Kayapo clothing - people from heaven

An outfit is more than just a garment to protect the body from the cold. It is a way of expressing one's individuality, but also one's social affiliation. Sometimes it is also a story filled with meaning. The Kayapo are one of those tribes that will charm anyone with their unusual appearance. The clothing and tattoos covering the body of these indigenous people of northeastern Brazil have much to say.

According to legend, the Kayapo ancestors came from heaven. In the distant past, two hunters while chasing a wild boar accidentally discovered a hole in the ground. Curious, they quickly forgot about the eluding tasty morsel and peeked through the hole just below their feet. To their eyes appeared a beautiful forest full of wildlife. The Kayapo notified the rest of the tribe, prepared a long rope and descended it into the newly discovered land. It is in remembrance of this event that the men wear a rope in their hair - a symbol reminiscent of that rope used by their mythical ancestors.

In addition to the rope, the heads of the Kayapo people's men are also decorated with radial feathers. In all, the local closet includes more than 200 different ornaments made of bird feathers. The adornment like a sunny disk encircling the temples is a symbolic representation of the opening through which the Kayapo squeezed themselves, descending to earth. At the same time, this eye-catching hoop is also a representation of the entire universe. The cosmos, according to the locals, is circular in shape. The local villages are also built on a circular plan. The houses in each settlement are situated on its perimeter. In the center, meanwhile, there is a common square and a hut where men gather for deliberations. As it turns out, the circle is a motif that appears here not only in the context of clothing.

The Kayapo are keen observers of nature. It is nature that they have chosen as their teacher. These inhabitants of the Amazon rainforest have believed for centuries that it was the insects who gave them all the social skills. Hence the patterns seen on the bodies of bees, beetles or grasshoppers are commonly used in tattooing the skin. Different tribes, of course, had different insect mentors in this field - so their bodies are decorated with ornaments that are different and typical only for a particular group. Tribal identification, however, is not the only reason for painting tattoos. Such ornaments can often be seen on the bodies of children. This is a sign that they are entering the human community, slowly becoming true Kayapo. In addition, it is also quite common here to believe that tattoos help in contact with the spiritual world. And adults therefore tightly cover their bodies with them.

In our country it is often said that the body is the mirror of the soul. For the Kayapo it is a mirror that shows what kind of person its owner should become. Each member of the tribe is supposed to be a strong and beautiful individual. This is why the Kayapo put so much care into making their bodies strong and beautiful. Tastes are said not to be discussed. It is clear that different corners of the globe have different aesthetic canons. While ornaments made of feathers and even tattoos and us can delight, other "decorations" may arouse a bit more controversy. Such mixed feelings are certainly able to cause large discs placed in the lower lips. Until recently, many among the Kayapo boasted this type of decoration. Such peculiarly stuffed large lips were considered extremely alluring.