Culture

15 Menstrual Superstitions around the world: From Taboos to Traditions.

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If you have been denied entry to your own kitchen or store, prohibited entry at temples, have been considered impure and were asked to stay away from people and things in your own house, you have definitely been treated wrong. But there are some beliefs and superstitions around the world regarding menstruation that will make you feel at a better place. It is very unfortunate that even today, in such modern times, menstruation is very misunderstood. This has led to some truly weird and bizarre belief systems, customs and traditions worldwide.

In US/UK and even in India it is believed that if you touch any vegetable before or during the pickling process while you are menstruating, they would not pickle and would go bad.

In Poland, people believe that having sex on your periods can kill your partner.
You can't touch flowers on periods, because they'll die quicker, they say in Romania.
In Malaysia, Pads which are used are washed before throwing them. Otherwise, ghosts will come and haunt you.
In Argentina women while chumming can't make whipped cream, it will curdle, they believe.
It is a common belief that if you take a bath, your bleeding will stop which is not good for health.
In the Philippines, when a girl gets her first period, she needs to wash her face with the first menstrual blood to have clear and beautiful skin.
In Bolivia, women who are menstruating are not supposed to cradle babies. They believe that it will make the baby sick.
Period blood is considered so impure that it is believed it kills crops and makes iron rust.

It is an ancient French belief that sex on periods will lead to deformed babies or even monsters.
Burnt Toad Can Cure Your Heavy Flow Medieval Europeans believed that heavy period flow could be controlled by burning a toad in a pot and wearing its ashes in a pouch near your vagina!

In medieval Europe, it was a common belief that period blood is capable of causing as well as curing the disease of leprosy.
Romans thought that women who bled were dark witches.

Consuming period blood could increase sexual desire.

In Israel, you get slapped on the face when you get your first period. It is believed that on doing so you will have beautiful red cheeks all your life.