Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
F23 — Cause of menstruation: sexual intercourse.
Source data for narratives and traditions is drawn from Berezkin’s Analytical Catalogue. If you use this data, please acknowledge and link to it: Ю.Е. Березкин, Е.Н. Дувакин. Тематическая классификация и распределение фольклорно-мифологических мотивов по ареалам. Аналитический каталог.
Summary of motif
OverviewBlood spilled during sexual intercourse or artificial defloration at the time of creation is the reason why menstruation occurs to this day.
Berezkin category: Gender and sex
This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 5, Origin of human beings, ethnic groups, etiology of human anatomy, strange body configuration, ways of behavior, marriages before the establishment of the present norms.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| I14 | 94.43% | Creatures without an anal opening are described. |
| E7 | 93.64% | The path from one part of the world to another passes through a narrow opening. The character gets stuck in the opening, permanently severing the connection between the worlds. |
| E1A | 93.63% | The first humans are made of fragile materials (clay, wax, fire, honey, etc.) and prove to be unviable. |
| J21 | 92.88% | Gods, ancestors of humans, and founders of dynasties are born from eggs. |
| F16 | 92.78% | Men possessed biological characteristics that are now characteristic of women, or vice versa (beards, menstruation, breasts, childbearing). |
| G12A | 92.39% | Cultivated plants arise from drops of blood or flow like blood from cuts on the body of a human or animal. |
| G24 | 92.19% | The first seeds (shoots, tubers) of cultivated or important wild food plants and/or agronomic knowledge were brought from the sky (received from the gods). |
| C7 | 91.69% | Initially or after the flood, an earthen or stone barrier, the body of a character or creature prevents the flow of water. Later, this barrier is removed or destroyed. |
| F6 | 91.43% | (The first) woman does not have a vagina at first. Usually, it is made for her by a bird, animal, fish, etc. |
| I20C | 91.30% | Dwarves live in an underground world that partly resembles the earthly world. If dwarves and humans meet, it happens underground. |
See the 100 most similar distributions →
Map of motif dispersal
DistributionDrag the map to pan, use the scroll wheel to zoom — choose a texture or projection below
Traditions
22 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 22 traditions: Dogon, Arnhem Land: Enindhilyagwa (Groote Eilandt), KuTiwi, Yulengor, Mara, Oenpelli, Murngin, Roper River, Maung, Murinbata, Murngin (Duwal), Millingimbi, Goulburn Island, Ngulugwongga, Yirrkalla, Voctoria River Downs, Alawa, Anu, Kunwinjku, Papua-NewGuinea Highland Papuans:Trans New Guinea & unclassified:Chimbu,Gimi,KaugelHuli,Gadsup,Kuman,Kutubu,Foi (Foe),Kyaka,Kamano (Kafe),Mawatta,Kukukuku (=Anga,=Sambia;Manki,Nauti,Ejuti),Baruya,Kewa,Tembregak,Menya,Melpa,Wiru,Pondoma, Torricelli family: Valman, Samap, Arapesh (Upper, Coastal), Monumbo, Lilau, Ngaimbom; Moando (Banara); Menya, Olo, Bunak, Juang, Bondo, Didayi (Gata'), Gutob (=Gadaba; cf Dravidian-speaking Gadaba), Sora (Savara, Saora), Parenga, Konds (Khonds; language is Kui, incl Kuttia, Konda-Dora), Koya; Pengo, Arapaho, Mixtec, Trique, Cuicatec; Amuzgo, Huave, Makiritare (Yecuana), Piaroa, Shuar, Achuar (Shiwiar), Desana, Siriano; Tatuyo, Bara, Tuyuca, Amahuaca, Cashinahua, Sharanahua, Yaminahua, Yawanahua, Capanahua), Chamacoco (Ishir), Mataco, Guarani of Paraguay and Brazil: Caygua, Mbia, Apapocuva, Nyandewa, Chiripa, Yamana (Yaghan), Alacaluf, Papua-New Guinea Northern Lowland Papuan groups (Trans New Guinea and unclassified): Komba, Gimi, Susure, Orokaiva, Bogadjim, Ngain, Sentani, Bargam, Imonda, Nankina, Yupta Valley, Urawa Valley, Warupu (Barupu), Pondoma (Anam)
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How to cite: Fielder-White, J. (2026). The Folklore Database. https://folkloredatabase.com
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