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In folklore, it's believed that every newborn's features are sculpted by the Great Fairies, also known as the 12 Goddesses. Each Goddess is responsible for shaping a part of the child such as the hands, feet, head, eyes, nose, mouth, hair, and more.
When a baby girl turns one month old, the family holds a full moon ceremony to express gratitude to the Goddesses and the Divine for crafting the baby's form and safeguarding the 'mother and child'. Moreover, it's a time for the family to seek divine protection and support for the child's future well-being, intelligence, and peace.
The full moon ceremony for baby girls is a gesture of gratitude towards the Goddesses and the Divine (Source: Internet)Accurately Calculating a Baby Girl's Full Moon Ceremony
According to ancient folklore, the time to celebrate a baby's full moon is calculated based on the lunar calendar, specifically following the saying 'Girls go back 2 days, boys go back 1'. This means that the full moon ceremony for baby girls will be 2 days earlier, while for baby boys, it will be 1 day earlier. For instance, if a girl is born on the 5th of the lunar month, her full moon ceremony will be on the 3rd of the lunar month. However, this belief lacks scientific evidence for its accuracy. Hence, many families calculate their child's full moon ceremony based on the Gregorian calendar.
A Complete Spread for a Baby Girl's Full Moon Ceremony
Preparing the full moon ceremony spread for a baby girl can be confusing for young couples as they struggle to select the appropriate ceremonial items and determine the right quantities. Typically, parents need to prepare the following for a baby girl's full moon ceremony:
Bà Mụ's Full Moon Ceremony Spread for Baby Girls
A tray of offerings for a baby girl includes various ceremonial items:
- Gold ornaments: Items for baby girls such as blue dresses, blue sandals, and green gold bracelets.
- Betel leaves and areca nuts: 12 betel leaves with betel nuts, and 1 larger piece with the whole areca nut.
- Toys for children: Plastic or porcelain toys.
- Animals: Crabs, snails, shrimp for living or cooking. These animals must include 12 of the same size and 1 larger one.
- Offerings: Divided into 12 equal parts and 1 larger portion.
- Salt ceremony: Includes boiled chicken, sticky rice, rice, soup, dishes, and white wine.
- Candies and cakes: Divided into 12 portions and 1 larger portion.
- Floral scents: Incense, colorful flower vases, gold coins, and white water.
Full moon offerings for baby girls
In addition to the offerings for the Buddha altar, ancestors, and the land deity, the full moon offering tray for baby girls must also prepare ceremonial items including:
- Prepare 12 bowls of evenly distributed sweet soup and 3 larger bowls of sweet soup.
Offering tray for His Grace and the 3 Venerable Masters
Alongside the full moon offering tray for baby girls and mothers, families should also prepare a tray for His Grace and the 3 Venerable Masters. This tray symbolizes gratitude and seeks blessings from the holy teachers, ancestral masters, and future mentors. The offering tray for His Grace and the 3 Venerable Masters will include:
- 3 large plates of sticky rice.
Full moon offering tray for baby girls (Source: Internet)Guide on how to arrange the full moon offering tray for baby girls
Proper arrangement of offerings for the full moon offering tray for baby girls must adhere to the regulations regarding the placement of the tray and ceremonial flowers. Specifically:
Full moon ceremony for baby girls (Complete guide)
After making all necessary preparations for the ceremony, the parents will proceed with the full moon offering ritual for the baby girl.
Full Moon Offering Ritual for Baby Girl
The celebrant solemnly recites the full moon offering ritual: “Today marks an auspicious day, as our baby girl turns one month old. My family has prepared this abundant offering tray, inviting 12 Heavenly Mothers and 3 Holy Fathers to receive our offerings. We seek their blessings for our baby to grow up healthy, virtuous, and talented. May they safeguard our family’s well-being and happiness throughout the year.
Basic Naming Ceremony for Baby Girl
Some notes when celebrating the full moon for baby girls.
- In the traditional belief, the full moon offering tray must be complete and neatly arranged on 2 tables, one large and one small.
Questions related to celebrating the full moon for baby girls.
The ceremony of celebrating the full moon for baby girls does not vary much between regions. The main offerings include a plate of sticky rice, a bowl of sweet soup, a chicken or duck, a tray of five fruits, betel leaves and areca nuts, incense, lights,... Hopefully, with the sharing of the full moon celebration for baby girls by Mytour, it will be helpful for breastfeeding parents!
