Some designs include sideways mouths, horns, elongated ears, and long eyebrows that touch the ear tips among others. Other decorations on the masks include shells and pig’s teeth which result in extremely terrifying masks.
According to Asaro folklore, the introduction of masks was necessitated by an earlier defeat that made the tribesmen flee to River Asaro. In the river, they got covered with white mud which scared off their enemies as they tried to crawl out of it. Their enemies believed that spirits from the river had returned to battle them and retreated to their villages. In response, the Asaro decided to make masks from mud to ward off any more attacks.
Ultimately, Papua New Guinea is a destination worth adding to your travel bucket list whether traveling for short or long periods.
