Second Naming Ceremony
The Second Naming Ceremony is a tradition relating to the fragility of early childhood and is a combination of gratitude to the God Miraeth and a celebration of the child's survival of their first five years. Due to a multitude of factors, the death of a child was not uncommon in their early years, however mortality rates always seemed to reduced significantly after the age of five. Upon reaching their fifth birthday, parents would hold a ceremony in which the child would be given a middle name. This may be influenced by their appearance, personality traits or their parents' hope for the child's future.
Although the Second Naming Ceremony still takes place in more modern times, the reducing rate of infant mortality means the ceremony is now more akin to a simple birthday celebration, in the same way that the 18th is celebrated as a milestone age.
History
In history the Second Naming Ceremony would take place at the full moon of Thornmune as this is the moon dedicated to the god Miraeth; deity of Family, Hearth and Hunting. It was a community event where all children that had reached their fifth birthday over the previous year would be named during the ceremony. The names would be given out by the person performing the ceremony, sometimes with input from the parents, but not in all cases.
As time has gone by the community nature of the ceremony has shifted and now the involvement of others outside of the immediate family is optional. It is also now commonplace for it to happen on or around the birthday of the child, rather than waiting until Thornmune each year. Whilst in a majority of places the Second Naming has become a small family celebration, there are still some more isolated communities that practice the older method of communal naming.
Observance
A majority of the time the Second Naming will take place on or just after the childs fifth birthday whenever that is in the year.
In communites that keep with the older style of the Second Naming Ceremony, such as the Azarel, it takes place on the 14th of Thornmune. The 14th is always the full moon and Thornmune is the moon associated with Miraeth.
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