Many of the Torajan people living in Tana Toraja have a unique way of 'burying' their dead children.
If the child is not yet of teething age they are taken to one of the villages 'baby trees'. A hole is carved in the trunk and the baby is placed inside, before the hole is resealed.
"We bury the babies in these trees so their souls can go with the wind."
If the child is not yet of teething age they are taken to one of the villages 'baby trees'. A hole is carved in the trunk and the baby is placed inside, before the hole is resealed.
"We bury the babies in these trees so their souls can go with the wind."
With the Wind...
Tree 'burials'. Torajan's, living in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, have many interesting funerary rituals. People will save up money for years so that when their time comes they can have a massive send off.
At other times a funeral event may not take place for months or even years after a death, as the deceaseds family saves up enough to give them a sufficient farewell.
For the young the send off is at times just as elaborate, but the babies, before being of teething age, are considered pure so are allowed burials in the 'Baby Trees'.
The villages will typically have one or more of these trees and the child is taken to this place. A hole is cut and a hollow is carved, careful as to not kill the tree itself. The baby/infant is then wrapped in a blanket woven from tree fibre and then placed inside. Bark, rope made from tree fibre, and several pegs are then used to seal the opening and the tree is allowed to heal.
At other times a funeral event may not take place for months or even years after a death, as the deceaseds family saves up enough to give them a sufficient farewell.
For the young the send off is at times just as elaborate, but the babies, before being of teething age, are considered pure so are allowed burials in the 'Baby Trees'.
The villages will typically have one or more of these trees and the child is taken to this place. A hole is cut and a hollow is carved, careful as to not kill the tree itself. The baby/infant is then wrapped in a blanket woven from tree fibre and then placed inside. Bark, rope made from tree fibre, and several pegs are then used to seal the opening and the tree is allowed to heal.
A closer look. The baby is then taken into the tree and it is believed the young persons soul is then sent off on the winds to whatever awaits them thereafter.
In more recent times the ritual has changed in some areas. There are locations where the deceased baby is placed in a wooden box and hoisted up into the trees boughs where it is fastened. I have read somewhere that these trees are nicknamed 'travel trees' due to the large amounts of luggage ('coffins') they seem to be carrying.
In more recent times the ritual has changed in some areas. There are locations where the deceased baby is placed in a wooden box and hoisted up into the trees boughs where it is fastened. I have read somewhere that these trees are nicknamed 'travel trees' due to the large amounts of luggage ('coffins') they seem to be carrying.
Ashley Hall 2014
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