birth rituals

Religious rites performed in connection with a birth of a child. The mystery of birth is recognized by RITUALS and observances in virtually all religions. It is a joyous occasion for parents and the community, yet at the same time is recognized to be dangerous and perhaps also polluting, especially for the mother. During pregnancy, often special spiritual as well as physical precautions are taken on behalf of her well-being and that of the child. In HINDUISM, for example, she may be covered with fl owers and amulets. At the time of birth, she may be moved to a separate lodge apart from family and community, as in ancient Japan. The secluded mother may be accompanied by selected women. But she is taboo to all others, including even her husband, because of the pollution and sacred awe associated with the event. After birth, the mother in many societies purifi es herself, perhaps by a ritual bath. In the traditional usage of the Church of England, she went to church for a rite of thanks and blessing called the "Churching of Women," and was expected to do this before appearing socially. Birth rites for the newborn child are also common. In Japan a child is presented to the local SHINTO shrine about a month after birth. In many Christian traditions infants are baptized as soon after birth as convenient (see CHRISTIANITY and BAPTISM), thus accompanying physical birth with a sign of spiritual birth. In Hinduism, many stages of a small child's life, such as the fi rst eating of solid food and the fi rst haircut, are marked by life-cycle rituals. In JUDAISM young males receive CIRCUMCISION eight days after birth in a rite giving the child a Hebrew name and establishing religious identity. A Muslim father whispers the call to PRAYER in a newborn infant's ear so that the fi rst words he hears are sacred. Birth is also fraught with larger symbolic signifi cance for religion. Stages of the spiritual life, particularly major initiations and religious encounters, are often seen as spiritual equivalents of physical birth, and are full of symbols to that effect (see INITIATION, RELIGIOUS). In the initiations of young men in some primal societies, the boys are buried under leaves or left in small, round, womblike huts, and when they fi rst emerge are treated like newborn infants. The Christian rite of baptism is said by the apostle PAUL to represent spiritual death and rebirth. Persons who have undergone profound conversion experiences often speak of themselves as "born again," as though now doing spiritually what was once done physically. Birth is therefore a continuing presence in human life on all planes of being.