First Laugh Welcome, Baby! by Rose Ann Tahe & Nancy Bo Flood

Author:Rose Ann Tahe & Nancy Bo Flood
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781632896193
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Published: 2014-05-30T00:00:00+00:00

In many Christian religions, baptism is both a sacrament of purification (holy water

washes away original sin) and an acknowledgment that the child is now a member of the

church community.

In some Hindu families, people receive as many as sixteen purification ceremonies called

Sanskara. One special ceremony, called Jatakarma, happens soon after birth. Honey and ghee

(butter) is dabbed on the baby’s tongue to help the child grow up healthy and clever, and

the name of God is whispered into the baby’s ear to welcome the newborn into God’s family.

In Muslim families, infants are immediately welcomed into the community. A senior family

member whispers the call to prayer in a newborn’s ears. A bit of sweetness—sugar,

softened dates, or honey—is rubbed into the baby’s mouth. This ritual, the Tahnik,

encourages the infant to begin sucking and expresses the parents’ hope that the child will

grow in “sweet kindness and obedience.” Seven days later friends and family gather to

celebrate aquiqa, the baby’s naming.

In Jewish Reform and Progressive families, daughters and sons are welcomed with a

naming ceremony at the synagogue. In Orthodox families, the father recites a blessing

as his daughter is named on the first Sabbath after she’s born. A newborn son is

named at his circumcision ceremony.

In Nigeria, Africa, Edos families host a naming ceremony. During the ceremony, the

eldest woman in the family asks, “What will you name your child?” The mother always

replies with a terrible name. All the women shout “No!” The question and response are

repeated six more times. Finally, after the seventh time, the father whispers the baby’s

actual name to his wife, who announces it to all.

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