For the people of for living in Nigeria, twins were considered a real evil, and this evil could be neutralized only by throwing away the water, food and fuel that were in the house at the time of their birth.
Some of the Indian tribes of North America acted even more severely. If heterosexual twins were born, then the girl was sure to be killed.
The Saliva Indians living in Venezuela have long believed that twins can only appear from different fathers, so the woman in labor was beaten with a whip for "adultery."
In some parts of Uganda, twins were equated with wild animals. They were not destroyed, but raised as soldiers: it was believed that those born in pairs were absolutely fearless and could fight any enemy.
But the North American Cocopa Indians treated twins extremely tenderly and respectfully: twins were considered messengers of the gods.
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The birth of twins among the Toraja was perceived as an ominous omen. In the old days one of them was killed. If they could not decide on this, then one of the children was neglected so much that he soon died. The twins were called moraines here. It was believed that they were not only one blood, but also one breath, one life spirit.
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It was believed that if the twins are of different sexes, then one of them will steal the life spirit of the other and he will die. Therefore, before the weaker one was killed immediately. Later they began to give him up to be raised by relatives. Children grew up not knowing each other. Sometimes this was done to avoid incest between brother and sister.
Among the Dayaks, one of the twins born was carried into the jungle. And nowadays, the birth of twins still causes confusion and fear, however, children are no longer killed.
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On the island of Bali, where a peculiar kind of Hinduism has survived, representatives of all castes believed that the birth of twins of the same sex was a sign of divine grace. If a boy and a girl are born, this is a misfortune not only for the parents, but for the whole village.
In the recent past, after the birth of twins, the mother and children were immediately removed from the village; they had to live for a month in a temporary dwelling near the cemetery. Only after this period and the corresponding sacrifice had expired could they return home. In earlier times there was a custom to marry twins as soon as they reached marriageable age.
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Among the Nias, twins have always been viewed as a misfortune. Children were immediately killed, and the parents were considered unclean for a whole year.
In Bushmen, at the birth of twins, the mother or one of the midwives bury one child in the ground. If the twins are of different sexes, the boy is killed. In some tribes, both newborns are buried in the ground, because supposedly twins can bring misfortune to their parents.
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Ishii in the Congo, at the birth of twins, the mother remains in her hut until both babies grow up. She can only talk to her family members.
Only her father and mother are allowed to enter the hut. Any other person who enters the dwelling will be turned into a slave and sold. In this case, the woman should lead a chaste life. Twins are also isolated from other children.
The dishes and utensils they use are taboo. The house is marked by two pillars, which are dug in on both sides of the door, and between which a panel is stretched.
Ashanti's twins, when they are same-sex, belong to the leader and, if they are girls, become his potential wives, and if they are boys, then “wagging the tail of an elephant” at court. The twins should be shown to the leader as soon as possible after birth, by bringing them to the palace in a copper basin. On holidays, the twins wear the same white clothes.
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Nuers from Nilotic Sudan claim that twins are birds. In this society, twins are not excluded from the social structure, but, nevertheless, they acquire ritual and symbolic significance. And in Uganda, twins are still considered the descendants of predatory animals and warriors are trained from them.
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The birth of twins is a terrifying event for the Nyakyusa. The parents of the twins and the twins themselves are considered very dangerous to relatives and close neighbors, as well as to livestock, causing diarrhea and swelling of the legs if there is any contact. Therefore, the parents are isolated, and a detailed ritual is performed in which a large circle of relatives, neighbors and livestock participate.
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In Nigeria, the birth of twins was also considered a misfortune that could only be prevented by removing food, water and firewood from the home to kindle the hearth.
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In the Kechin hill tribe in Northern Burma, twins are given the same name at birth. According to Kechin beliefs, this is one person in two persons. When children turn nine, they are put to the test. The children thrust their hands into a jug of rice three times. One of the rice is colored red. The one of the twins who gets it is the real one. The name will belong to him, and the other will not have. His whole life will be called "second".
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In the north of Benin, in families of the Guy people, names for twins are not chosen: the boys are called Zansu and Sagbo, the girls - Zinue and Tete. Their mothers are honored and greeted: "Hello, mother of nations!" No man dares to touch twins for three months. After this period, the children are transferred from the mat to the bed, and their parents cut their hair and nails, which they have grown for three months. And then - a feast for which parents do not spare money.
In the south of Benin (Africa), the twins see a good sign from above. They are believed to have magical powers. Therefore, it is customary to present them when they meet. The god Hoho, the patron saint of twins, is embodied in pots firmly connected in pairs. Every year, ritual ceremonies are held around them in honor of the living twins.
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In ancient Peruvians, at the birth of twins, the father and mother were confined in a house or taken to a special secluded building. Each of them had to lie on their side, bend their free leg to the thigh, place a bob in the popliteal fossa and remain in this position until the bob, under the influence of sweat and warmth, began to sprout, which usually occurred after five days.
After that, the man and woman turned over on the other side and did the same procedure with the other leg and a new bean.
At the end of this part of the atonement, the relatives killed the deer, removed the skin from it and made a kind of canopy out of it, under which the parents responsible for the birth of the twins, with a rope around their necks, had to walk through the village or city. After the ceremony was over, the rope remained on the neck for several days.
In New Britain, same-sex twins were kept alive. However, if a boy and a girl were born at the same time, then they were killed, since it was believed that in the womb they had an intimate relationship, which was a serious violation of marriage laws.
Makalaki in South Africa, one of the newborn twins was placed in a pot and put out to be eaten by hyenas. The choice of the twin, doomed to death, was decided by lot, namely by throwing the dice.