Throughout the world, there are endless ritualistic practices that are celebrated each year. Social elements such as history, religions, culinary traditions and family life influence the development of modern practices. These form our cultural identity and will often establish customs that will transcend future generations. Religious rituals such as baptism may be performed similarly across the globe, but other practices such as endocannibalism are practiced by few. While the practice is no longer performed due to social stigmas and government restrictions, past tribes that participated in the ritual are the Jukun tribe of Africa, Fore tribe of Oceania, and the Amahuaca, Wari, and Yanomamo tribes of South America. To understand the practice
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Cross-cultural evidence among societies in New Guinea, such as the Gimi, Hua, and Daribi suggest it’s linked to their cultural values of life, reproduction and regeneration. They consume flesh for life-regeneration and as a symbolic mean for confirming their own existence. Cannibalism was seen as a connection within a community, a form of living, however it was also seen as violent and evil. Other analysts, observing famous Aztec materials, suggests that large-scale cannibalism is related to starvation and the value of flesh. This relates back to survival cannibalism and its role in times of dwindling livestock and loss of protein. While in times of need, cannibalism became an option, but many saw it as a violent solution to a problem. Therefore it is believed that cannibalism was given a ritual rationale in order to justify the actions. …show more content…
The body would be cut up in a specific manner, with the larger bones broken open for the marrow and the skull cracked in order to display the brain. Usually the kin of the dead would indicate which body parts could be eaten by certain people. For example, the sexual organs were reserved for close relatives of the opposite sex. The majority of the body would be eaten by the tribe and family members, with exception of the teeth and other inedible portions. At the end of the ritual meal, the remaining pieces would be burned for further
Cross-cultural evidence among societies in New Guinea, such as the Gimi, Hua, and Daribi suggest it’s linked to their cultural values of life, reproduction and regeneration. They consume flesh for life-regeneration and as a symbolic mean for confirming their own existence. Cannibalism was seen as a connection within a community, a form of living, however it was also seen as violent and evil. Other analysts, observing famous Aztec materials, suggests that large-scale cannibalism is related to starvation and the value of flesh. This relates back to survival cannibalism and its role in times of dwindling livestock and loss of protein. While in times of need, cannibalism became an option, but many saw it as a violent solution to a problem. Therefore it is believed that cannibalism was given a ritual rationale in order to justify the actions. …show more content…
The body would be cut up in a specific manner, with the larger bones broken open for the marrow and the skull cracked in order to display the brain. Usually the kin of the dead would indicate which body parts could be eaten by certain people. For example, the sexual organs were reserved for close relatives of the opposite sex. The majority of the body would be eaten by the tribe and family members, with exception of the teeth and other inedible portions. At the end of the ritual meal, the remaining pieces would be burned for further