Customs
The Taínos had a well-developed social structure, with a cacique at the top, he was known as the chief of the village. The Taínos divided their territory into provinces, and one cacique had several sub-chiefs to assist him in ruling the province. The cacique himself was permitted several wives, but subjects were permitted only one wife each.
Caciques received the best foods, and they had larger homes than other members of the village. These houses were filled with their family idols. Interestingly, an ill and dying cacique was honored by strangulation to end his suffering. Other sick tribesmen, however, were abandoned in the bush in their hammocks with a bit of cassava and water.
The dead were usually buried in caves, and on occasion the head and certain bones were placed in a pottery bowl. Anthropologists have found such burial remnants to be some of the finest pottery and best-preserved skulls.
Traditions and Special Events Weddings The Taino wedding ceremonies, by tying a knot among their wedding clothes, symbolizing the myth of the marriage among the two moons of Venus (as the myth states). Burial Ceremony This ritual consisted of burying their dead in a fetal position, together with some of his possessions, which the deceased would carry into the better life. The Arawaks cremated their dead, and made a beverage from their ashes, which they drank.Birth Tradition The Taíno forehead was flat. Mothers carried their babies on their back on a padded board that was secured to the baby's forehead. The board flattened the baby's forehead. Thus Taínos had a flat forehead - something they found attractive. |
 | Folklore Many of these legends are ghost tales about demons who roam the island after dark, pursuing food or people or else protecting gold and loot that pirates long ago stashed away for safekeeping. Much of the island's folklore also dealt with the forces of nature that would descend in the form of a "big blow" (hurricane), decimating local crops and settlements. These legend were passed down orally, through story telling. |
