In the Pagan Druid tradition, each new baby born is given a Rite of Welcoming. Often this is combined with a Naming Rite, at which the child is given a name, and where the parents and guardians (some choose god- and goddess-parents) make their vows to honour and care for the child.
There are other rites of passage for children, marking each significant event : going to school, losing the first milk tooth or front tooth. Many acknowledge with rites too the moments that take a child into adolescence, a girl's first menstruation, a boy's (or girl's) first night alone in the wild, their first knife or the fire naturally crafted. Each acknowledgement adds to the child's sense of identity and grounded integration, allowing them to grow with a sense of belonging and respect.
Rituals
First Rite with notes, by Emma Restall Orr
Amelia's Rite by Debbie White
A Father's Pledge to his Newborn by Ian Buxton
A baby blessing by Ceinach
A short Blessing for New Parents by Potia
Clearly, we've only just begun with these pages! If you'd like to submit a rite, or ideas, or a memory of a rite created or attended, email it to us. Our hope is here to inspire others in their own creation of ritual.
