Welcoming Babies (sometimes called Baby Namings or Name Givings)
In earlier times, the Christening was the time used by families to:
- welcome the new child into his or her circle of family and friends
- acknowledge the responsibilities of parents, grandparents and others
- acknowledge the baby's names
- appoint godparents, whose role is to ensure a religious (or moral) education for the child.
In some cases, godparents took on the full responsibility of the child when disease or ill health meant early death of parents. Our more recent lay understanding of godparents' roles come from that ... that godparents step in in event of death or default of parents.
Mostly though now godparents or guardians are expected to undertake a special and lifelong interest in the child's welfare and to support the parents in raising their child.
Becoming a more secular society has not taken away the need for a celebration to mark this event. All the non-religious aspects of a Christening as listed above are the focus of a Baby Naming or Welcome to Baby. In our multicultural society such civil ceremonies allow family and friends to be involved, if though they may have different religious beliefs.
This means the child may still have a separate religious ceremony at the time, or later in life. A civil ceremony does not prevent that.
Mostly a special ceremony is delayed until around the child's first birthday because of economic considerations - having a baby is expensive !
Earlier would be a better time for several reasons. A baby is more manageable. A child who is wanting to run and play with others, does not find sitting still for a ceremony very easy. The parents need public support and acknowledgment of their new status much closer to the time of birth. And family and friends need similar reminders to offer their practical support to the new parents.I am currently providing a national celebrant network. For local civil marriage, family and naming celebrants, and funeral celebrants, visit Australian Celebrants and Celebrations Network.
