The World’s Most Dangerous Cultural Traditions

Grieving Finger Amputation

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In the Dani Tribe from Papua New Guinea, the women of the tribe show their grief over the loss of a family member both emotionally and physically. A woman will cut off the top of a finger is she loses a child or other close family member. It is a practice that is for mourning as well as to drive away evil spirits.

They tie a string around the finger for 30 minutes to numb the pain before the amputation; the cauterize the wound. The tip of the finger is then burned or buried. Although this practice has been banned, there are still some who continue to do it.