| Blessingways A "blessingway" is a Native American tradition, but a truely beautiful one. This ceremony is usually to celebrate a woman's transition to Motherhood and to help prepare her for childbirth. However, there are other types of blessingways that can be used to celebrate a many number of events in a person's life such as a blessing way for a man's transition into Fatherhood, a blessingway for a couple's transition to Parenthood, a blessingway for a couple who are engaged to celebrate their transition into Married Life, or just for the bride; really it's up to the person. In the case of a woman's transition to Motherhood it is like a babyshower, but then again not really. It is like a babyshower in that it is because she is expecting a baby (probably really soon because so much can go wrong in the early stages of pregnancy) and because much of the covnversation may revolve around children, parenting, babies, and the like. However, it is different because the celebration is not about the baby, and traditionally, the gifts which are given (ecspecially if this is not the woman's first child) are not for the baby but for the mother. Things like a nice sweater to wear AFTER the baby is born, candles, and other things that will help make her life easier with the baby but could be useful to a childless woman also This ceremony, or "party" (because they really are like a very special party), isn't really about the baby, it's about the mother to be as a woman, not a mother to be. Along with party games and eatting and talking there are other things that may go on at a blessingway that may not at most babyshowers. Hairbraiding seems to be a common activity. Another nice ritual that usually takes place at a blessing way is a candle is passed around from guest to guest and as it is passed as the guest holds the candle she (usually all the guests in attendance are women but men don't have to excluded) will give a wish, advice on chlidbirth or motherhood, and say something that she likes about the expecting friend. Other fairly common activites are facials and manicures (for the mother this maybe be the last time in a long time she can pamper herself) and a bellycast of the mother can be fun to make. Often times the memories of blessingways can be warm and they are very special ceremonies. If you are attending a blessingway there are some things you may want to do to prepare yourself before hand. First, though you don't have to it is nice to buy your friend a gift, not something baby centred unless you know she really needs it. Gift ideas could be candles, nice PJ's, or if you know she isn't going to breastfeed (or even if she is the gift would probably still be appreciated) a nice bottle of wine. Change into some other or nice clothes, take a hot shower, get yourself to feel good. Relax, maybe medidtate for a little bit before hand or even pray. Listen to relaxing music, have a glass of wine. If you have children, reflect on your birth experinces, if you do not think about births you have seen and birth stories you have read. This is a very special ceremony for a very speical time in a woman's life, keep that in mind as you get ready for such an event. |