Baby Namings or Welcoming Ceremonies celebrate the joy and commitment of parenting by “introducing” new children to the world of their families, friends, and communities. There are also adoption ceremonies for children of a wide range of ages.
Baby Naming Ceremonies are jointly created by the Leader and the parents (and, often, others as well) recognizing the uniqueness, preciousness, and worth of the new life joining our world and acknowledging the importance of community in caring for and shaping every human being. Welcoming ceremonies express the feelings, hopes, and dreams of parents toward their new child and about the world in which that child will live; the connections of those who gather together to welcome the child and who will be part of the child’s life; and the complex paths and tasks of human existence.
Participation of families and friends is often part of such ceremonies; there may be music; and families frequently discover for themselves imaginative ways to share the welcome with their wider circles of those who care.
To develop a Baby Naming Ceremony, contact your local Ethical Society or the AEU office.