What if we changed our perspective?
In France, menstruation remains a sensitive subject for many. Between persistent taboos, social silence, and a lack of menstrual education, it's difficult to experience periods with peace of mind. But how are they perceived elsewhere in the world? What if we drew inspiration from other cultures to reinvent our relationship with menstruation? From sacred traditions to purification rituals, each society develops its own unique approach. In this article, let's delve into menstrual practices around the world and discover how they can enrich our relationship with our bodies, our cycles, and femininity.
1. From rites of passage to sacred ceremonies: when rules become a celebration
In some cultures, the first menstrual period (menarche) is celebrated as a true rite of passage. Far from being experienced as an embarrassment or a shame, it marks the entry into a new phase of life.
India and Sri Lanka: between retirement and honors
In several regions of South India, a ceremony called Ritu Kala Samskara is held when girls have their first period. They are given new clothes and jewelry, and a celebratory meal is shared with their families. While some practices of seclusion may still exist, this celebration emphasizes the importance of fertility and growth.
Among the Navajo: a ritual of balance
The Navajo people in the United States hold a ceremony called Kinaaldá when young girls have their first period. It is a significant event that lasts several days, during which the girl is accompanied by a female mentor, cooks for her community, and receives spiritual teachings. This ritual celebrates the strength, generosity, and balance associated with femininity.
What if we reinvented our own personal ritual? Soft and pretty menstrual panties, a notebook to note our emotions, herbal tea to reconnect with ourselves… Each cycle could become a sacred appointment.
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2. The menstruating body: impure or sacred? Two opposing views
The taboo of impurity
In many cultures, menstrual blood is still considered impure. This is the case in some rural areas of Nepal, where women are isolated in huts (the chhaupadi ) during their periods — a practice now banned but still widespread in some areas.
In Japan, some beliefs hold that menstruation disrupts spiritual energy, which can sometimes prevent women from fulfilling certain religious roles. These perceptions often fuel shame, disgust, or fear associated with menstruation.
The creative energy of menstrual blood
Conversely, in some ancestral or neo-pagan spiritualities, menstruation is seen as a powerful symbol of life, transformation, and fertility. Certain shamanic traditions in South America value menstrual blood as a sacred fluid, a bearer of memory, capable of symbolically nourishing the Earth.
What if we stopped seeing periods as a problem to hide? What if our period underwear became an ally in experiencing this time mindfully, in comfort and acceptance?
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3. Access to menstrual hygiene: a privilege?
glaring global inequalities
According to UNICEF, one in ten adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa misses school during their period due to a lack of access to menstrual hygiene products. In many countries, these products are prohibitively expensive or unavailable. Some girls resort to using newspaper, rags, or plant-based foam to absorb their menstrual flow.
A revolution through menstrual underwear?
By offering a sustainable, comfortable, and affordable solution, menstrual underwear becomes a true alternative. Chemical-free, washable, and reusable, it allows women to better manage their periods while reducing period poverty.
At Adopte Ma Culotte , we believe that every menstruating person deserves to experience their period with dignity, without danger or shame. That's why we regularly offer donations to charities and occasional solidarity discounts.
4. The menstrual cycle in ancestral cultures: a link with nature
The inner moons
Many traditional cultures associate the menstrual cycle with the phases of the moon. Among Native Americans, for example, women would retreat to "moon tents" to rest, meditate, and reconnect with their intuition. Menstrual blood was sometimes used to nourish the earth, symbolizing the return to the cycle of life.
In Chinese or Ayurvedic medicine, menstruation is seen as a process of energy elimination. It invites slowing down, introspection, and grounding.
And today?
Returning to listening to your cycle, adapting your rhythm, and following your inner phases: this is a powerful way to better manage your period. Menstrual underwear is part of this respectful approach: it accompanies without restricting, supports without irritating, and allows for freedom of movement.
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5. Towards a freer and more conscious menstrual culture
What other cultures teach us
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Menstruation can be sacred.
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They can be a moment of reconnection, healing, and transformation.
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They can also, in certain contexts, be a source of inequalities that urgently need to be combated.
Drawing inspiration from other traditions also means questioning our own way of experiencing menstruation. Why not create our own rituals? Reconnect with ourselves, and make this time a restorative interlude rather than a burden.
Simple steps to take:
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Treat yourself to a beautiful pair of period panties that make you feel good
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Rest during days of intense flow
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Use relaxing essential oils (such as lavender or sage)
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Listen to your body and follow the phases of your cycle
What if we reinvented our relationship with rules?
Menstruation should never be a source of shame, pain, or exclusion. It is a universal reality, a cyclical force, an opportunity to reconnect with oneself. By exploring traditions from around the world, we discover freer, deeper, and sometimes even more joyful ways to experience this time of the month.
Today, by choosing suitable menstrual products that respect the body and the environment, such as period underwear , we can take a simple yet profoundly transformative step. For ourselves, and for future generations.