CROSSCULTURE CONTEST: REFLECTING THE ARRIVAL OF A NEW CHILD
I am glad to have come across this contest through @cool08 post yesterday where he tagged me to participate. Thank you for the tag.
I found this contest title Interesting and I decided to opt in too so I can tell you how naming ceremony is done in my own culture and tribe. I am a Yoruba lady and I must say that there are different ways we observe our naming ceremony in Yoruba land. I am a Christian and the way we name our child is different from the way the Muslim do theirs and I don't think the Muslim take their babies for dedication as we do when we take them to the Church to be dedicated.
With this being said, I want to narrate how we do ours using my younger Sister's ceremony. I want to go live with it. Lol
My sister who is the last born of the house was given birth to in the year 2004 and as a normal thing, my mom was pregnant and carried the pregnancy for nine months. Or is it possible to throw a child from heaven? 😅
Mothers are really trying at this period. They go to the hospital for ante-natal care, did scanning to know the gender of the child. Either a male or female and then they proceed to buying baby's clothes. In most cases, some mothers aren't always sure of the baby, so they buy
unisex clothing that would go for both sexes.
My mom already knew the baby would be a girl according to the scan she did at the hospital but she couldn't deliver the baby there. We all were born in a white garment church.
My mom bought the baby's items and kept. When she was pregnant, she and my Dad had written down some names to be given to her and at this stage, parents needs to be careful and prayerful also to commit those names into God's hand. Every name have a meaning attached to the child's destiny. As parents, you just don't give names to your children thinking this name is beautiful and can suit him or her.
Some parents would either wait for the child to be born and before the naming ceremony day, they would have come together to agree on some names to be given.
At last, a baby girl was born into the world. It took my mom two days more in the church before coming home.
This is when people will start coming to visit us and welcoming the new child and will be saying
"Eku Ewu Omo oo" let me try with the meaning with explanation 😁
You know it isn't easy to give birth? That moment the mother would be in pain, groaning and then trying to push harder for the baby to come out. Some women can't go through the pain of pushing and with this, they are advised to go for CS, an operation to bring the baby out from the stomach. But after the pain, the baby and the mother are in good condition. This is why the visitors and those who came visiting will greet the mother and appreciate her effort.
Naming ceremony comes up on the 7th day after the baby is born and within that days, preparation would be going on. The cook, DJs, Canopies and chairs, different food and water, drinks etc.
The pastor to come around during the day would have been told to get prepared. Everything was intact then. We killed cows, I was even there when they were killing the cow because I was a young girl then and seeing everything, we were so happy.
On the 7th day, the ceremony will start. The parent of the baby would be sitted at the front while the Pastor would pray for the child and the parents.
They prayed for my sister and parent. Then, they brought the baby to the pastor to give the names to her. Everyone stood up and prayed. After then, the pastor called out the names one by one and the whole People repeated after him.
They gave her 4 names and the Pastor sanctified those names. Those who brought gifts for the child will start bringing them to present to the parents too.
After the end of the naming, foods were served to everyone who attended the ceremony and at the end, they all went home.
That was how the naming ceremony went successfully. After 40days according to tradition, the baby was brought to the church for dedication.
That is all about naming a child in my own culture.
I will be inviting @olawalium @maryjacy @amberkashif to participate in this contest too.
Here is the link to the contest
All images were created by me from Canva and the content is mine and original.
Indeed mothers are trying because it is not easy to get pregnant and carry the baby for 9 months.
You have taken time to explain this topic to the brim.
Most times I am always scared because I will soon get to that stage 😁😁 but I know my God will help me through. Thanks for stopping by.
Sure...this is a stage no woman can escape. Heheheh...
Culture is always there to lead the path to an idea. The events that culminate in the arrival of a newborn child differ from place to place.
I have heard of the christening of a new or child among the Yorubas after 40 days.
The ones I have witnessed are usually very interesting. The ceremonies that comes with it is pleasing in that, there are always enough to eat and drink.
Nice job done here. Wishing you success in the contest.
Yes oo, there are foods and drinks in surplus and People will still take away home.
It's always interesting when a new baby is born into the world.
Thanks for the invite @princessbusayo .
It was really nice to read about your cultural tradition of naming. CS makes it easier to take the baby out of uterus but in the long run it gives pain and takes more time for healing.
I think dedication of child to the church is common among all Christians. Is that it? I don't know. I think I read the same thing in someone else's post.
You are welcome.
And yes, child's dedication is so common among the Christian.
But I don't like the idea much of the CS because it's so painful but there is no choice if it comes around.
Seems we both have similar traditions and festivals regarding newborn arrival. Baby naming, hehe
Sometimes there occurs a conflict as a kid is single and there are multiple names suggestions 😂
I shared my viewpoints too. Good luck with the contest dear.
Ha yes, I got your viewpoint and it's great to know too. Thanks for your input.
No argument about that, mothers are really trying, nothing can be compared to that. So going through the write up, I saw you attend white garment church, which one in particular, Celestial or cherubim and seraph
Oh! That was when I was still very young but now, I am a full member of RCCG. Then, it was Celestial we were going to.
Ohh. I thought as much. Ok, is it all of you or just you alone that's a full member now
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Great, I have never attended a naming ceremony and don't know how it is done. But I got insight here. Babies bring joy to the family. Nice contest I love this
Really? You have never attended any? 😳 How did you name your children? Or you didn't do any ceremony then? Sorry to ask! I am curious 😅
No ceremony Sis. We know their names already and gave it to them immediately at the hospital when the hospital want to open a card for them or write their birth certificate upon being discharged. I don't believe in waiting till 8days. Neither do I wait to take the child to church before praying, rejoicing and thanking God for the new arrival and blessings the child with friends, family or Christian brothers who visit. However, I don't criticise those doing it. But I don't do it and have never attended one.
This should be fun. Thanks a lot for the invite dear.
You are welcome
🤗🤗🤗
Hi dear @princessbusayo 😊
Great to know about Yoruba culture
Thank you for sharing your part with us 😊
Came here via @dreemport
It's my pleasure. Thanks for coming by.
Oh thanks Ma'am @princessbusayo for the invitation, I will try my possible best to participate in this too.
In several occasions, I have attended the naming of your people and it was just exactly how you explained it, but ours is different from the way you do yours, I will be coming up with mine soon.
@dreemport
Hey @maryjacy long time no see.
Hi @jay-one , glad to see you too, where I've you been hidden??
I have been at home,I have not just been posting frequently due to some reasons.How have you been?
Ok, I believe all is well??
Me too I've not been posting, only come here to make comments because I'm always occupied, but with time I will have the whole time .
Yea, I believe that different cultures with their own style of doing things. I hope to read yours too.
Yeah , I will definitely write about it
Yeah actually the naming ceremony is usually on the 7th day after the child is born,then about killing cows only those who are a very rich family would be able to afford a cow,cause you know a cow now costs over 500k which is a huge amount of money.i really love the way the yorubas celebrate naming ceremonies because it's usually fun and interesting,but I don't just like attending them due to some certain reasons hahaha.Thanks for sharing and talking about our great culture.
Cow was cheap then. I am talking about 2004😁
Oh okay 😂😂
What a great tradition.. Hmm... The Yorubas are known for parties and so they take advantage of every situation to organise a party.
I think it doesn't really matter if the names are selected before or after the birth of the baby. What matters is selecting a great name for the child... Like you rightly said, names do follow the bearer..
I think I have learnt one or two things from this culture... Thanks for sharing... I found my way to this post via @dreemport
Yes, Yoruba no dey carry last for occasion like this 😅
I am glad you learnt something.
What an interesting post. I really enjoyed reading about the naming rituals in the Yoruba. I think it's really beautiful and thoughtful that so much care goes into the process and that the whole community comes together to celebrate this event. I came to your post via @dreemport
Yea,so much process for the Yoruba People because they value such event of a new born baby. Thanks for stopping by.
Wonderful, your mum gives birth to all her children in the church? Is there a reason to that? Are there doctors there to take care and check up on her? This is very new to me.
Wait o, how many cows are we talking about here? 😳 For only one child? What if it was a twin?
Yorubas and parties sha... I won't be surprised if it's more than three cows 🤣🤣
Nice culture way of welcoming a new child, all the best in the contest.
I know white garment people like giving birth in the church. Do you people have those specially in charge of birthing a child? How does it work?
Wait you people killed cows?? Like more than 1 😂😂 isn't she the last baby, I thought yorubas do all this extra ceremonies for the first child only.