Naming ceremony

A naming ceremony is the event at which an infant is given a name or names. They can occur anywhere from mere days after birth to several months afterwards. Some of these ceremonies have religious or cultural significance. In Christianity the process is often connected with Christening.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Naming ceremonies in various religions

Hinduism

Naming a baby is considered to be sacred and therefore is an important Indian tradition. It involves the immediate families and also close relatives and friends. Traditionally known as Namkaran or Namakaran Sanskar, this ceremony is conducted in an elaborate form.

The Namakarma Sanskar is usually held after the first 10 days of a baby's delivery. These 10 post-natal days are considered to be inauspicious as the mother and child are considered to be impure. After those 10 days, the house is cleaned and sanctified for the ceremony. The mother and child are bathed traditionally and are prepared for the ceremony. 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.

The people involved in the baby naming ceremony are the parents of the new born, the paternal and maternal grandparents and few close relatives and friends. In Maharashtra, the paternal aunt has the honour of naming her brother's child. 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. The baby is then handed over to the paternal grandmother or the father who sits near the priest during the ritual. The sacred fire is lit and the priest chants sacred hymns to invoke the Gods in the heaven to bless the child.

According to the date and time of birth of the child, a particular letter of the Sanskrit alphabet 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

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 ^[1]. 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.^[2] Some Wicca Names: Black Raven; Dark SilverWolf; Nightshine rose; Miami Rose; Black Beautywolf.

Naming ceremonies in various countries

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, a naming ceremony is an alternative to infant baptism. They can be of a religious nature, such as a dedication, or non-religious, such as a humanist baby naming ceremony. ^[3]

Australia

In Australia, a naming ceremony is a possible secular alternative to a Church Christening. It is a welcoming ceremony to the child. Parents may still choose godparents if desired, or these may be referred to under a different title, such as mentors.

See also

• Humanist baby naming

References

1. ^ "Jewish Birth and Naming Rituals". ReligionFacts. http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/cycle/naming.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-08. 
2. ^ Wicca - a guide for the solitary practitioner by Scott Cunningham
3. ^ "Organising a naming ceremony". BabyCentre. BabyCenter, L.L.C.. http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/naming/namingceremony/. Retrieved 2007-07-08. 

http://indianred.pagesperso-orange.fr/ceremonies2.htm

http://www.indianhindunames.com/namakaran-hindu-naming-ceremony.htm

http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-traditions/namkaran.html

http://www.indianchild.com/hindi_names_namkaran.htm