Travel on your own routes. Rome2Rio - How to Route Your Journey Online. Connect with local people

The birth of a new person is a kind of sacrament. And since ancient times, people especially celebrated this significant event by performing ritual actions and special ceremonies. The miracle of birth caused not only joy, but also fear, because people believed that at the moment of birth the gates between the other world and this world open, and therefore it was necessary to protect the mother and child from the machinations of evil spirits in the first place, so that they could not harm their health and well-being.

For example, in ancient Rus', the onset of childbirth was hidden to the last - they were afraid of the evil eye, and the midwife was led to the woman in labor by roundabout ways and gardens, so that God forbid, someone would not see. The name of the newborn was supposed to be given on the same day, and the day of baptism was immediately appointed.

Unbaptized children were treated with caution, they could not be kissed, talked to or put on clothes (unbaptized babies were wrapped only in swaddling clothes). Moreover, in some Russian villages, the mother did not have the right to address her baby by name until the rite of baptism was performed.

Forty days were considered a particularly important period for a newborn and his mother. It was believed that at this time the child was especially defenseless against otherworldly forces, and therefore amulets, amulets were hung over his cradle, and it was undesirable for the mother to leave the house or go outside the yard - she had to be near the baby all the time.

At the birth of an heir, the inhabitants of Altai did not give anyone fire from their yurt for the same forty days, and sometimes for a year. It was believed that this was necessary for the happiness of the child. In general, many peoples were not welcomed when strangers came into the house to the puerperal. The Greeks hung special "identification" signs on the doors of the house where the child was just born: a wreath of olive branches meant that a boy was born, and a bandage made of sheep's wool said that a girl was born. Entering such a house was like defiling it.

Special rituals that help a child grow up healthy and strong, to put it mildly, are sometimes quite peculiar. For example, in the Indian state of Maharashta, Muslims throw newborn babies from the wall of one of the temples, the height is a mere trifle. Some 15 meters. Of course, the children below are caught on the stretched cloth. It is believed that after this procedure, all children will grow up brave, healthy and good luck.

Approaching the well (river, lake), she touched the bottom of a bucket of water, and then returned back, and offered her parents to purchase her “find”, which they shared for a certain fee. Trying to confuse evil spirits, children were given names that did not correspond to their gender, boys were given female names and vice versa. Or they generally gave the names of birds, animals or inanimate objects. Often the child had two names, one was known to everyone, and the second - only to close people. This custom still exists in some places.

Agree that the birth of a baby is the most exciting moment in the life of his parents, for which they prepare with special trepidation and thoroughness. In our country, they try not to show the baby to anyone except the closest relatives immediately after birth, and to keep the little things associated with his birth and the first year of life, such as a tag from the hospital, the first curl, the first pacifier, etc. However, each country has its own traditions associated with the birth of a baby, some of them are very touching, and some are strange, however, if you are also going to have offspring in the near future, then you should definitely get acquainted with this material, and perhaps you even I would like to repeat some of these traditions.

1. Japan and the umbilical cord in a box.

The umbilical cord, which has been connecting mother and baby for a long 9 months in Japan, is not a medical waste, and it is given to parents in a special wooden box, when they take the baby from the hospital, sometimes a doll is also placed next to the umbilical cord in a kimono, but they do this is to maintain a positive bond between mother and baby. By the way, the name of the baby is not given immediately, but only a week later, in front of the symbolic home altar, during the Oshichiya ceremony.

2. Denmark and Sweden - life on the street.

Newborns in the Scandinavian countries are rarely indoors, and spend most of their time outside, regardless of the air temperature. In Sweden and Denmark, they are convinced that clean cold air helps babies sleep soundly and maintain a healthy appetite, so the babies of the first months of life sleep almost all the time on the balcony or in the stroller outside, while the parents are busy with their own business. Even in kindergartens, children are often laid out in the fresh air, and it is worth saying that in many respects, it is thanks to this tradition that Scandinavian children are less likely to get colds.

3. Finland and the children's box.

If in our country, for the birth of a baby, you need to prepare in advance and purchase all the necessary things and items yourself, then Finnish mothers should not worry about this, since they all receive a special box from the government at the birth of a baby. For the past 75 years, women in Finland have been given a box filled with all the necessary things for a baby: toys, diapers, first clothes, and the box itself can even be used as a crib for a newborn. By the way, mothers can refuse the box and receive financial assistance in the amount of 140 euros, but the cost of the contents of the children's box is much higher, so they almost never refuse it. Initially, boxes were supposed to be given to low-income mothers, but since 1949 they have been given to all women who have given birth, without exception, to ensure full equality for newborns at the beginning of their life.

4. Egypt, light shake.

In Egypt, the number seven is held in high esteem. And that is why on the seventh day after the birth of the baby, it is customary in the country to hold the Seyuuh ceremony, at which the newborn is introduced to the world. The baby is dressed in white clothes and placed in a large sieve, and the baby's mother shakes it so that the baby gets used to life's whims from the very beginning. Then the baby is placed on the floor on a blanket, and a knife is placed along his chest to drive away evil forces. At the same time, all relatives and friends invited to the ceremony scatter grain and money around, symbolizing abundance. After the ceremony of expelling evil forces, the mother lightly hits the child's body seven times, and the assembled guests sing special incantation songs so that the baby is obedient. By the way, the name of the child in Egypt is also chosen in an unusual way. At the beginning of the ceremony, several candles are lit, each corresponding to a certain name, and as a result, the child is named according to the candle that burned the longest. For those parents who can’t choose a name for their baby, this tradition will certainly come in handy. At the end of the ceremony, the new mother is followed by a procession with candles and incense to light the mother's path and bless her home and family.

5. Prediction of the future in Armenia.

As soon as the first tooth erupts in the baby, his parents arrange the Agra Hadinyu festival. During this event, the baby is seated on the floor, and a variety of objects are laid out around him: keys, coins, a tape measure, a stethoscope, a book, and they offer the baby to choose something. Depending on the choice of the baby, the future is predicted for him, for example, a baby who has chosen roulette in adulthood is most likely to be associated with construction.

6. Gifts to relatives in China.

Celebrations in China begin when the baby is one month old, with a Full Moon ceremony. From the very morning, on the 30th day after the birth of the baby, relatives and family friends come with gifts. However, parents do not meet them empty-handed. Gifts for relatives can be very different, but red-painted eggs are considered the most popular, since eggs symbolize a changeable life process, a round shape is a sign of harmony, and red color predicts happiness. After that, gifts and money wrapped in red paper begin to be presented to parents and the baby, and grandparents always present their gold and silver to their grandson to show how much they love him.

In Jamaica, with the birth of a baby, the father of the family immediately manages to have a descendant and plant a tree, since in the country it is customary to bury the umbilical cord and placenta (placenta - approx. PPcorn) in the ground and plant a tree in this place, which is then looked after by the relatives of the newborn, and his godparents. When the baby grows up, this tree should teach the child responsibility, since it is he who then takes care of him, as a symbol of the beginning of his life, and provides him with spiritual closeness to the place of birth.

8. Higher from the ground, Bali.

Modern kids spend a lot of time on the floor from infancy, but not in Bali. The Balinese believe that all newborn children are divine beings, so the first 210 days after birth, their feet should not touch the ground. As soon as the process of contact with the earth nevertheless occurs, the child becomes a person, crossing the symbolic border.

9. Trinidad and Tobago: money and children.

In the country of Trinidad and Tobago, it is customary to give money to a newborn, and they are not handed over to the parents, but directly to the baby, right into the hands, in order to give him blessing and prosperity. It is also not customary here to come to the house where the baby was born after 6 pm, as the locals are sure that the evening dew disgusts the baby.

10. Twenty names for one baby in Nigeria.

In Nigeria, on the seventh day, if a girl is born, and the ninth, if a boy is born, an unusual ceremony is held, endowing the child with certain properties, thanks to different taste sensations. The baby is given water to protect from enemies, palm oil for an easy life, bitter Kola nuts for longevity, and salt and pepper for happiness, the meaning of life and many emotions. In addition, on this day, the baby is given a name, which consists of several independent names. A newborn baby has a surname, a name that indicates the circumstances under which he was born, for example, Yetunde (translated as “the return of the mother” - approx. PPcorn), if an elderly woman died in the family before the baby was born. In addition, parents give their child a name that indicates what they want for their baby, such as Titilaio (eternal happiness). After the parents announce the name of their child, they offer all relatives, if they wish, to add additional ones to this name, but before they do this, you need to put money for the baby in a special basket. By the end of such a ceremony, the baby may have more than 20 names, and the collected money is put into the baby's bank account.

11. Malaysia and spa treatments for mom.

Becoming a mother in Malaysia is a very pleasant event, because immediately after the birth of a baby, mothers are taken care of very carefully. This tradition is called patangu and is a period of imprisonment for a new mother, which lasts as much as 44 days. During this time, the woman is given hot stones to cleanse her reproductive organs and full body treatments to correct any postpartum skin changes and restore the mother's femininity. During this period, the mother does nothing but take care of the child, and all household chores fall on the shoulders of relatives, or hired people.

12. Sex determination in the USA.

Very often, Americans ask the ultrasound doctor not to tell them the gender of the unborn baby, but write it on a piece of paper and seal it in an envelope. Such an envelope is given to confectioners who have to bake a cake. Future parents set the date for the gender determination holiday, to which all relatives and friends are invited - “Gender reveal party”, and solemnly cut the cake. If such a cake has a blue filling, a boy will be born, and if it is pink, a girl will be born.

As you can see, in different countries, the birth of a baby is treated in completely different ways, but undoubtedly this is a very significant and touching event, so all parents without exception want it to be remembered for a lifetime, and what traditions and events to use for this are a personal matter. everyone.

A large number of superstitions and prohibitions have always been associated with pregnancy and childbirth. Folk signs helped parents determine the nature of the child and find out how his future life will turn out. To ward off bad luck, our ancestors performed rituals and adhered to certain traditions. At different times, customs appeared, the observance of which was supposed to attract good luck and luck.

Folk signs associated with the birth of a child

There are many superstitions associated with the birth of a child. Some old signs today seem like stupid prejudices, others have scientific justification. For example, the most famous belief says that a newborn should not be shown to anyone for 40 days. It is believed that during this period the baby is the weakest and most vulnerable to negative energy. From a medical point of view, superstition has a logical explanation:

• a newborn can easily catch an infection from a stranger;
• a noisy company can provoke stress in a child, which will lead to sleep disturbance.

Old Russian customs that have survived to this day

In Rus', the birth of a child was accompanied by a series of rituals in which all family members took part. Some customs have survived to this day. Our ancestors were sure that the observance of traditions is the key to the well-being and happy fate of the baby. For example, the first bath of a newborn was of great importance. According to folk beliefs, a silver coin dipped into the water helps to attract material wealth. In order for the child to be healthy, honey and a decoction of elecampane were added to the bath.

An ax or a hammer was placed under the font for boys, threads and needles for girls. It was believed that thanks to this, the child would grow up economic and homely. If bathing was carried out in the evening, the water was left overnight and poured out at sunset.

Other, no less interesting customs have survived to this day:

1. The tradition of tying the envelope of a newborn with a ribbon goes back to the pagan past of the Slavs. In ancient times, babies were tied with a belt embroidered with protective signs and symbols.
2. Previously, a newborn was wrapped in a sheepskin coat or sheepskin, so that his whole life would pass in abundance. Today, the child is simply put on a natural fur coat. This should be done on the first day after discharge from the hospital.
3. Many nations have a tradition of giving a newborn a silver spoon. In Rus', this metal symbolized wealth and protection from evil spirits. They began to feed the child with a silver spoon immediately after the command of the first tooth. It was believed that the process of the appearance of teeth would be easier and less painful.
4. The old Russian custom of "ransom from the midwife" was carried out on the third day after childbirth. The woman who helped the child to be born left the mother's house with gifts. Nowadays, it is customary to thank the midwife who delivered the baby. She is given a present when she is discharged from the hospital.

The next most important event in the life of the family after the wedding was and remains the birth of a child - the first-born and subsequent children. The Christian religion considers the birth of a person to be a sinful event, a manifestation of the sinful essence of people, and recommends that women in labor be cleansed by reading special prayers, in addition, the child must be baptized. This belief resonates with ancient beliefs that a woman in labor is a link between that world and this one, because she brings a child from the other world, and who knows what dark forces come here with the baby.

Thus, the conclusion suggests itself that pagans and Christians believe and believed in the same way, they only explain their actions with carved words, give different arguments. It is not surprising that pagan and Christian in our lives are so closely intertwined to this day. Although, it should be noted that Christian rites are still more universal and simple, because a newborn child after baptism passes under the power of God, his life is completely in the hands of the Almighty. And all actions in relation to the baby, except for medical ones, are reduced to a minimum - to the prayers of the clergy and the mother.

Let us also recall that the first Christians and their teachers did not consider the birth of a child and everything connected with it to be something sinful and unclean. It looks strange, but pagan beliefs and ideas still prevailed, albeit in a different form.

Attitude towards pregnant women

Pregnant women in Rus' tried to protect and fulfill all their desires, as far as possible. After all, the woman was carrying the successor of the family, a new member of the family, in which the soul of one of the deceased ancestors was supposed to move.

The ancient Slavs believed that souls returned to Earth, and always to their own family, so the attitude towards pregnant women was reverent and careful. Protecting the future mother, family members showed respect not only for her, for their contemporary, but also for long-gone ancestors.

The tradition of "forgiveness days" existed in Rus' long before the adoption of Christianity. Among other things, forgiveness was always asked from pregnant women, and they had to forgive everyone, and in turn they also asked for forgiveness. It was believed that mutual forgiveness contributes to a successful outcome of pregnancy and easy childbirth.

Women, as far as possible, at first hid their condition even from their husbands and family members - so as not to jinx it and not harm the child. Relatives, neighbors and just fellow villagers tried not to ask questions about the timing of pregnancy and the date of the upcoming birth - for the same reason.

They did not go to the house where the pregnant woman was empty-handed, a small offering was obligatory in order to appease the unborn child and those forces that patronize him. Childless women especially tried to please, as well as young women who had recently married.

Pregnant women were not refused if they asked for a loan or made other requests, because this is not her desire, but the request of the baby's soul. If someone could not or did not want to fulfill the request of the pregnant woman, after her departure, bread crumbs, sand, or a piece of clay were thrown after her.

Pregnant women were protected from fright, but in the last days of pregnancy they could be frightened on purpose so that childbirth would occur as quickly and easily as possible.

On the day of birth

In the old days, births were taken by specially trained women - midwives. They passed on their skills, knowledge and experience to their students, who eventually became full-fledged specialists in this field.

On the day of childbirth, they came to the house of the woman in labor. It all started with a prayer before the images. In the house, pre-prepared Paschal or Sretensky candles were lit, and they asked for help from the Lord, the Mother of God, the Holy Great Martyrs Catherine and Barbara.

The midwife told the woman in labor what to do, rubbing her stomach to activate the baby's actions. She made decoctions that promote uterine contractions, sprinkled the expectant mother with holy water, loosened her hair, untied all the knots in her clothes so that childbirth would be easier.

Now it's hard to believe, but in the old days in Rus', midwives sometimes lured the baby out of the mother's womb with sugar cubes, which they brought to the birth canal. And the baby most often really responded to the promises of a sweet life. After he appeared, the midwife carefully took him, cut the umbilical cord, cleared the airways, and washed him with warm water.

As a rule, childbirth took place right in the house, or in a heated bath, so that you could immediately wash the mother and child.

The umbilical cord was cut on the Bible or other important and significant objects - for boys on an ax to be a jack of all trades, for girls - on a comb to be beautiful and neat.

The umbilical cord was tied with hemp or linen thread so that there would still be children in the family. In addition, natural materials are the best suited for these purposes.

In some localities, the umbilical cord, after it dried up, was placed in a chest along with the icon, and kept until the age of seven, and then given to the child. If he could untie it, then it was believed that he would grow up smart and hardworking.

The midwife saw to it that the "children's place" - the placenta - came out. She had to be buried in her yard under a tree.

After the release of the placenta, the obligatory washing of the child and the woman in labor, the midwife proceeded to “stretch” or massage the newborn - she rubbed the arms, legs, tried to give all members the correct shape, and, if necessary, correct birth defects.

The custom of putting the elbows of the hands to the knees has been preserved among the people to this day - the elbow of the right hand is applied to the knee of the left leg, the elbow of the left hand to the knee of the right leg. So they check whether everything is in order with the joints, whether there is a birth injury or a birth defect. In addition, in the old days it was believed that by such actions the child is adapted to the new world, because where he was, everything is the other way around, everything is turned upside down.

After the necessary procedures, the newborn was swaddled and applied to the mother's breast. The midwife by this time should have expressed the first portions of milk and poured it out. The child ate the following portions of milk.

Experienced midwives could not only take delivery, but also bring the belly of the woman in labor to its previous position, rub her arms and legs.

However, all these preparations and postpartum care were not available to all women in labor and not always. There were frequent cases when childbirth took place right in the field, during work. What midwives and washings are here!

After all, a woman performed household duties until the last day before giving birth, and even after them she had to continue to take care of the household, especially if the family already had several children. The situation when both wheat was stinged and gave birth was not rare, in such cases the umbilical cord was cut with a sickle without any midwives, fellow villagers experienced in such matters.

Well, those who were lucky enough to be born with the help of a midwife became her "grandchildren", and brought her their treat on the second day of Christmas - January 8th. She, in turn, treated everyone to sweet porridge with honey.

Baptism

According to Christian tradition, a newborn must be baptized. An unbaptized child was still, as it were, in the power of otherworldly forces, and at any moment could go back - become seriously ill or even die.

An unbaptized child was not considered a full-fledged member of the family, and although he was given a name immediately, on his birthday, he was often not called by name. No clothes were put on him, but only swaddled.

The midwife agreed with the priests on the day of christening, the parents themselves chose the godfather and mother. As a rule, these were close relatives or good friends. Being a godfather is an honorable duty, because in the event of the death of the real parents, they had to take care of the godson.

The font for baptism was prepared in the church, the midwife or mother gave the child to the godparents and at the same time sentenced: "I give the born, return the baptized." After the sacrament, the godparents returned the baby with the words: “we took the born, we give the baptized.”

They baptized the baby in cold, and even in ice water. It was the very first tempering procedure, people believed that thanks to the golden water, the baby would become stronger and more resistant to diseases.

During the baptism, the behavior of the baby was observed - if he was naughty, it was believed that he was worried about an evil spirit that did not want to let go of the "prey". If the child was calm and smiling, they said that it was the angels who kissed him and took him under their protection.

They also paid attention to the flame of candles - if they smoked and burned badly, it could be expected that the child would soon fall ill and even die. If the flame is even and bright, life will be happy and long.

After baptism, the newborn became a full-fledged member of the family and society. His name was recorded in special church books. We repeat - this name was given to him at birth, but in some cases, priests assigned names to newborns at baptism. As a rule, it coincided with the name of the saint on whose day the baby was born, or was baptized.

Subsequently, the day of the saint, after whom the child was named, became his angel's day, name day, and was celebrated even more magnificently than the actual birthday.

After the ceremony in the church, the whole family and guests went to the baby's parents, where a feast awaited them. Among the obligatory guests were godparents and a midwife who took birth. If a child was born weak and sickly, the midwife was even allowed to baptize him and give him a name on his own - that's what an important role this person played in the life of society, not at all like modern midwives!

From the feast, relatives took treats to their children - in the old days it was sweet porridge, today - sweets and other sweets. So other children received their “share” and a gift from a new member of the family and society.

Postryzhiny

For the first time the baby was sheared a year later, on his first birthday. Grandparents and godparents were invited to the celebration. The baby was put on a casing, spread with wool up - it symbolized the prosperity of the family and at the same time served as a talisman against evil forces.

On the casing, the father threw a few coins so that the child would be rich and happy. The godfather cut off a little hair from four sides - in front, behind and above the ears. In some areas, the hair, on the first birthday, was cut and continues to be cut for both girls and boys. After that, the mother keeps these curls all her life as an expensive family heirloom. But there is another tradition, according to which the boys are cut, and the first ribbons are woven into the girls. This duty was assigned to the godmother.