Huichol Indian men certainly feel childbirth pains
The Huichol Indians of Central Mexico are some of the unluckiest chaps in the world. When their wife goes into labour, not only do they have to put up with all that mess and moaning, it seems there is a tradition for them to climb to the rafters of the roof with chord attached to their ghoulies.
... Huichol men are often dour looking individuals...
While the lady goes through the excruciating trauma of childbirth, the chaps can only empathise as she repeatedly gives the chord a damn good tugging.
UPDATE:
It does sound mightily odd we know, and we have no time for things that are nonsense down here at The Proceedings, but there are a number of sources that say this is true… not least the Museum of Hoaxes
If you can add any information we’d love to hear from you!
Sir P-Sx
This is not a Huichol tradition.
There is a yarn painting by Guadelupe, the widow of Ramon Medina Silva showing this but this is a piece of art not cultural tradition.
There is no mention of this in the vast amount of Huichol literature and the question is often asked as the yarn painting was published in the catalogue “Art of the Huichol Indians”.
Have you read much of the literature?
I was thinking of having a dig through in the British Library when I’m next up there.
It does seem too far fetched to be true!
My own personal theory is that it’s probably a joke played by the Huichol on some well-meaning ernest erstwhile anthropologist…
… but as I say, just a theory!