The Rings…
There
is one very special feature that the Padaungs inherit. Most of the Padaung women
amazingly wore rings round their necks. Thus these Padaung women are also known
as ‘giraffe woman’, or ‘long-necked karens’. To some people, Padaung
women are seen as human ‘freaks’.
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Their first rings would be worn when girls first reach their puberty, at
the age of around ten. Each brass ring can weigh up to approximately twenty-five
pounds. These heavy rings would create huge pressure against the shoulder of
these girls, thus pushing down their collarbone and their shoulders. This is how
their necks are elongated.
On the auspicious day where the first ring is to be put onto the girl, her neck would be massaged and rubbed with ointment for several hours before the ring is put on. It is known that a ring would be fitted every year until the girl is of a marriageable age. It is a tradition for these women to put on rings on both their legs and arms. However, this tradition is slowing disappearing
The origin of this tradition is vague. There are a few myths and legends of this tradition.
