Birth of a baby is one of the most celebrated event around the world. Different countries across the world have got their own way of celebrating this grand event. Here, we have listed down a few countries that follow some unconventional set of customs and traditions associated with child birth. Let’s have a look at these.
Nursing guests with biscuits
Country: The Netherlands
Tradition: In Holland, the nurse plays an important role in during and after the birth of a baby. She is expected to overlook and take care of the visitors. She also prepares the traditional Dutch snack ‘Beschit met muisjes’ that translates to ‘biscuits with mice’. Hold your horses! The ‘mice’ are tiny licorice bits that are colored in blue-and-white or pink-and-white for boys and girls respectively.
Naming it uniformly
Country: Germany
Tradition: The German govt. officials maintain a list of accepted names to which parents should adhere to while registering their baby’s name. If the name turns out to be unusual, proper explanation and reason is sought from the parents. This policy claims to act in the best interest of the child and it attempts to prevent making fun of the child whose name sounds different.
Off to granny’s abode for a month
Country: Japan
Tradition: After the baby is born, the mother stays back at her parent’s home with her baby for almost a month or even more than that. This is a cultural tradition that asks women to stay confined to bed for 21 days. Well wishers, relatives and parents who drop in to visit mom and the baby, feast on ‘Oshekin’, red rice prepared with red beans.
Pamper like Princess
Country: Brazil
Tradition: In Brazil, pregnant women are meted out the care and treatment of a Princess. Once she leaves hospital with her baby, guests receive gift after giving out one. Traditionally, it’s usually something small like perfume, candies or even a personalized message card from the ‘baby’ expressing ‘Thanks’ to his guests for visiting him.
Delayed shower and a beverage toast for guests
Country: Turkey
Tradition: Baby showers are usually held back in Turkey till the baby is born. After birth, the baby stays with his mom at home for first 20 days and then visitors start flocking. Guests are treated with a special drink ‘lohusa serbeti’. Later, the mom visits her friends with her baby and she is gifted with a handkerchief packed with an egg and candy as a wish for healthy and good natured baby. It’s believed that rubbing flour on baby’s eyebrows and hairline bestows him with long life.
Hotchpotch of customs and beliefs
Country: China
Tradition: In China, no one even suggests a name for the baby, till he is born. The mother is liberated from all household duties for the first one month. In certain places, even her husband is not allowed to stay with her. The father announces new baby’s birth by sending money and whine to his in-laws. What actually sounds interesting is, Chinese kids always bear five different names, mainly for childhood, school, post graduation and one for after death.
Smearing ‘wisdom’ on baby’s head
Country: India
Tradition: Indians, especially Hindus have their own way of welcoming a new born baby. It’s usually followed by a set of traditional rituals. The father makes the baby taste ‘ghee’ and honey and whispers God’s name in his ear. According to Vedic customs, a baby’s hair should be shaved off after birth. It’s believed that it eliminates deficiencies developed in baby during birth. Apart from that, it also promotes faster hair growth and better blood circulation in nerves.
