Palau is a matrilineal society and the key ceremony here involves women. When a woman has her first baby she undergoes a special cleansing ceremony. It's a bit like a spa voucher with benefits! For up to 9 days (depending on her clan) she is bathed with coconut oil, herbs and tumeric. The idea is to relax and spoil the new mother ready to take on the rigours of motherhood.
At the end she is dressed in a traditional outfit including a grass (often plastic!) skirt and a headdress made of tropic bird feathers. She is then led out to raucous crowds and music. The women relatives dance around her and present her with money. This goes on until everyone has had their turn. The elder ladies wash her feet with special leaves. (More pics in Culture and history of Palau).
It looks fantastic but really tiring. As a local mother told me she just couldn't wait for everyone to leave so she could have a shower and get rid of all the oil!
