Long Neck Karen
The Long neck Karen (Group of minorities in Chiang Rai). There are few group of tribes people original come from Burma.
Lahu’s lives evolves around wishes and decency in lives such as ages, death, happiness, health..Thai calls them Muster which come from Myanmar for ‘hunter’
Kayaw people respect trees and demons. Their legend follows that the elder of the tribe kept migrating as they ran out of land. Kayaw can be categorized in different ethnicities and races with various languages and religious beliefs., the new generations are now Buddhist, Christians…
Long neck Karen or Kayan “the land of the giraffe women” as Polish explorer Vitold de Polish called. There are about 30.000 of Kayan people around the world today. They live in the state of Kayath in Myanmar close to Thailand border. It is believed that Kayan people first arrived in Thailand 1987 forced by armed conflict.
The lowest neck brass has been recorded as 25 loops weighing around 8kg. Normally neck coils are composed of 2 set bass rings. Setting 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 sets can be separated for cleaning.
Originally, the Padaung people started putting neck rings to their girls at 5 years old. 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 1cm diameter was put around the 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 rings. In general, the first set of rings weigh about 1kg. Every 3 years, another 3 rings are added until the woman becomes 25 years old or get married. Once the neck rings have been put on, they will be there through the wearer's life without taking off.
Do Padaung women really have a long neck? The popular question
Anatomical studies have confirmed that Padaung women's necks are not stretched at all. The chests are pushed down by heavy brass rings. The clavicles or collarbones, as well we the ribs are grandually pushed down. The neck muscles become more flexible and weakened compared to those who do not. Thus, taking the ring off can be extremely dangerous that is why Padaung women never take off their neck brass
