Childbirth (Nova Roma)

Revision as of 23:01, 18 September 2008

The goddess Carmentis oversees childbirth. Here is the Ritus Carmenae (Nova Roma)

another Roman practice related to birthing. Rather than going out hunting with a stone for a man, a boar, and a bear I might suggest you use the old Italian charm. We use to use the white quarzites you easily find. We called them lunaria or else lucky stones. You pick one up, tossing it in the air three times, catching it each time with your left hand, by night, praying to the Moon for a blessing. "Luna, Luna, bella Luna, per favore, da per me un graziosa." That's how I think it use to go; I was just a child at bisnonna's knee back then.

I suggest a small stone, a pebble, because each year another pebble is to be

added to your lararium, for each family member on his or her birthday. These stones build up after a while.

The ritual: The mother and child are to remain in bed. The father guards the door from the inside, while it is three friends and/or uncles of the infant who go about the outside of the house tapping at window sills and door frames with the axhead and pestle, and the third sweeps with a broom. Of course you can vary the ritual however you need.

In the other ritual he mentioned, after the father raises the child to family and friends, if a girl you present the infant to your Lares. If a boy he should be taken outdoors and raised up to Jupiter. The sacrifices are offered to Jupiter and to the boy's genius, thus wine can be used. For a girl the libation is milk, offered to Juno and to the girl's juno. Never is a blood sacrifice offered on a person's birthday, so even meat should not be presented but the usual offerings for Lares may be used.

Charms were also put around the house, especially in the infant's room. A necklace of peony seeds was used as a protective amulet. A sprig of hawthorn was hung over the windows to keep away the strigae. Anise was hung near the crib to bring sweet dreams. Oak twigs, tied with red wool to form a cross, was another charm of protection, calling on Jupiter and Hercules, long before its adoption by others. Many other such charms that you may know about also had their origins in earlier traditions and might decorate your house.