“The Javanese believe that the placenta is the twin child of a newborn,” Reni Fatmasari says, holding a clay pot delicately while examining its smooth sides. “It is for this reason that when a baby is born, the mother’s placenta is placed in a pot like this, then buried in front of the house for 35 days.”
It’s early Tuesday afternoon and we’re in a roadside stall that sells flower offerings. We’re on our way to the Kasihan Spring just outside the center of Yogyakarta and Reni suggests we stop by the store first to buy flowers we can offer to the spirits that are said to reside in the spring’s premises. While waiting for the woman as she places our purchase in a paper bag, Reni clues me in a little to the traditional Javanese culture. My first lesson: Javanese babies are gods incarnated as humans until they turn 35 days old. That is why parents take a great deal making sure the placenta is okay, because it is of a divine origin.
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