Naming the Baby

May 4, 2007

Last week we had a party to celebrate the one month birthday of the newest edition to the organization. This is the day the baby receives his name and it also marks the beginning of the end of the after birth taboos.



We forwent class in lieu of a day of cooking. We were making the traditional Burmese dish mohinga. mohinga is typically a breakfast dish. It is usually made with banana pith, fish and a lot of other things I'm not savvy of, although I can pretty much bet on MSG being a main ingredient. The soup is eaten with fresh coriander and green beans, which the diner adds to their bowl at their leisure.

To prepare we shelled copious amounts of onions and garlic and we sliced and diced buckets of coriander, banana pith and green beans. A batter of rice flour and yellow lentils was fired to a crisp as the ultimate topping for the soup.

During the actual party it rained. Thus, not many guests showed up to greet the baby boy. However, from what I gathered, the typical gathering consists mostly of the comings and goings of guests - most just stay until their bellies are warmed and full. Before they go they tie a string around the baby's hand for safety and good luck. Presents and money are also welcome contributions. The mother is still in semi-seclusion so she stays with the baby inside the hut and the people come to pay their respects to her while the party continues outside with the father acting as host.

Traditionally, the baby is not named by the parents. The naming is generally performed by a monk who takes into account the day (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc) the child was born to determine the appropriate name. The right name is said to help the child through life.

This baby boy has at least two names: the Thai name he was given at birth (by someone at the hospital). In this case, he was named after a movie star. He will also have at least one ethnic name (his parents are both from different ethnic groups) and perhaps a Burmese name as well. The Thai name he will use in school and another will be reserved for the household.