Look up wiccaning or paganing in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

A Wiccaning or Paganing is a Neopagan ritual analogous to the christening or baptism of an infant.[1] Specific groups may have alternate names for this rite.

In accordance with the importance put on free will in Neopagan traditions, infants are not necessarily expected to choose a Pagan path for themselves when they grow older. The ceremony, like its Christian equivalent, is focused on the parents' beliefs and the family's communal commitment to look after the child.[2][3]

Rites

A Wiccaning can take many forms, drawn from older pagan traditions, folklore, and the more modern beliefs of the individuals involved.[4] In most the central event is the presentation of the infant to a God and Goddess usually through being held up by its Mother, a High Priest, and/or High Priestess in sight of the sky.[1]

Other aspects of the ritual may include sprinkling silvered water on the infant's forehead as part of a saining (Scottish rite for blessing and consecrating)[5] or passing the child over a fire.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Garber, Kathleen (1997) "Wiccaning/Paganing"
  2. ↑ "About.com Naming ceremony". Archived from the original on 2015-09-06. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  3. ↑ "A Wiccaning/Naming Ceremony I (The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum)". www.ecauldron.net.
  4. ↑ "Hold a Wiccaning Ceremony for Your Baby". Learn Religions. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  5. 1 2 Ellison, Skip "Naming and Saining the Baby"


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