Baby Shower: History Behind It And How Different Traditions Celebrate It

Congratulations on the addition of a new member to the family. And there is no better reason to celebrate than the arrival of a new baby. This is why a baby shower is a perfect idea. You can try anything; you can organize a virtual baby shower or something in person.

This is a fantastic way to honor the mom-to-be while having fun with guests, food, gifts, and games. You can have an event according to your preference, as there are various baby shower ideas that you can choose from. Just ensure that you organize an event that is going to be memorable.

This is an event where family and friends come together and celebrate the arrival of the little member with lots and lots of best wishes. Here is everything you need to know about the event and how it is celebrated in different cultures.

What is a Baby Shower?

A baby shower is an event to celebrate the upcoming birth of a little baby. The guest of honor is the expectant mother who is showered with love, best wishes, and not to forget, a lot of gifts.

It could be a very personal, small event, with just some close family members or friends, or you can celebrate it on a large scale with all your friends and relatives. This is an important time for any mother, be it their first child or their second. If so, then having a baby sprinkle would be perfect.

Why is a Baby Shower Celebrated?

A baby shower is celebrated to prepare for the arrival of the baby. This lets the parents get essential supplies and baby items that they will need moments after the arrival of the baby.

People mostly gift essentials like baby blotches, diapers, bottles, breast pumps, and diaper genies. Moreover, you get to bring together the entire group of friends and family to share this amazing moment with you.

Traditionally, the event is held in the third trimester, 6 to 8 weeks before the baby arrives. This way, the parents can prepare for the arrival of the baby. However, some people like to host the event early in the pregnancy, while some choose to have it after the birth of their child, as they think it to be bad luck to get any baby items before the baby’s arrival.

Traditional Baby Shower: How It All Started

Motherhood is quite a big deal, and people have celebrated it since the beginning of time. All over the world, people have been celebrating it as a rite of passage. The idea of baby shower stated in the 1940s in the United States and gained popularity over the years.

However, the tradition found its roots in ancient Egypt. Back then, it was mostly about rituals, and it took place after the birth of the baby. The Ancient Greeks also celebrated pregnancies after the baby was born with a loud announcement of the baby’s arrival. After about a week, there used to be a ceremony welcoming the little bundle of joy.

Medieval Europe had a subdued version of it. They acknowledged physical and spiritual health, and women were asked to confess their sins before a priest when they were in labor. After the birth, the baby would be baptized, and the godparents would give them gifts.

During the Renaissance Era, the idea of gifting something to the expectant was started. However, they were gifted with anything, starting from food and ending with decorations and kitchen items.

The modern-day approach to baby showers started in the Victorian Era when women would host tea parties for the mother-to-be. But this happened after the baby was born. However, the event that we are familiar with now started during the Baby Boom.

This is when the expectant mother would be gifted items for the baby that would be difficult for them to buy. A close family member generally hosted this or a female friend and it was exclusive for female guests. Currently, the idea is the same, but it includes the father and other male members of the family and friends.

Baby Shower in Different Cultures

A baby shower is something that is celebrated in all cultures in different ways; no matter which part of the world they live in. The customs and rituals could differ, but family, friends, gifts, and good baby shower foods are common everywhere. Let’s see how different cultures celebrate this event.

Hindu Godh Bharai

The Hindu baby shower is known as godh bharai, which means showering the expectant mother with blessings and abundance. It is more like a family celebration where all the elderly members and some friends of the expectant give her blessings and gifts and bless the unborn baby as well.

They support the mother-to-be in their new journey. This is a women-only celebration and often involves games, dancing, and singing, adorning the mom-to-be with colorful clothing and jewelry and filling her lap with all the gifts.

Afghani Sixth Night

Afghan parents celebrate the event six nights after the baby is born. They prepare a massive party with a large meal to commemorate the event, and the guests bring gifts for the newborn. The guests, in this case, know the gender of the baby, which is just perfect for choosing the gift.

Dominican Evening Fiesta

Baby showers in the Dominican Republic are pretty interesting. This is an upbeat celebration involving a lot of good food and dancing. The party is generally kept secret for the expectant parents, and both male and female family members and friends can attend this party.

Before the gifts are opened, there are many games and dancing to make the evening interesting. This celebration lasts long hours, and the festivities often continue till morning.

South African Stork Party

The South Africans do not term it as a baby shower. They call it a stork party. A close friend of the mom-to-be mainly hosts it, and it involves a lot of fights, food, and games. It is a lot like the American baby showers.

Their center of attention is the cake, and because of that, many local bakeries specialize in making cake for this particular occasion. Moreover, because of the high demand, people have full-time jobs as stork party event planners.

Tibetan Pang-sai

In Tibet, people generally celebrate this after the birth of the child. They call it pang-sai, which means “cleansing of the baby.” They mostly celebrate within the first week of the baby’s arrival.

Everyone brings clothes and gifts for the baby and the new parents. They celebrate with their local drinks and food as a way to wish for a complete life for the baby. They also have a guest of honor who is not the parent or the baby. The guest of honor gets to name the baby in this event.

Chinese Full Moon Celebration

Chinese people believe it to be bad luck to have a baby shower before the arrival of the baby. This is kind of a formal affair for them, and they host a large feast for their guests. This is held by the first or second mood after the birth of the baby, and any guest who is presenting the baby or the parents with money gifts it in a red envelope.

Red is a symbol of good fortune in the Chinese culture, and celebrating it on a full moon is also a part of their tradition, and is believed to bring in good fortune for the baby.

First Birthday Celebrations in France

Baby shower in France is a bit different than it is in any other culture. They do not celebrate it before the child’s birth and not until the child turns one. It is not just a baby shower but also a birthday celebration. However, it is not just the baby who gets the gift but the mother as well. Both men and women are included in the guest list.

So, When Is Your Baby Shower?

Baby showers have evolved a lot with time. However, these days, people somehow personalize it and do it their way. Food, fun, and gifts are the major attractions, and having a good time with the newbie mom and showering them with best wishes is the motto.

So, if you are planning a baby shower for someone close, keep track of the essentials and check whether the mom-to-be has any special recommendations or requests for the party. Include a lot of fun games to keep the event interesting.