Naming Ceremony - Baby Naming Days - Naming Vows
The Naming Ceremony - a Time to Love, a Time to Celebrate
A Name Giving Ceremony has long been the rite which
society has used to welcome a child into the family, to the wider family
of their relatives, and to the community of their friends
Today, Civil Celebrants provide families with a wonderful opportunity to
officially welcome their child into a loving circle of family and
friends. Preparing a carefully worded ceremony often deepens
relationships within families, and the parents and godparents, or
mentors, become more aware of their responsibilities.
A name giving ceremony is a wonderful opportunity to culturally express
joy, hope and acceptance, and a chance to express these feelings in
poetry and words of commitment. This can also be symbolised by lighting
of candles, planting and dedicating a tree, releasing of balloons or
reading special verses.
The ceremony is not a baptism, or christening, because such ceremonies
are religious. The name giving ceremony that I provide will in no way
prohibit the child from making any future religious or
Non-religious commitment of belief. In fact during the ceremony it will
be stated that, it is the duty of all of us, in the coming years to
present the child with a broad view of life and encourage them in the
virtues that we all agree as good - integrity, honesty, concern,
fairness and love towards their fellow human beings.
A Certificate of Namegiving is prepared for the child, and either
Godparent, Mentor or Guardian Certificates for the people who undertake
these responsibilities.
If I Raised My Child Again
If I had my child to raise all over again,
I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less and know to care more.
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
I'd do more hugging and less tugging,
I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.
I'd teach less about the love of power,
And more about the power of love.
