses. For the ceremony, they are given new clothes and ornaments to wear. The griha pravesh ceremony is performed and person who bleeds is given a light. A coming-of-age ceremony called Ritusuddhi or Ritu Kala Samskara, or a half-sari event, is held to celebrate a person’s first period. The person receives gifts and dresses in a traditional Langa Voni outfit, which consists of a traditional outfit. To commemorate the occasion, relatives are invited, priests conduct services, and delectable meals are prepared.

This ceremony marks the beginning of puberty for those who bleed are now mature enough to recognize their obligations to their families and society.

Japan

Japan is a country where menstruation is viewed in a variety of ways. On one hand, there is a long-standing tradition that people who menstruate are not allowed to be sushi chefs because their taste buds are allegedly compromised by menstruation. In recent years, people who menstruate have been fighting back against these arguments by opening their own restaurants to dispel stereotypes. On the other hand, Japan was the first nation to implement time leave in 1947. Period leave allows folks who bleed to take time off at the period of the month to recover, while employers are not obligated to compensate them for their absence.

When a person hits puberty, the mother prepares a traditional meal of sticky rice and red beans known as sekihan. The entire family must eat the meal, implying that the person has now received their first period. It's certainly a unique way of announcing the news! The dish's red color represents pleasure and celebration.

The dish (which literally means "red bean rice") is made up of sticky rice and adzuki beans, and it's slightly red in color — great for a first-period dish! This meal is also served at weddings and birthday parties. Evidently, in Japanese culture, the beginning of your time is a significant event to commemorate, on par with these other milestones.

Macedonia

Macedonia does not consider periods to be taboo. A person who menstruates is expected to wash their own stained underwear until they hit puberty. This simple ritual is commonly practiced because it is believed that washing one's own blood would bring good luck to the child.

North America

The Sunrise Ceremony is a festival held by Native American tribes in North America to honor people who have reached puberty. Various Rituals are performed during the ceremony, during which tribal folks who bleed receive and give gifts. The people who start to bleed dress up in symbolic costumes and have a feast to commemorate the occasion.

The transition from childhood to adulthood is regarded by North American native cultures as a vital point in their children's lives, and many coming-of-age rituals are observed to assert traditional and community values.

Philippines

When a Filipina person has their first period, the mother washes their bloody underwear in plain water. Then rub it on the person’s forehead, believing for years that this would save the person who bleeds from getting pimples. The people who menstruate must also hop three steps from the stairwell, which represents the number of days they will be on period.

Papua New Guinea

Those who live on the Bougainville Island in Papua New Guinea have a much longer history. It is customary for a person who menstruates to stay indoors for a month after their first period starts. Female relatives will provide people who bleed with medicinal herbs and tama tama, a traditional dish, during this period. The party starts after the month is over. In Papua New Guinea, as in the rest of the world, a person’s first cycle marks their transformation from a child to a mature person, and the entire village celebrates it. The person who bleeds is bathed and scrubbed with medicinal herbs after solitude. They are then paraded around the village and everyone congratulates them on becoming an adult. A lavish feast follows, with family members whispering new duties and obligations to the person who started to menstruate.

The United Arab Emirates

When you get your first period in the UAE, it's not going to be a private affair — your whole family would want to be a part of it! In this nation, person who bleeds is given gifts and there is a long celebration. The person’s parents would call all of their family and friends on the first day of bleeding to share the good news. Gifts and congratulations will follow, marking a significant milestone in a young woman's life. The person will take a bath on the last day of their time, followed by a special ceremony.

Conclusion

Menstruation is viewed differently around the world. Most cultures recognize this as a rite of passage, with some cultures being much more articulate and celebratory than others. While there is less stigma surrounding this topic now, many people will still draw the line before adopting some of the odder worldly customs! We recognize that cultures and customs differ from nation to country, region to region, and even community to community. Cultural norms do not remain static, and culture is still in flux and subject to change. However, in a world where period shame and stigma are virtually universal, these few celebrations and milestones are minor accomplishments in the fight for our reproductive and sexual rights.

Even if her mother has prepared her for it, an adolescent's first cycle can be both humiliating and frightening. It can be difficult for the person to rejoice about anything so significant, but they can lighten their mood by commemorating the occasion as they grow into maturehood. However, times are changing, and more young folks and communities are breaking away from period taboos.

People bleed in order to give life – to pass on their genes to future generations. It's a reason to rejoice, no matter how large or small, rational or bizarre, and above all communities across the globe do just that by celebrating their people’s first periods.

Cultures which celebrate menarche