Why should your child miss out on celebrating the milestone points in their life just because you are not religious?
An independent celebrant will be delighted to explain alternative ways of creating a very special ceremony just for your family.
Alternative non-religious ceremonies for children
What are the alternatives to a christening, baptism, communion or other religious ceremony?
You want to welcome your child into the world but you are not religious. A celebrant offers you a different type of baby naming ceremony with equally meaningful promises and rituals to symbolise your commitment to your child.
Your celebrant can also write your child a coming of age ceremony or mark any other milestone event in their life with fun elements that are truly personal to your family and your experiences.
What is the difference between a christening, a baptism and a baby naming ceremony?
A new baby, an adopted or fostered child can all be welcomed into your family and your community with a celebration – and it does not have to be a religious ceremony.
So what is the difference between a christening, a baptism and a baby naming ceremony?
· A christening gives a name to a child with the sprinkling of water on the baby’s head within a religious ceremony.
· A baptism is a sacrament using the child or adult’s name in a religious ceremony including their full immersion in water.
· A baby naming ceremony can comprise meaningful promises made by adults who will be important in the child’s life as well as symbolic rituals which can be as fun or as serious as the family wants to signify their commitment to the young person’s upbringing.
Can you have an alternative communion celebration?
Communion and confirmation ceremonies are additional steps in the religious path of a young person and may be celebrated in dedicated salons with a lot of partying and present giving.
But why should non-religious children miss out on the festivities?
As the children of secular families reach adolescence, they too can have an alternative coming of age party that recognises their transition into adulthood or “the age of reason”.
Can you have godparents at a child naming ceremony?
Parents make promises to their child at a non-religious baby naming ceremony.
They may also like to nominate other responsible adults who will support the family in this journey from innocence to experience. Names for these nominated adults include:
· Guide parent
· Mentor
· Guardians
· Odd-parent
· Honorary aunty or uncle
· Fairy godmother or fairy godfather (with a lower case “g”)
· Anything you want!!!
How do you celebrate alternative baby naming ceremonies?
With baby naming ceremonies officiated by a celebrant, basically anything can be included, but may include:
· Promises made by the parents and other nominated adults to the child
· Promises made by everyone present to support the family as the child grows up
· Readings of favourite texts, poems, songs
· Explanation of how the child was given their name
· A story around the child’s birth, their character or life so far
· Singing a favourite song together (it’s lovely when a toddler dances to their favourite tune!)
· Symbolic rituals or family traditions
What rituals are children’s naming days and coming of age ceremonies?
Some families have their own traditions that they like to include in their ceremony.
Where one parent has religious beliefs and the other parent does not – or the parents are of two different religions, they may want to pay respects to their beliefs but leave the child to decide for themselves if they will follow a religious path.
Wherever possible the celebrant who officiates your alternative ceremony will want to include the child.
Hands-on rituals are a great visual way of keeping all ages interested in the ceremony and may include:
· Sand unity ceremony with coloured sand blended together
· Petal shower with each colour symbolising a different quality
· Fingerprint picture as a memento of everyone at the ceremony
· A time capsule filled with memories and future wishes
· Planting a tree to grow with the child
· Skills promises – I promise to teach you how to knit, whistle, dance, drive, speak French etc
So don’t think your child has to miss out on celebrating the milestone points in their life. Speak to your celebrant who will be delighted to explain alternative ways of creating a very special ceremony just for your family.
Author bio: Debbie Skyrme is "Celebrant Spain". Award winning celebrant officiating elopements, vow renewals, weddings and baby naming ceremonies in the Spanish sunshine.
Featured photo: michalcarbol.com
