Menarche: Archaisms and More!
menarche (n.) 1896, from German menarche (1895), from Greek men (genitive menos ) "month" (see moon (n.)) + arkhe "beginning" (see archon ). That is to say, the time of a woman's first menstruation. Please, let Wikipedia educate you: When a Japanese girl has her first period, the family sometimes celebrates by eating red-colored rice and beans ( sekihan ) . The color of blood and the red of sekihan are not related*. All the rice of ancient times of Japan was red. Since rice was precious in ancient Japan (usually, millet was eaten), it was eaten only during the celebration. Sekihan is the tradition of an ancient custom. The celebration is kept a secret from extended family until the rice is served. In Australia , the Aborigines treat a girl to "love magic". She is taught the ways of womanhood by the other women in her tribe. Her mother builds her a hut to which she confines herself for the remainder of her menses. The hut ...