Naming/Welcoming Ceremonies
Naming rituals have been carried out in societies for thousands of years. A given name will forever conjure the personality, smile and quirks that make a person unique. These celebrations are joyous, often rumbunctious, affairs!
If you are looking for a way to celebrate the birth or adoption of a child, a naming and/or welcoming celebration can be a beautiful alternative to a baptism. It gives you the opportunity to announce your child’s name to your own special community of friends and family in a truly personal way. It is also a chance for you to make your own deeply personal promises to your child.
Even older children can have a naming celebration, introducing them to the world, or as alternatives to coming-of-age events such as religious confirmations and bar/bat mitzvahs.
Adults may also wish to change their name for personal reasons, for instance following divorce or on transition to a new gender/identity. A naming celebration can be a powerful way to mark the significance of the event in front of family and friends.
If you choose me as your celebrant, I will help you plan a joyful celebration of your naming or welcoming. We can explore what you would like to include, such as promises you may wish to make to your child, symbolic gestures, poems or prayers. As this is truly yours to create, I will encourage you to be as imaginative and personal as you wish. With your chosen elements in mind, I will then prepare a detailed script of the celebration for you to review before I deliver it on the day.
If you choose to write your own promises, I will offer inspiration and guidance. Or, if you prefer, I will gladly write your promises for you in full, based on your sentiments and wishes.
On the day itself, I will lead your celebration with care and professionalism, ensuring that it is a truly personal experience for you and those invited to share in your special event.
Here are some special features in Naming/Welcoming Ceremonies:
Some parents choose to conduct their celebration in ways similar to a baptism ceremony, including appointing Godparents. Others choose a more informal or eclectic approach – it’s up to you!
Many people choose a personally meaningful location for their celebration such as a home, garden, hotel or village hall. Unlike baptisms, naming and welcoming celebration can be held anywhere.
Celebrations are a happy opportunity to name those who will take a meaningful role in the life of the named such as grandparents, supporting adults, Godparents - even ‘Life-Roadies’. These people can be invited to make their own promises to reflect their role.
Many naming and welcoming celebrations include symbolic acts such as lighting candles, planting a tree, creating a time-capsule or inviting guests to write their own messages of love and support to hang on a Message Tree. I can offer ideas and help you choose the symbolic actions that will be most in tune with you and your celebration.
Many people ask close friends or relatives to give readings, blessings or prayers or choose a meaningful poem to be read aloud during the celebration.
Music is an important feature of celebrations, and we can choose the music you would like to accompany the occasion.
You can sign– and invite your guests to sign - a Certificate of Naming/ Welcome to mark the conclusion of the celebration. As part of my service, I provide you with this Certificate.
Whatever your choice, I will work with you to create a unique celebration that is inclusive, memorable and fun!