Burying the umbilical cord of a new-born

One of Malagasy culture, customs, and etiquette regardless of their ethnicity, is the umbilical cord burial. In the Malagasy culture, the birth of a baby is an important event that deserves ceremonies. However, prior to any celebration, the placenta and umbilical cord of the baby must be beforehand taken home for burial on the grounds of the ancestral home. Following the tradition, the father takes them with him to bury them under a stone at the entrance of the ancestral home or in a clean place around the family house. The stone is placed over the umbilical cord and placenta already wrapped in scraps of cloth that have been used during the birth once the hole has been refilled. When the father proceeds with the burial ritual, he must remain focused and avoid any distractions.

In Malagasy beliefs, when the father gets distracted or only turns his head throughout the ritual, it may have a consequence on the baby once adult. Similarly, a newborn baby whose umbilical cord is lost or not buried correctly, he or she may end up being a forgetful grown-up. This ritual acts as a pre-established cultural construct of the human body and the personhood of the baby. For Malagasy people, the placenta represents the ancestors, and the ancestors’ beliefs still govern today’s Malagasy culture.