Naming Ceremonies are becoming increasingly more popular with families who do not have a religious belief but want to introduce their child formally to friends and family, or are a blended family where the children are integrated into one family unit. They are also growing popular with the trans community who wish to name themselves in front of all they hold dear as their true self or with those going through a divorce and looking to separate themselves from their marital name. In this blog, we’ll be looking at naming ceremonies for children and the elements that can be introduced to the ceremony to signify unity and celebration built also form a legacy and reminder of their special day.
- Wish tree: Often seen at weddings, this is where the guests at the ceremony write their wishes for the child on luggage tags or real leaves (with a sharpie) and attach them to a tree (real or model). These can be kept and reflected on as the child moves through life, perhaps engaging the love and support of the people that made the wishes for them as they develop. This can be adapted to a finger painted tree, where a tree shape has thumb or finger prints added to it as wishes are made and this can then hang on the child’s nursery/bedroom wall.
- Unity Candles: A small candle is light and held by each family member and together they light one larger ‘family’ candle in a sign of togetherness and cooperation. The family candle can be lit on special occasions such as Christmas or birthdays or at times when they need to come together to agree a course of action (family meetings) or when parents want to symbolically hold their children close as they go off to university or move out of the family home.
- Memory Box: All of the guests bring a treasured trinket or a memento of the day, perhaps a national newspaper, their first alcoholic drink, their first tooth, a lock of hair, a baby blanket, hospital tag or treasured toy. All of these items look back at the arrival and growth of the child but also forwards to their future. Letters can be included for significant birthdays or perhaps from relatives who may not have as much contact or may have a shorter life expectancy, as a poignant reminder that the child was loved and the wishes that were held for them.
- Book of messages: This is essentially a scrap book that would include any tags from the hospital, foot and hand print stamps as a newborn, welcome to the world cards, photos and again messages of love and wishes for the future. It can go on to record firsts – potty training, nursery, vaccinations, school photos and so on as it goes through the life of the child as a precious keepsake.
- Pebble wishes: Large, flat pebbles, perhaps collected on a day beach combing can be painted and then guests can write a meaningful word on them with a permanent marker i.e hope, love, trust, faith, courage etc. Once varnished with some form of lacquer or PVA glue, these can be kept in a jar, box, windowsill or treasured place in the garden.
- Sand Ceremony: Similar to the candle unity ceremony, this involves all of the participants having a quantity of coloured sand and then pouring it into a larger receptacle where it will form layers. This demonstrates how all of the family members are together in one unit and that each layer depends on and supports the next and how that bond can never be broken, just as the grains of sand could never be separated again.
- Tree Planting: Why have your child’s height measured against a door jam when it can be measured alongside the growth of a tree. As well as being a lovely thing to look back on, you are also doing your bit for the environment.
- Library of Love: This is my favourite element – where every guest and family member at the ceremony brings a copy of their favourite book. They can be anything from Spot the Dog, to classics like Moby Dick, encapsulating the child at all ages and giving them a gift that will help their capability with reading and linguistics but also encourages their imaginations and love of storytelling – a joy for a lifetime, perhaps that can be handed down, accompanied by personalised dedications and messages of love.
