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A Naming Ceremony - can you teach me about it?

mrse1107mrse1107
in Babies: 0 - 3 Months

I am aware of the custom, just not entirely familiar with it. (I like to be familiar and aware of customs of all kinds - I feel it makes me "more well rounded" to know this stuff)

Anyway - a few questions, if you dont' mind my asking...

1) I know a Briss must be done on the 8th day does a boy then have a naming ceremony as well? or is it done at the Briss?

2)For a girl, is there a time frame for the naming ceremony? 

3) I thought that you couldn't tell your DC's name until the ceremony - so why is it that you ladies were sharing names ahead of time??

I'm sorry if this makes me seem ignorant - I'm really trying to just learn about it so please don't find me offensive or anything for these questions.


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Re: A Naming Ceremony - can you teach me about it?

  • DarceyLivesinFLDarceyLivesinFL

    I missed the OP, but I can tell you this:

    My kids both had Ghanian naming cermonies.  They were both close to 4 months at the time due to logistical reasons (my ILs were in Ghana when they were born, etc.).  Generally, in Ghana they have the Outdooring, at which time there is the naming ceremony, on the eighth day.  My kids are 50% Ghanian, so the cermony was important for their cultural identity even though it wasn't nearly as "traditional" as it would be in Ghana.

    Also - they got their African names at the naming ceremony, which are never a surprise as they're named after the day of the week on which they are born.

    HTH

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  • 2july20052july2005
    Both my children have had Jewish naming ceremonies.   We are not "by the books" people so we may have missed some technicalities, but here is how we did it and I don't this we are far from the Reform traditions.  our daughter's was later than we had originally wanted it at 14 months, due to a family situation (mother in law fell and broke her back resulting in paralysis when DD was 4 months old...therefore making traveling to us impossible) and our Rabbi went on sabbatical to Israel for 6 months...Anyway, it is my understanding that there are no time limits/restrictions for girls.  I do know that some families do them on the 8th day regardless of sex.  Our son had his Bris and naming ceremony together on the 8th day...and we gave him a secular name when he was born (and that is the name we call him) and gave him his hebrew name at the ceremony.  I think only the Moyel was the only one that knew his full hebrew name before the ceremony.  hope this helps...i'm certainly not an "expert" but this is our story.
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  • CytinaCytina

    This does not make you seem ignorant at all - quite the opposite actually!

    For a boy, the naming and bris (brit milah) take place together on the 8th day.  It is very ritualized but can be customized/personalized by the parents as well.  A mohel (specially trained rabbi) acts as the "master of ceremonies". 

    For a girl, there is no time requirement and it's much less rigid overall in terms of the ceremony itself (brit bat).  Also, the parents can lead the ceremony with a rabbi's assistance. 

    For both, it is the first official announcement of the child's Hebrew name which is usually after a family member - i.e. our son's Hebrew name is Herschel Arye but we call by his given name - Spencer.  Hope that helps!

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