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Owners of some of the headdresses claim the hair goes back hundreds of years.
Your family may have some traditions that you embrace (or that make you cringe), but they probably can’t hold a candle to what traditions the Long-horn Miao minority in China have. The Long-horn Miao have unique head dresses that they bring out for special occasions. These head pieces are oversized and look a little silly, but that’s not the strangest part.
They are fashioned out of the hair of their ancestors.
Instead of throwing away their hair when they comb it, the women keep it.
They’re then dyed and added to the head pieces that are worn during special occasions.
There are less than 5,000 people in the Miao minority.
The tradition, however, remains strong.
These pictures were taken in the village of Suojia, in Liupanshui city in southwest China’s Guizhou province.
The hair is carefully maintained, so it stays shiny and dark for use with the headdresses.
It’s regarded as a way to honor their ancestors.
At one time, men kept headdresses,too, but that faded away as it was too much effort for them.
Even though this tradition may seem downright bizarre to you, it’s impossible to judge other cultures. Cows used to be considered sacred in that area of China, so the Longhorn people probably initially created the headdresses to honor that animal. It’s amazing that such a longtime tradition is still going strong; they are making history today.
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Despite it seeming odd, to us, at least this tradition doesn’t harm anyone. These women may think Western traditions, like makeup, for instance, are odd, as well.