General Chat

I was talking to two old ladies at church and the subject of traditions came up.
One mentioned how ,when you were on the way home after your baby's baptism you gave a gift of bread and cheese, Christening cake, a silver coin and some salt to the first child you saw.
I can remember this but the other lady said how when you took your child on it's first visit to someone else's house, the owner of the house had to give the baby salt, sugar and a candle. The sugar was to wish the baby a sweet life, the candle to protect it from darkness and light it's way but they couldn't recall why salt was given and what it represented.
Anyone on here know? I have tried googling to no avail.

Never heard of it, only one I know of is when seeing a new baby put a silver coin in its hand or if asleep, under the pillow.

Currently, the "bread, salt, sugar" tradition is as strong as ever. It is tradition to bring bread, salt, sugar and wine to a new Jewish home to afford the new residents the following blessings:

Bread so that you shall never know hunger.
Salt, so your life shall always have flavor.
Sugar and so your life shall always have sweetness.

Perhaps the same tradition applies to a baby.

thank you Holly. Perhaps there is some connection to that.

I still cross a new babies palm with silver

I still have my son's coach built Marmet pram. IF and WHEN i have a grandchild, the babies going in it, whether anyone like's it or not.
Call me traditional iffen you like!! Or, just plain old fashioned!! :>))

The tradition mentioned of giving the first child you meet after baptism, I was told, is called "A Christening Piece" . In Scotland, if I recall rightly, the gift had to be given to a child of the opposite sex! x

thats right Lanarkshire Lassie, it was the same here in north east England.
Holly, I had a beautiful silver cross pram for my two.Solid built, it was passed on for another 3 babies and was still going strong.

Three wise men from the East are said to have visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

I thought the tradition of the mother being churched had died out now....

In the anglican church a mother had to be 'churched' and attend church for a special service or blessing (not sure which) before the baby could be christened. Basically it was to cleanse the mother after giving birth.

I know my mother was in 1937 and 1942.