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Baby's Welcome

Everywhere in the ocean and vastland, babies are born in the presence of a community to welcome them. The form of the tradition is the same, but its purpose has changed much with time.


Naheni Tozei, from Chawso in Valdei;
vastland tradition 12000 years old
At the birth of a baby, the parents are surrounded by a crowd of people all shouting and making noise to confuse unseen beings that want to harm the child.
It was a surprise to me to come here and find that people do not know the shasfo. They are in all places in my home, and with no doubt they are here too. Not all are dangerous for a baby, but it is better to keep them all away than to let even one evil come inside. You can invite the better ones later, at the festival.   Many times have I put my voice to the shout, even as a child. I together with my friends would go to search them, to be in a place where our loud noise would be good. It is an important thing for a little child who is weak and foolish to do a thing that will protect someone. Powerful.
Elan Straibala, from Eihlari;
Tiderider tradition 7000 years old
Eihlarian clans, descended from Tideriders, allow only family members to witness the birth of a baby. Although landbound for thousands of years, the Wardens still observe the custom of dipping the baby's feet in a bowl of ocean water.
Our belief is that if you are there to see your relatives touch salt water for the first time, you're invested in their well-being from then on. The more witnesses, the better their lives will be. That's worrisome for a clan as small as mine, but we have the benefits of a sept alliance. Even though we're not the same bloodline, we invite the Rruends to each Straibala birth, and Davili always comes with as many as she can bring.   How important is it to be there? My sister Pakker's baby arrived about five days earlier than expected. I had shut myself in a temper room to work on a really difficult analysis piece. A hard rule here is that you don't interrupt someone in a temper room. But an even harder one is that you don't miss a birth, so as soon as Wandei showed the top of his head, my parents came and got me.

 
Heiras Nemaiklo, from Tuvolok on Galtern;
Cluster Island tradition 2000 years old
In the main Cluster Islands, childbirth is recognized as a cause for celebration. Every settlement of enough size has a proportional number of birthing plazas where parents go to await the birth and neighbors help them through the delivery.
As someone who has experienced it twice, I would describe the early stages of labor as boredom interrupted by pain. By "boredom" I don't mean that I wasn't excited, but that it was hours and hours of being confined to the birthing plaza. I couldn't leave to get food or visit a leisure house or even go home. My first time I was especially nervous. Of course I had friends with me for support, but what helped most was passers-by who gave me encouragement whether they knew me or not.   I'm not fond of crowds, but by the time second stage began I didn't much care how many people were gathered. No one expected me to chat. They were there to help me along. They chanted to the rhythm of my breathing and drummed their legs when I needed to bear down. And my nervousness? Gone. Community is a strong painkiller.
Zimmira, from Vitgrud on Ralcondray;
colonial tradition 90 years old
When a baby is born in any of the Ralcondray villages, armed women stand as guard against the island's natural hazards.
Ralcondray is still very much a wild place, with predators that Cluster Islanders have never had to fear. We build villages with homes on the inside of thick round walls. There's nothing a grayback would like more than to make a meal out of an exhausted mother and helpless baby, and that's why no one ever gives birth alone. We are there to keep them alive.   Even if they're born inside the villages, we stand guard. Part of our role is to keep out anyone who might distract the parents. Everyone who is part of the circle was once at the center of it. No inexperienced onlookers, please! The only man allowed in is the one who is catching the baby. Childbirth is a messy business, and we have more important things to do than take care of someone who's passed out because the sight was too much for him.

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Entry for Worldbuilding Summer Camp 2025

Answering: "A ritual that's changed meaning throughout the years"
Visit The Big G's Competition Page Check all other answers to this prompt Competition Homepage
Article template
Tradition / Ritual
World
The Ocean
Author
The Big G
Publication Date
16 Jul, 2025
Creation Date
15 Jul, 2025
Last Update Date
24 Jul, 2025
Visibility
Public
Views
60
Favorites
Comments
1
Work In Progress
Tags
SummerCamp2025 OfficialChallenge

Comments

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Eternal Sage Wordigirl
Aug 20, 2025 19:10 by Lexi Con (WordiGirl)

It is always interesting to learn about the cultures in your worlds, and they feel so real and deep! Each of the peoples have their own traditions and reasonings behind them! Some sound very problematic and something I would probably rather not experience firsthand lol but it's great to get the first-person accounts of people in-world and why they enjoy their processes. Also, always peppering in that worldbuilding. Leisure Houses due to not being allowed to rest at home!!?! I have more rabbitholes to scurry down lol XP

Be exuberantly blessed. Much success!!!
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Eternal Sage Wordigirl
Aug 20, 2025 19:11 by Lexi Con (WordiGirl)

ahh! I see. It has to do with the day and night shifts. understandable, but still very inconvenient. everything affects everything, indeed. :D

Be exuberantly blessed. Much success!!!
Check the latest in the wonderful world of WILLOWISP...
Find out what I'm up to...
Support my creative efforts <3

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