Rituals for newly borns

Alice Tangit Kinajil

When a child is born, the embryiorical cord is cut - the length of which is as long as when its put around the neck and touching the lips of the . The rest of it would be put in a section of a dried bamboo and the container would then be tied to the centre post under the house to dry and to be naturally discarded. The mother would meanwhile be given rice porridge as her first meal. Her subsequent meals, for one month, would be rice with chicken soup. No green vegies, no hanging vegies or fruits could be eaten or would be given until she gets her first vegie of soko (bamboo shoots) after the 1st month. She should not even look out of an open window with her head protruding out of the window sill. She should not be in a direct path of a wind blow. This is to avoid a case of ovingkat. The mother would take her baths of tavavo leaves too. Naming the child would be done unceremoniously and involves only the members of the family. At the end of the first month a momuga ceremony is held..the fullmoon ceremony for the newly born. A piece of hair is cut off the baby's head. If you need more info. call the story teller or me.

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