Karen

            Why wearing neck rings ?
            As told by a long – necked Karen leader, the Padaung tribal people had not worn neck rings until their golden age during which the tribe was attacked by tigers. Bitten at the neck, several tribal member ware killed by the animal. This had worried the tribe so much that the leader who was also a sorceress mad sacrifices to wild spirits and ordered tribal girls and unmarried women to wear neck ring to prevent themselves from bad luck. Golden ring were used first. But, later when gold became rare and too expensive, they opted to brass rings as seen today

            The longest neck brass has been recorded as 25 loops weighing around 6 kilograms. Normally, neck coils are composed of 2 sets of brass ring. Sitting on the shoulders of a wearer, the first set comprising a few rings serves as a basis for the second set which is cushioned by a small pillow under the chin. The 2 sets are locked together with a bolt, the 2 set can be separated for cleaning.

            Originally, the Padaung people stated putting neck ring to their girls at 5 years of age or older. Using chicken bones to identify an auspicious time, a sorceress started to put a golden coil around the girl’s neck. Provided by the girl’s parents, the golden rod with approximately 1 centimeter diameter was put around the girl’s neck through her head. A particular device was used to tighten the coil around her neck. At the first time, a girl would wear around 8 neck ring. In general, the first set of rings weighs approximately 1 kilogram. Every 3 years, another 3 rings are added until the woman become 25 years of age or get married. Once the neck rings have been put on, they will be there though the wearer’s life without taking off.

            Wrist and leg ring have become popular later. In those days, among other thing, wrist and leg ring were given to the one who put neck rings to a girl as a gift. The rings, however, have gained more popularity and worn by either Padaung girls and women nowadats for beauty purpuses.

            Do Padaung women really have a long neck ?
            This is a popular question. Anatomical studies have confirmed that Padaung women’s necks are not stretched at all. In fact, the chests are pushed down by heavy brass ring. The clavicles, or collarbones, as well as the ribs are gradually pushed down. As a result, the women’s necks look elongared. Furthermore, neck muscles become more flexible and weakened compared to those of people without neck rings. Thus, taking the rings off can be extremely dangerous. This is why Padaung woman take off their neck brass rings till they die.