Is it true that in the old days russian women would cook with their blood from their menstrual cycle?

Question

I know this is a very odd question. I've heard it several times, and don't quite understand the purpose of this... Can someone please explain this old tradition?

Answer 1

yes. they also finger painted with it and dyed their silk skirts a ruby red with the left-overs.

Answer 2

I am from Russian descent, attend Russian Orthodox Church, and

never heard this one so I spent some time researching it, and couldn't find any thing on it. However here are some interesting facts.

I got this info from:

http://www.cwhn.ca/resources/pub/Sweet_S...

Menstruation Across Cultures

Here are some examples of menstrual rules and rituals from around the world and from different times in history:

*The Kaska of western Canada and the Warao of Venezuela created special “menstrual huts” for their menstruating women.

*In ancient Rome, it was commonly believed that menstrual blood could cure certain illnesses. In Morocco at the beginning of the 20th century, people believed it could cure wounds and open sores.

*Some cultures, like North American whites, call menstruation a “curse.” Other people, like the Ebrié of the Ivory Coast in Africa, think it's a curse if a young woman should lose her periods.

*Many cultures, like the Asante of Ghana, have special parties to celebrate the powers of the menstruating woman. But there are also other cultures, like the Greek Orthodox Church, which prevent menstruating women from taking part in religious ceremonies like communion.

*The Mae Enga of New Guinea used menstrual blood as a poison against enemies, while the Asante in Ghana and the Kwakiutl of the Pacific Northwest use menstrual blood as a way of protecting themselves from evil forces.

*In many hunting cultures, menstruating women are not allowed to touch the hunting equipment before a big hunt. Some agricultural communities, however, use menstrual blood to bless their crops.

*The women of the Rungus of Borneo let their blood flow freely during menstruation. They don't use a menstrual product to absorb their blood, but spend their bleeding time sitting on specially dried moss or bamboo slats. When they wish to move around or change positions, they rinse themselves and the moss or slats with water.

*The Beng women of the Ivory Coast spend their menstrual time preparing a meal that's considered a delicacy and takes many hours to prepare. This dish is eaten only by menstruating women and their close female friends.

*Some scholars believe that all religious celebrations and rituals first began with the celebration of menstruation. Menstrual blood was considered by ancient cultures to be one of the most sacred substances since it, like the blood of childbirth, is the only kind of blood that's not linked with death and dying – but with the potential for new life.

The root word for “ritual” comes from a Sanskrit word that means “menses.” This links menstruation with the very origins of religious rituals.

Answer 3

Oh barf. That's so gross. Who the heck would eat their own fluids?? I wouldn't be surprised if that's not true. In the old days there was no way to collect said fluids in order to be able to cook with them.

One thing that *is* true is that there are women who cook and eat their placentas after delivering a baby. I kid you not. Google "placenta recipe" sometime and prepare to vomit. *shudder* I can understand dogs and cats and wild animals eating it, but humans? Dude, that's taking the whole "humans are an advanced animal species" a little too far, I think.

Answer 4

I don't know the answer but that is weird.  But when people are poor and starving they will try anything.  There was a diet many years ago where women got injected with pregnant womens urine so who knows.

Answer 5

in the dark ages it was believed in many parts of Europe that a woman could use menstrual blood as a primary ingredient to cast a spell over a man in an effort to get him to fall for her.

How often it was used will never be known but there you go.

Answer 6

I've heard of that with Italians...it's kinda an "old wives tale"

and menstrual blood to the first red sauce you cook for a man and he will never leave you....or he will tell you how he truly feels.

Answer 7

Ewww, I have never heard of this.  Are any of the sources you have heard this from credible?

Wendy- Do we need to send you back to s*x ed.  It is not just "blood". Much of it is the lining of the uterus. It may also contain cervical mucus and other vaginal secretions.

http://www.womhealth.org.au/factsheets/m...

EDIT-  Well I would like to see your recipes then dear, however I think it would be inappropriate to teach primary students (K-3rd grade) about this.  Perhaps you should discuss it with parents in your area and see how they feel about it.

But nice save "figure of speech"...yeah right.

EDIT-

Well dear, associating the "blood" (menstruation fluid) with actual blood is a figure of speech, which you used before you got all so defensive,

So you feel it is appropriate to teach this to 1st graders?  Like I said you may want to enlist the opinions of parents in your area before making such statements.

And you do know something about cooking with menstrual fluid, you say?

Answer 8

The same thing was said about the Creole women of Hatti and Louisiana. It's all a myth. No one has ever been able to prove this. Believe nothing you hear and half of what you see until someone prove otherwise.

Answer 9

So that's why the borscht soup was so thick...

Answer 10

OMG I just think I threw up in my mouth a little bit.

Answer 11

Oh man, that's gross.

Answer 12

OMG ! It that were true, I cant eat anything for the next 2 days !

Answer 13

I don't know but that is disgusting...Lol yuck

Answer 14

No. Geez, people, have some friggin' common sense.

And menstrual blood is just BLOOD. That's it.

EDIT-Thanks, Mrs, for the biology lesson. As always, your trite grade school lessons are beyond helpful.

However, my point was actually that it's not something "vile and disgusting" that women "leak"...as so often seems to be the attitude. When analyzed on a chemical level, menstrual blood does not look that much different than plain old blood, under a microscope.

But thanks again for the fifth grade anatomy lesson. However, in the future, you can just save it for your primary grade students.

EDIT-MRS.-I didn't say it was a "figure of speech." I said that YOU missed my point. And since I don't plan on ever teaching first graders ANYTHING, I'll leave the asking up to you. As for the recipe, I really don't have any, or I'd love to help. My suggestion is to consult your local witch. Apparently it's used in recipes for spells that help wives maintain the attention and affection of their husband.

EDIT-Mrs. No, it isn't a "figure of speech." That would imply that I was likening menstrual blood to "generic" blood in a figurative way. I quite LITERALLY meant that menstrual blood is, in fact, BLOOD. ACTUAL BLOOD...with little to no difference. Do you understand what the term "figure of speech" means? From your response, apparently not. Well, since we're giving out lessons....

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&clien...

As I said, I really can't help you with your search for recipes. The above is pretty much the extent of my knowledge on the subject. But good luck with that.

Also, I'm sure your little "lessons" that you've felt necessary to dole out are "well-intentioned," but I assure you that they are both unnecessary and unwarranted. Again, leave the teacher hat in the classroom, it gets a little tiresome here.

Answer 15

OMG, this is more information than I needed! Yuck. Hope it's not true. ♥ ∞

EDIT: Wow, I like Steve_Reads answer! I hope he wins the 10 points. Very well done research there bubba. ♥ ∞