Cheek Piercing - History and Culture

History and Culture

Permanent cheek piercing appears to be of primarily contemporary origin.

Ritual cheek piercings were and are common throughout the world in both primitive and modern cultures. Perhaps the most well known of these rituals is the annual vegetarian festivals in Phuket, Thailand where "mediums" (both lay people and monks) pierce their cheeks with an array of objects in varying sizes, while in an altered state.