In many parts of the world, pillows have cultural significance, and references have extended to a wide variety of other uses, forms and activities.
Comfort pillows In some cultures, pillows have forms for hugging. An example is the
Dakimakura, a kind of "hugging pillow" originating in
Japan that have been endowed with anthropomorphic and zoomorphic qualities and pop culture references for additional psychological comfort. Other types of hugging pillows are more practical, such as the
Guling, long hugging pillow originating from
Indonesia and the
Abrazador, a long hugging pillow originating from
the Philippines. A
husband pillow (also known as a boyfriend pillow) is a large, high-backed pillow with two "arms." It is used to prop the user upright while in bed or on the floor, as for reading or watching
television. Because of this common use, a husband pillow is also called a reading pillow.
Activities Pillow fighting A pillow fight is a common game mostly played by young children (but also by teens and adults) in which they engage in mock physical conflict, using pillows as weapons. Pillow fights are known to occasionally occur during children's sleepovers. Since pillows are usually soft, injuries rarely occur. The heft of a pillow can still knock a young person off balance, especially on a soft surface such as a bed, which is a common venue. In earlier eras, pillows would often break, shedding feathers throughout a room. Modern pillows tend to be stronger and are often filled with a solid block of artificial filling, so breakage occurs far less frequently.
Pillow talk Pillow talk refers to the relaxed, intimate conversation that often occurs between two
sexual partners after
sexual activity, usually accompanied by cuddling, caresses, and other
physical intimacy. It is associated with honesty, sexual afterglow, and
bonding. In the Western world there are many cultural references to pillow talk.
Chinese rock pillows Chinese rock pillows () played an important role in ancient China. Made from
jade, they were believed to translate the energy from the stone to the human brain. Originating in the
Ming dynasty, this piece of material was trusted to cure headaches or depression, or simply to better the intelligence of those who use it. It was more common among royalty because it was expensive and rare. Families often married off children based on the quality and intricacy of these pillows. Today, rock pillows are still commonly used during the hot summer months in China.
Pillows for parts of the body Cushioning designed for specific parts of the body are sometimes called pillows. An example is
eye pillows which are designed to comfort the eyes. Some
mousemats feature wrist rests, that while not generally called pillows, are another example.
Sex pillows A sex pillow is a specially-designed and typically firm pillow used to enhance sexual intercourse. An ordinary firm pillow, however, may be used in place of a special one. Some contain a high-density urethane core to balance firm support with softness. In addition to more common pillow shapes, there are wedge-shaped, ramp-shaped, prism-shaped, etc. pillows which lend themselves to various sexual positions, some of which might be difficult or uncomfortable without them. A very common use of a sex pillow is to place it under the receiving partner's buttocks or hips before assuming the
missionary position; this pivots the pelvis and increases depth of penetration.
Pillow menu A
pillow menu is a list of available pillows provided by a
hotel to guests, usually free of charge. It allows guests to make an alternative pillow choice. Some common pillow alternatives are
memory foam,
buckwheat hull, and
hypoallergenic. Some hotels offer pillows to treat specific conditions such as
headaches or
stress. == See also ==