To think “period cookies” is ridiculous…

There's no way I would have wanted the start of my periods drawn attention to as an event. Mortifying.

Completely OTT. Get the teen a nice bar of chocolate, hot water bottle and pack of paracetemol! I'm sure I did similar when my DD started, Explained it would probably be 'light' and a bit irregular at first but not to worry (she was 13) and that was that. Would've been totally cringe if I'd baked 'period' biscuits or done anything of that sort, she would've hated it.

Tagged wrong quote, I’ve reported to MN to delete

Agreed. Though this thread is making me think of that long-running thread by a home baker who has a tradition of making deliberately grotesque cakes for her friends, often of y-fronts with bulging tackle, or actual cock and balls with googly eyes on the testicles. I think she did once do a vagina cake...

Definitely a thing

I'm highly skeptical this happened

Do you have a screenshot @smallstitch ?

Yes, agree withbyou about not making your daughters feel ashamed about periods, but the imagery, here, is superficial.

And preferably photographed, filmed, and posted online, which half the time seems to be what the stuff and the celebration are really for.

Oddly enough, a few years back MN had a product test for a company where a bunch of us received ‘subscription boxes’ that came with pads/tampons and treats like chocolate or beauty bits.

Trying now to remember which book I read that had a scene when the daughter has her first period and the mother celebrates it by gently slapping her face "as the French do" - so should be popular on MN. Then cooks her DD's favourite meal to celebrate. This is pasta in a tomato sauce and the daughter is put right off said meal because of the connection.

SquashedMallow

But somethings really don't need to be "celebrated" - just normalised. And in 2025, I honestly really do think menstruating is talked about openly and completely normalised to discuss. You don't need to display it on a bunch of cakes. Come on ? Let's get some dignity back.

My thoughts exactly.

My initial reaction was 'eugh, gross', because I was brought up that periods were a bit disgusting and, if not something to be ashamed about, should still be kept private. Actually, logically, it's a big coming of age moment for a young girl, I remember it being an huge deal for me, and maybe we should celebrate it. I've probably got about 8-10 years before my daughter starts her periods and maybe I should try and get my head round celebrating with some period cookies.

Absolutely nothing to be ashamed about. I just don't think: becoming "a fertile woman " is something that needs biscuits and a celebration for a young girl,

Also, isn't the traditional period sweet fix chocolate? Always was in my day. "Must get a box of tampax, oh and a massive bar of Cadburys".

But in British culture we don't "celebrate" menarche? There's a difference between normalising and talking openly about something that was once considered embarrassing, to oversharing. I do think in today's UK culture, we have become a bunch of "oversharers".

This is the weird celebration culture we live in. Everything has to be celebrated, that way people will buy more rubbish to celebrate, cakes, decorations, a new outfit, drinks food. It's consumerism.

Is it just another example of attention seeking and needing to push boundaries? If so, I can think of better ways to use that energy.

Like a monthly subscription where you get cookies in the post timed to land when you most need them.

I could go for that

And to be fair, periods can be disgusting! Doesn’t mean you should be ashamed of them, but they certainly don’t smell of roses and lollipops. They serve a very important purpose, specific to the female species, which is a lot to be proud of. But they also drip down your legs, stain your knickers and can make you feel wretched. They are what they are, but “celebrating” with cakes like that - ugh! They are part of life.

But somethings really don't need to be "celebrated" - just normalised. And in 2025, I honestly really do think menstruating is talked about openly and completely normalised to discuss. You don't need to display it on a bunch of cakes. Come on ? Let's get some dignity back.

Masturbation is normal, but you wouldn't put an ejaculating penis with a box of tissues or a woman's hand on a vulva on a bunch of cakes ?

Love how the MN ad for baking tins has been generated on back of this thread 😆 🤣 MN is very clever on marketing and promotions!

My gran used to regularly throw her hands in the air and say "the world's gone mad".
I find myself also doing this. Used to be weekly, now almost daily. What the fecking feck. 🙄

Bloody ridiculous!

Christ alive, why are we infantilising women!

Nobody is saying there is anything vulgar about periods. But the way some women ram it down their daughter’s throats is vulgar. Period cookies is an example of that. Becky from Manchester isn’t a following a long standing cultural tradition. She’s just being weird!

So apparently lots of people here think periods are disgusting and vulgar!

Nope, nobody here thinks that. There is a difference between menstruation and the commodification of menstruation via tackily decorated patisserie.