Your Baby Naming - Celebrating A New Life

 

Baby naming is one of the Rite of Passage ceremonies held by nearly allsocieties to observe a person's entry into a new stage of life. Rites of passage note such occasions as birth, graduation, or marriage. Most rites help people understand and accept their new roles in society.

 

Baby Naming History


Name giving ceremonies have a history almost as old as man kind itself. A son was not a true legal member of the family until the father had named the offspring in a ceremony. Naming (or Name giving) was the rite which brought the child into the family.

 

A name giving ceremony is not a baptism or a christening. This ceremony in no way inhibits the child from seeking the truth during his life and any future religious commitments of belief.

 

It is an occasion when a new birth is celebrated and a child welcomed into the world. Family relationships are deepened. The parents become more fully aware of their responsibilities. So, of course, do the godparents (some celebrants prefer 'mentors' or 'guardians'). The naming ceremony also has a community dimension, represented by the wider circle of family and friends.

 

The baby naming ceremony is an excellent occasion for cultural expression - joy, hope, acceptance. Many religious people are using the non-religious naming service to celebrate the birth of their child. Many Christians, for example, do not believe in infant baptism so choose this cultural celebration and leave the child free to choose or not to choose baptism in their lateteens. In fact, all naming ceremonies are done or performed on this principle.

 

There are no prior legal requirements for this ceremony but you will need to supply the names of those you wish to be guardians, godparents or mentors plus the birth date weight and length of child.

 

Your Baby's Naming Ceremony Will Run In The Following Format

 

  • Introduction and welcome to guests
  • Reading
  • Godparent commitment
  • Giving the Name
  • Reading
  • Final declaration
  • Signing of Certificate

 

You May Wish To Consider One Of The Following Ceremonies

 

  • Butterflies
  • Doves
  • Unity Candles

 

Of course, music is an appropriate accompaniment to your Baby Naming. You might also like to use candles and wish cards, which can be incorporated into the ceremony. The celebrant, family, friends or the parents them selves can do the readings and the ceremony can be easily adapted for single parent families.

 

 

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