Naming ceremony

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A naming ceremony is the event at which an infant, a youth, or an adult is given a name or names. The timing can vary from mere days after birth to several months or many years afterwards. Some of these ceremonies have religious or cultural significance.

Naming ceremonies in various religions and cultures

Christianity

Main articles: infant baptism and dedication (Baptist ceremony)

Naming a child is usually through the baptism ceremony in Christian Culture. Though this is true for majority of the Christian population, the traditions of the land they were born might differ. As such in Kerala, the traditional Hindu custom of tying an Aringanam is followed even in Christian families.

Hinduism

Main article: Namakarana

Naming a baby is considered to be sacred and therefore is an important Hindu tradition. It involves the immediate families and also close relatives and friends. Traditionally known as Namkaran or Namakarana Sanskar, this ceremony is conducted in an elaborate form on the 11th day after birth.

The Namakarma Sanskar is usually held after first 10 nights of a baby's delivery. These 10 post-natal days are considered inauspicious and the mother and child are considered to be unclean. Traditionally mother and child are separated from the rest of the family during these 10 days where no one except a helper is allowed to touch the baby or the mother. All festivals and events in the family and extended family are postponed by 10 nights. After those 10 nights, the house is cleaned and sanctified for the ceremony. The mother and child are bathed traditionally and are prepared for the ceremony. This is most likely to avoid infecting baby or mother and allowing mother sometime to recover after delivery. Relatives and close friends are invited to be a part of this occasion and bless the child. Priests are called and an elaborate ritual takes place.

Grand Father (Baby's Father's Father) tie a Black string on wrist, this ritual is called Nool Kettu (in Kerala).

The people involved in the baby naming ceremony are the parents of the newborn, the paternal and maternal grandparents and few close relatives and friends. In Maharashtra, Bengal, and Rajputs of Gujarat the paternal aunt has the honour of naming her brother's child.[1] The child is dressed in new clothes and the mother wets the head of the baby with a bit of water as a symbol of purifying the child. In some communities, the baby is then handed over to the paternal grandmother or the father who sits near the priest during the ritual. Where the paternal aunt names the child, she whispers the new born his or her name in the ear and then announces it to the gathered family and friends. In some Communities or families, the sacred fire is lit and the priest chants sacred hymns to invoke the Gods in the heaven to bless the child.

Grand Mother (Baby's Father's Mother) whisper baby's name three times in her, by closing the other ear with beetle leaf, called naming (in Kerala).

In Kerala, a black thread and gold chain called an aranjanam are tied around the baby's waist on the 27th day for a baby girl and on the 28th day for a baby boy. The child's eyes are lined with mayye or kanmashi (Kohl). A black spot is placed on one cheek or asymmetrically on the forehead, to ward off the evil eyes. The father whispers the chosen Hindu name in the child's right ear three times while the left ear is covered with a betel leaf. This is then repeated with the left ear. A mixture of ghee (melted and clarified butter) and honey is given to the infant as a base for its various foods in the future.

According to the date and time of birth of the child, a particular letter of the Sanskrit alphabet associated with the child's lunar birth sign (Chandra Rashi) is chosen which would prove lucky for the baby. The baby is then given a name starting with that letter. Usually the father whispers the name four times in the right ear of the baby. In Maharashtra, this is performed by the paternal aunt. The baby receives blessings from all, including the priests. An elaborate feast is organized for the priests and the guests, as a closing event of the ceremony.

The Namakaran Sanskar is also performed on adult converts to Hinduism to mark their formal entrance into Hinduism. The convert chooses a Hindu name to declare his allegiance to Hinduism and his severance from his formal religion. A Vedic fire sacrifice is then performed and the convert writes his new name in a tray of uncooked rice.

In Maharashtra, traditionally women changed their birth-name upon marriage. The new name was selected by the husband to complement his own name. For example, a groom named Vishnu would change his brides name to Laxmi, the mythological consort of Vishnu, Ramchandra would change his bride's name to Sita and so on. Usually the husband writes the new name in a plate filled with dry uncooked rice grains

Humanism

Some secular humanists perform a naming ceremony as a non-religious alternative to ceremonies such as christening. The purpose is to recognise and celebrate the arrival of a child and welcome him or her in the family and circle of friends. The structure often reflects that of more traditional naming ceremonies, with a formal ceremony led by a humanist celebrant in which the parents name 'guide parents', 'mentors' or 'supporting adults' instead of godparents. This is often followed by a celebratory party.[2][3]

Islam

Baby is named on the day of birth by his mother and father who make a decision together on what the child should be called. They choose an appropriate name and on the baby's day of birth the father must have a sheep slaughtered and given to the poor to give charity on his babys birth. If he does not have enough funds he may do it anytime in the future as long as it is done in general.

Judaism

Main articles: Zeved habat and Brit milah

In the Jewish tradition, baby boys are named at a brit milah on the eighth day after their birth.[4] Girls are not named at one uniform time. Common Ashkenazi custom maintains that girls should be named when the father is called up to the Torah on a Torah reading day closest or close to when the girl is born, although practice often has baby girls named at the Torah reading on the first Shabbat following birth. A resurgence of the less popular in recent generations simchat bat ceremony for naming baby girls has recently taken hold in many modern Orthodox Ashkenazi communities.

Wicca

In Wiccan religion, at the initiation (or dedication) ritual, initiates take a Wiccan Name (Craft Name). This name is not used in public, but only among other Wiccans in religious gatherings. Some Wiccan authors use their Wiccan name on their books, such as Silver RavenWolf. For a Wiccan, taking a Wiccan name symbolizes a rebirth.[5] Some Wicca Names: Black Raven; Dark SilverWolf; Nightshine rose; Miami Rose; Black Beautywolf.[citation needed]

References

  1. ↑ Singh, K.S. (2003). Gujarat, part 3. Popular Prakashan Limited. p. 1176. ISBN 81-7991-106-3. 
  2. ↑ "Organising a naming ceremony". BabyCentre. BabyCenter, L.L.C. Retrieved 2007-07-08. 
  3. ↑ British Humanist Association page on Humanist Baby Namings
  4. ↑ "Jewish Birth and Naming Rituals". ReligionFacts. Retrieved 2007-07-08. 
  5. ↑ Wicca - a guide for the solitary practitioner by Scott Cunningham

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.