When we talk about naming ceremony outfits in Nigeria. It is just about how to dress to attend a Nigerian naming ceremony. What do we wear for naming ceremonies?
First let’s talk about the meaning of a naming ceremony.
Naming ceremony outfits in Nigeria:
THE NAMING CEREMONY ITSELF:
This is an event where a newborn is given a name or names to be identified.
A Nigerian naming ceremony can be as small and quiet as a few friends and family event or as big and elaborate as a carnival. With seats and canopies arranged outside the compound accompanied by loud music on speakers.
A buffet of assorted traditional and continental dishes arranged to impress the guests.
The size of a Nigerian child naming ceremony depends on what the parents want and sometimes what they can afford.
The most important thing is that it’s done on the sixth day after a baby is born. The size or money spent during the event is not as important as making sure that the baby is named on the right day.
Sometimes babies in Nigeria have been named at hospitals because either the new mom or baby could not be discharged from hospital early enough to get home before the supposed naming ceremony day.
ATTENDING A NAMING CEREMONY IN NIGERIA
Attending a ceremony as a guest, parent, relative, neighbor, friend of invited guest.
Even if you are the celebrant, who in this case is the newborn baby that’s going to be given a name or names.
What to wear for a Nigerian naming ceremony depends sometimes on the culture or religion of the newborn baby’s parents.
How to choose naming ceremony outfits in Nigeria:
If the parents are Catholic, protestants or Muslims, you may want to wear an outfit that goes with a head covering.
Like wearing a hair scarf, gele or any head wrap that will help you not look out of place.
NIGERIAN NAMING CEREMONY OUTFIT FOR THE BABY
The newborn is the celebrant here. In Nigerian naming ceremonies, the little baby is well dressed from head to toe.
Depending on what the parents can afford, a baby attending his naming ceremony can be dressed in designer clothes o. Sometimes too well tailored outfits made locally are worn.
Many Nigerian parents shop baby naming outfits even before the little one is born. Especially if ultrasound had revealed the gender ahead of time.
Not to worry too much about over dressing a newborn. You know what? Invited guests don’t even get to see past the baby’s face.
That’s because after dressing these cute babies up, they are wrapped in baby shawls.
They Get carried only by mum or the naming ceremony host.
NAMING CEREMONY OUTFIT FOR MUM
In Nigeria, The naming ceremony is not only a special day for the newborn but the mother too. She’s gorgeously dressed in her best outfits.
Most times the celebrant’s mum and dad wear an asoebi (the same family outfit).
The parents wear tailored traditional outfits that match with their cap and gele. If they are muslims, the mother still wraps herself up in her colourful hijab like what is seen in the picture we posted above.
It is advisable that the mum who has just been delivered of a baby wears comfortable shoes or slippers with low or just moderate heels for ease of movement while carrying her baby.
The size of a naming ceremony party sometimes depend on what part of Nigeria the parents are from.
- If they are Yoruba’s, then expect a very flamboyant naming ceremony with excess food and drinks to feed guests the whole day.
- For naming ceremonies from other parts of Nigeria, the party is not too elaborate.
- Parents from the South South and South East Nigeria most times pay more attention to the child dedication.
- They hold a small naming ceremony with family and friends but invite more people on the day the baby goes to church for child dedication.
- For Northerners who are Muslims, the baby naming ceremony is held according to Islamic traditions.
WHAT TO WEAR TO ATTEND A NAMING CEREMONY IN NIGERIA:
As a guest attending a child naming ceremony in Nigeria or a Nigerian style naming ceremony anywhere, I’ll advise that you dress in traditional Nigerian attire if you have them.
Wear a Nigerian gele on the head if you can and be a bit conservative and respectful in the choice of outfit. Any well tailored dress will do. Wearing long dresses is excellent.
You can dress as flamboyant and expensive as you like, or wear simple clothes but try your best not to wear revealing clothes or leggings or joggers or Jean and Tee shirts like you would dress for a child’s birthday party.
Wear responsible clean clothes and look cheerful as you attend the naming ceremony with a little gift and some cash for the newborn because there will be time for donations to the famil/newborn.
If you can, do not attend a Nigerian naming ceremony empty handed so you don’t look out of place during donations and gifts giving for the baby. SEE why you should stop mixing funbact A in baby cream
NAMING MY BABY
My baby boy who is now six was admitted to hospital for jaundice just a day after his naming ceremony.
It wasn’t good because apparently it showed before the day of the naming ceremony but we didn’t know until the following day after the event.
Thankfully, we got discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) after a week and continued treatment at home by placing the newborn under the early morning sunlight.
His naming ceremony was officiated by the youth pastor and other ministers. We had just moved into this new neighborhood but grateful that members of the home cell groups attended with friends, colleagues and family.
It happened in front of the car Port with just two canopies and seats. Friends and Inlaws came very early to help prepare food and get things ready.
From my experience with mothers outfit for Nigerian naming ceremonies.
It’s best to shop for the outfit when the baby is born. Immediately after giving birth, the tummy might still be extended and fitting into an already bought and kept outfit might not work.
When I couldn’t fit into my dress, we had to go in search of boutiques for Native outfits. It ended on a joyful note. The very first shop we visited had my perfect size.
However, hubby and I ended up not wearing matching outfits for our baby’s naming ceremony.
It saves time, money and also reduces stress when outfits are made ahead of Expected Delivery Date. The mother should just ensure that it’s not a tight fitting dress style. Make a dress you can still fit into even if your size changes after giving birth.
The event was so much fun as it continued late into the evening.
It was after we returned from hospital that we found time to look at his lovely gifts.
Do you have any ideas about naming ceremony outfits in Nigeria? You have a different suggestion? Please share by leaving a comment below.
Welcome to the fun and flamboyance of Nigerian naming ceremonies. You’ll sure enjoy yourself.
WHO RECEIVES PRESENTS AT A NIGERIAN NAMING CEREMONY?
The baby receives all his presents
How does a baby receive his gifts at a naming ceremony, through his mother who sits with the well dressed baby on her body while dad coordinates the events of the day overseeing the services and ensuring that the guests are comfortable.
A Nigerian naming ceremony happens within a week of the baby’s birth. At this time, the new mom is still not strong enough to walk around.
She is not yet properly healed from episiotomy and other child birth injuries and still needs bed rest.
The woman’s only job on her child naming ceremony is to dress well and carry her baby in preparation to receive money and other gifts on behalf of the baby.
This money is for the baby and not the parents. Some parents have gone ahead to open a bank account and save the money for the new baby.
There are parents who spend the money shopping for the new baby. What is advisable most times is opening a bank account and saving the money in the child’s name.
Attend a Nigerian naming ceremony dressed in a Native outfit and go along with some money or a gift for the new baby. Nigerians don’t visit a newborn empty handed.
Any amount is acceptable as nothing is too small or too big. Whatever little money you can afford to take along with you for the baby, please do.
It is considered unfriendly if a guest comes to see a newborn with nothing for the baby as a form of saying ” welcome to the world child”
It is expected that the naming ceremony guests drop some money for the baby before leaving.
This monies go a long way in helping the parents who may have spent a fortune cooking, buying drinks and hiring canopies for the day.
The money received from guests at a naming could help the parents fix some financial issues at least.
Attend prepared to have fun and to welcome the little one.