Baby Namings or Welcomings
A new baby in the family is a joyful and serious occasion, a time to
celebrate the arrival of a new human being and for commitment to its
welfare. Choosing a name and introducing this new person to the circle of
family and friends are important, but christenings and other religious
rituals are unsuitable and hypocritical for parents who do not believe in
any god.
It is possible to organise your own welcoming ceremony or to
plan one with a humanist celebrant. Humanist parents sometimes choose
guardians or mentors to act as supporting adults who will take a special
interest in the child. The ceremony can take place anywhere, and is often
held in the family home.
In it, parents and others can express their hopes and promises in words they have chosen:
"We all have a part to play in her growth and development, in her
happiness and welfare. Let us each accept our share of the responsibility
and provide her with the respect, warmth, honesty and love that she will
need."
Older brothers and sisters can also be involved in the ceremony. When a
child is adopted, it is possible to have a special ceremony welcoming the
child into its new family. Sometimes when families come together in a
second marriage, the step-children can be involved in a humanist wedding
ceremony. That way, they too are welcomed into the new family.