16 Unique Customs for Children Around the World

In Japanese culture, the umbilical cord that connects mother and child is considered highly significant. As a result, there is a tradition of mothers preserving it in a beautiful box known as Kotobuki Bako.

According to legend, this custom originated when an ancient woman sought to keep a special memento of her child's birth. Inside the Kotobuki Bako is a small doll dressed in a kimono, symbolizing the baby of a family. The umbilical cord is typically placed within the kimono.

In Guatemala, it is a common practice to bath children in cold water, and it has become a local tradition. Mayan mothers typically perform this ritual, believing it benefits the child's health.

The belief in bathing babies with cold water is thought to help reduce heat from rashes and promote better sleep. However, this practice can sometimes make babies uncomfortable.

In Armenia, there is a strange custom called “Agra Hadig.” When a child's first teeth appear, the child is placed on a table surrounded by various objects such as pens, knives, books, and scissors.

It is believed that the first object the child touches will determine their future profession. For example, if the child touches a knife, they may become a doctor; if they touch a book, they might become a priest or clergyman, and if they touch money, they could grow up to be a banker.

More complex still, if the Agra Hadig ritual takes place in the afternoon, only women are allowed to participate, and they must eat sweets. On the other hand, if it takes place in the evening, only men are allowed to join, and they are free to eat any kind of food.

In Japan, there is a festival known as Nakizumo, held every April at the Sonsoji Temple in Tokyo. During this event, there is a competition where the goal is to force children to cry.

Parents who enter their children into this competition believe that making the child cry will help them grow stronger and drive away evil spirits.

During the contest, two sumo wrestlers are assigned to each child. The first wrestler to make the child cry wins. If both children cry at the same time, the wrestler who causes the louder cry wins. A priest also participates in the event, waving his hands to send the children's cries to the heavens.

Those who follow this custom believe that the child who cries the loudest will have the best fortune.

In Bulgaria, it is a common practice to pretend to spit on children after complimenting them. According to Bulgarian folklore, the “evil eye” can curse anyone or anything that receives praise or admiration from others.

To protect their children from this curse, mothers make them appear unappealing. The most effective way to make a child look unappealing is by spitting on them, accompanied by nonsensical phrases like, “The chickens will poop on this little one.”

Every parent wants the best life for their child, but most would not risk their little one's life to ensure it. However, in the village of Castrillo de Murcia in Spain, some parents allow a man to jump over their children, believing this act will bring the child a prosperous life.

This tradition, which has been practiced since 1621, involves a man known as El Colacho, who symbolizes the devil. By jumping over the children, El Colacho is thought to rid them of evil.

The children participating in the ritual are laid on a blanket in the town's central square, and El Colacho, dressed in yellow, leaps over them. Remarkably, no one has ever been injured during this ceremony.

In India, some parents allow their children to be thrown from the roof of a temple from heights exceeding 15 meters. This strange and dangerous tradition dates back 500 years. Despite ongoing efforts to ban the practice due to its obvious risks, both Muslims and Hindus still believe that this ritual brings good fortune and health to the child.

When the child is thrown, a sheet held by a group of men is placed below to catch the child. After a safe fall, the child is immediately passed through the crowd to be returned to their parents.

Those who carry out the ritual and those who believe in it insist that it is safe. They claim that, to date, no child has ever been injured during the ceremony, which helps ease some concerns about this hazardous tradition.

In Jamaica, there is a unique tradition where, after childbirth, the placenta and umbilical cord are buried in a special location and a tree is planted over them. The tree is chosen by the parents, godparents, or close family members and friends.

The belief behind this is that the young tree symbolizes the teaching of responsibility in life. Many African cultures also share similar traditions regarding the burial of the placenta.

In many African cultures, the burial spot is often beneath a tree. In Jamaica, after every birth, the placenta and umbilical cord are carefully preserved and buried deep in the earth. A small tree is then planted to mark the spot.

As the child grows, they are taught about their origins and are expected to care for the tree. The placenta is considered to be like a twin to the living child, and both are buried with great care and reverence.

In Nigeria, about 7 days after the birth of a baby girl and 9 days after the birth of a baby boy, parents will give their child water to ensure that the child will not have enemies in the future. Additionally, they apply palm oil to wish the child a peaceful and prosperous life.

A special naming ceremony is also held, where parents and relatives give the child multiple names to ensure a prosperous future. For example, the name 'Idowu' means 'a child born after twins.' If an elderly woman gives birth to a girl and survives, the girl is named 'Yetunde.'

Other names include 'Ayoke,' meaning 'the fortunate one,' and 'Titilayo,' meaning 'eternal happiness.' Before announcing the child's name, everyone’s suggestions are placed in a basket. Once all the names are written on slips of paper, the officiant collects them and hands them over to the parents. By the end of the ceremony, the child may have over 20 different names.

In Egypt, the number 7 is considered to be a symbol of good luck, closely linked to the concept of existence. After a child is born, a special ceremony called Sebooth is held on the 7th day to officially recognize the child’s existence.

As part of the tradition, the mother places the baby in a white cloth-covered basket and gently rocks it, intending to help the child adjust to life's changes. Then, the baby is placed on a blanket on the floor, with a knife placed nearby to ward off evil spirits. Guests throw rice, gold, and gifts around the baby. The mother also walks over the child seven times, praying for divine blessings for the newborn.

Finally, the child's name is chosen based on the light of several candles, each of which corresponds to a potential name. The candle that burns the longest determines the baby’s official name.

A popular tradition in Ireland involves using the wedding cake from the parents' marriage to sprinkle crumbs over the baby’s head during the baptism ceremony. The top tier of the cake is saved for the christening of the firstborn child, while the other tiers are cut and served to guests.

During the baptism, cake crumbs are sprinkled over the baby's head to wish for a long life. The Irish believe that doing so ensures the baby will grow up healthy and live a long life.

Today, many Irish families have replaced the wedding cake with a bottle of Champagne for the baptism ceremony. The parents often choose a nickname for the baby, and after that, the baby’s official name is announced. Relatives are invited to add additional names for the baby, with each relative contributing a small donation to a collection basket. This money is later saved in an account for the child. The ceremony concludes with prayers and a celebratory meal.

Brit Milah, also known as circumcision, is a sacred religious ritual among Jewish families and their communities when they welcome a new child into their lives.

The person who performs the circumcision is called a mohel. This ceremony takes place on the 8th day after the baby boy’s birth, after which the family and friends gather to celebrate. Historical evidence suggests that circumcision was practiced by ancient cultures, including the Canaanites and Egyptians, who performed this procedure on male infants as part of a ritual.

However, while Jewish families practice circumcision on newborn boys, the Canaanites and Egyptians carried out the procedure as a rite of passage during adolescence to mark a boy's transition into adulthood.

This peculiar tradition is still practiced in some regions of India. Newborn babies are bathed by their fathers using boiled milk.

The ritual takes place at Hindu temples, where a priest chants sacred mantras. A woman's milk is then heated in a clay pot, and once it begins to boil, the father places the baby's feet into the pot of hot milk and pours it over the child's body. The father also pours the boiling milk onto himself.

It is believed that this act pleases the gods and brings good fortune to the child. However, the Indian government has banned this practice due to safety concerns.

In Sweden, parents often let their children nap outside, even when the temperature drops below freezing. They believe this practice helps children grow stronger and more resilient to illness. Additionally, they feel that outdoor naps help children sleep longer and more deeply.

Not only parents but also daycare centers follow this practice. For instance, a preschool called Forskolan Orren in the outskirts of Stockholm lets children under three years old sleep outside during nap time. Their reasoning is that children who nap outdoors "are less likely to catch colds or coughs."

In Bali, Indonesia, there is a peculiar tradition that forbids newborn babies from touching the ground for the first three months of their life. This custom is believed to help the baby connect with their pure, untainted soul.

The villagers consider this ritual sacred. Everyone in the community helps the family ensure that the baby’s feet never touch the ground during this period. After 105 days, a special ceremony called Nyabutan is held at the place where the child first touches the earth.