Every culture does little things differently. From the way we eat, to the way we greet each other, our traditions largely dictate our actions. From the moment we’re born, we‘re taught how things are. Babies from different cultures, for instance, are named in a whole host of ways. Here in the UK, most people choose names before babies are born. A naming ceremony will then traditionally consist of a church christening. Yet, as can be seen from sites like https://www.babycentre.co.uk, few other countries follow that lead.
Given that we’re living in a world which embraces tradition on all sides, it may pay to take note of how other countries approach the. How better to create a naming ceremony which perfectly suits your tastes? And, as Chinese traditions always gets a look in here, we thought it would be worth looking at the 100-day cycle of Chinese baby naming.
Before the birth
UK tradition stands far from many in the fact that babies are named before birth. More for practicality than anything, many UK parents pick out one or two names ahead of time. But, in Chinese tradition, even considering titles before birth is a bad omen. While parents generally use a ‘fake name’ for their unborn children, you’ll rarely hear the real deal until a later date.
The third day
In typical Chinese culture, the third day is the naming day. To some, it may seem alien not to name a child for three days. But, the UK is pretty unique in its instant naming, too. Countries like Greece don’t name children for around ten days. By comparison, three days isn’t long to wait at all. In general, a baby will be bathed and given two names. One is a pre-school name, and the other a formal name for use once they enter education. In part, it’s easy to see why families wait these three days before settling on their choices. Chinese culture dictates that the correct names are crucial for the future of a child.
100 Days
You may be wondering where 100 days comes into things, but wonder no more. At 100 days, families general hold celebrations, either in the form of gifts or gatherings. Much as people in the UK would book venues like clevedonhall.co.uk for a naming party, a Chinese family would do the same at 100 days. The celebration is delayed until this stage because it’s thought this a good omen for the child in question to live at least 100 days.
A final word
Does anything in this tradition appeal? While your culture may not put so much import in the future standing of name choices, it may be worth taking more time. After all, the name you choose will follow your child through their later life. And, the 100-day ceremony could be a fun thing to incorporate, too. Why not take your research further and find out how other cultures treat baby-naming? You could find all sorts of new traditions to try out.
Disclosure: This is a featured post.
