Welcoming someone into the world is one of the most joyful experiences in life. What is important about a naming ceremony is that it honours and celebrates an individual and their place in their community.
Each ceremony is carefully crafted to ensure it is truly reflective of the person around whom it is centred and the aspirations that they have or that their family have for them.
Readings, poetry and music all have important roles to play in the creation of a meaningful ceremony but the core of each is a celebration of the welcoming embrace of a family or a community for a unique individual. Families can have great fun with creative symbolic welcoming activities.
For many people the recognition of the people who can offer an individual practical, emotional or ethical support as they grow is very important. Humanists tend to refer to such people as Guide Parents but many other titles can be used. Often the vows of the Guide Parents at a Naming Ceremony add a lovely richness of social context to the event.