Figure 1 -
Two horns of carabaos and one horn of a cow. The practice of hanging horns is a way of rich Igorot families showing they have married off a child.
I took the image from a cousin’s display outside their home. Usually these horns of carabaos are displayed next to the door of a home of people who had children got married.
So, the more horns you see the more children got married.
I don’t think this is part of Igorot’s tradition but I guess it serves as a badge to show not only how many children they married off but also their status in life. Usually only the wealthy families can afford to butcher Cows, and carabaos aside from the 11 pigs for the wedding of their children.
Igorot weddings usually lasts for three days where people of the village especially friends even from distant places, and family members go to eat and congratulate the newlywed and their parents.
Well, people not only go there to eat, but most will give a cash or gifts to the married couple.
If you’re just a visitor, no problem, you can always go and fall in line or ask for food during meal time, they’re happy to give you. So, if it happens that one day you visited Sagada or other parts of Kaigorotan Country(Cordillera) don’t hesitate to partake with the wedding feast.
And more importantly, if you happened to passed by a home having horns hanging in front of their home, usually, next to their door, don’t be scared. You’re seeing a badge or badges of honor they already married off a child or more depending on the number of their children.
And, usually, when you see horns there might be pig’s skulls next to it or in other parts of the house. Don’t worry, it’s not a haunted house or home of a witch you are looking at. The skulls of pigs almost represent the same, however, it might be from doing other traditions done before, like, building a house, wedding, or other traditions where a pig is needed.
