This month we are welcoming the arrival of some special newborns in to the world.
Firstly, it seems the whole world is on tender hooks for news of the second child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Plus, we’ve also had great news of new babies for some of our close friends – huge congratulations on your little ones! (And good luck to those still waiting.)
For our friends, we’ve rushed out to post cards of congratulations, family have wet the babies heads and grandparents have furiously knitted for their new grandchildren.
A new baby brings a reason for celebration and this month’s arrivals have intrigued us to look at how the birth of a baby is marked differently the whole world over. Different religions and cultures welcome newborns in many different ways but they mainly focus on introducing the baby to their community, announcing their name and giving them the best start possible. Here are some of our favourite ones that we’ve collated:
parts of the body
- Jewish and Muslim families circumcise baby boys. The Jewish bris ceremony is often conducted eight days after a baby is born.
- In the Hindu religion, newborn boys have their heads shaved to remove negative influences from previous lives.
- Likewise, Muslims traditionally shave a baby’s head seven days after it is born. The baby’s hair is weighed, and the equivalent weight in gold and silver (or its monetary equivalent) is given to charity.
- Babies feet cannot touch the ground in Bali for its first 210 days as babies are considered divine and from heaven.
- In Japan, the umbilical cord is kept in a wooden box.
- Whilst in Jamaica, the afterbirth and cord are buried with a tree planted on top.
trees
- Speaking of trees, it is traditional to plant a cedar tree for a boy and a pine tree for a girl in Jewish culture (which can be cut down to make the supports for their wedding canopy).
- Whilst in Switzerland, new births are celebrated with apple trees being planted for the birth of a boy and nut trees for the birth of a girl.
stay inside
- In Armenia, new mums stay at home with the baby for the first 40 days of their life to protect it from bad luck. Only those living in that house can hold or touch the baby.
- Many cultures believe mother’s should have bedrest or be helped by other family members for the first month of a babies life
gifts
- In Finland, every baby gets a maternity pack from the government.
- Whilst in Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and China, red eggs are given out by the family to signify a joyous occasion and a sense of renewal.
names
- Nepalese families bring the newborn baby to a priest so he can pick the baby’s name.
- In China, The name must harmonize with the date and time of the birth so it can be linked to the right element: water, gold, wood, fire, earth.
- An Aboriginal tribe in Australia carries out the naming ritual during the actual birth of the baby. The midwife calls out the names of all the child’s living relatives one by one. The name chosen is the one being called at the moment of the final stages of the birthing process with the delivery of the placenta.
- For some Buddhist families, an astrologer will draw a horoscope to determine the initial that the name should begin with.
- In China, all children of one generation share the same middle name and there is a cycle of 24 generation names.
- The Inuit usually name newborns after recently deceased family members. This custom is a kind of reincarnation: by taking on that relative’s name, the baby will also take on their qualities or strengths.
- Boys in Japan are given a short, simple name soon after their birth, which they use until their teens. As they get near adulthood, there is a special ceremony where they are given a longer, formal name.
- In some parts of Africa one of the ceremonies involves different names being written on pieces of paper. The name is chosen from the first piece of paper that the baby touches.
- Balinese babies are named according to the order in which they’re born.
naming ceremonies
- After an Inuit child is born, the community’s shaman performs a kind of baptismal ceremony and the baby is given a protective spirit.
- Christians bless babies a few weeks or months following the birth. The traditions vary with each branch of the Church. Some have a baptism or christening, while others have a service of blessing and thanksgiving. Often babies are dressed in a white christening gown which could be an heirloom sometimes passed from one generation to the next or made from the mother’s wedding dress.
- In Ireland, the baby wears a special christening bonnet, made from a hanky that the mother carried on her wedding day. When that child gets older and marries, the bonnet is turned back into a handkerchief that the bride carries during the wedding.
- For Hindus, the baby is taken to a Hindu temple 40 days after birth for a naming ceremony.
- In China, although the baby’s personal name is chosen soon after the birth, the celebration takes place after 100 days have passed.
food
- For some religions such as Hindu and Sikh, baboes are given honey or sweetened water to signify the sweeter things in life.
- Many cultures celebrate the first time the baby is given food.
- At some Christian christenings, the top tier of a couple’s wedding cake is redecorated and served to celebrate the birth of their child.
religious initiation rites
- Many religions continue marking transitions and rites of passage in their children’s lives as they come of age.
- Some Christians have baptisms as part of a confirmation service when they are older.
- Jewish boys and girls have bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah ceremonies when they are 13 and12 years old, respectively.
future
- In China and Armenia, a baby is offered a collection of objects relating to different professions, such as a paint brush, a tool, medicine or money. It is believed that whatever the child grasps will predict his or her future profession.
All the best to you if you’re expecting or have just welcomed your own new little one. We’d love to know how you will celebrate their birth.
