The men of the tribe perform ceremonies for tourists that are designed to intimidate them
They create masks from a clay and mud mixture and cover themselves in the mud
This ceremony is done to commemorate the ancient history of the tribe
housing
Families and Individuals
The men of the tribe perform the traditional emerging out of the woods in masks to frighten tourists
Now it is merely meant commemorate their past and has less to do with frightening
In weddings the bride is taken off her families hands, but it is customary for the brides family to take care of the grooms family,
Outside View
The mudmen live in circular or rectangular shaped houses made from pit canes or bamboo.
They built them low to stay warm.
The roofs are made high so the smoke would be away from inhabitants
They cook in a ground oven called a mumu
By some, their traditions may seem strange but in their daily lives they live with modern tools at their disposal
Glass windows are now used in their houses along with laptops
Origin, continued
Customs
Origin Story
First came into contact with the western world mid-twentieth century
Located near the Eastern Highlands Province village Goroka in Papua New Guinea
Before weddings, grooms have to pay for their brides
Live stock and vegetables are a valuable part of their culture, and can be used for payment, a symbol of status or identity
Legend has it that they were attacked by an enemy tribe and forced into the Asaro River
At dusk they once again fled but this time covered in the white mud of the river, the enemy tribe turned and ran seeing them as spirits and returned to their village in order to ward off the evil spirits