by Royce Radcliffe

Created on: April 06, 2007   Last Updated: May 11, 2007

The sanctity of motherhood is a concept that dates back to before recorded history. The rituals for honoring pregnancy vary the world over and provide a startling reflection of the cultures that promote them. The birth cultures around the world are far different than our western conception, but of course they do stem from the same appreciation of life that is hardwired into all of us.

For one thing, the belly is often revered. In our western country flat stomachs have been put on such a pedestal that many women loathe the changes their body goes through as pregnancy takes hold. Culture such as those of India, China, Japan, and Africa acknowledge the belly as center of life and as such think that expanded ones signify a person imbued with great spiritual power.

In some traditions the emphasis for a woman who is pregnant lies in celebration. The Navajo view is that pregnancy is a state of wellness. The pregnant woman is not to attend any funerals or be around any sort of death. A ceremony that is called the "Blessingway" is done by a holy man. The Bangalore of India's, have developed intense celebratory rituals to honor new mothers. The Philippine culture of Midwifery stems from a similar desire, but ratcheted up in intensity. The pregnant women of that country are said to be of another class and become refereed to as Lolas.

In some countries the emphasis is on protection. The Thai people have great concern about protection from evil spirits and will often paint the woman's belly and do dances around it to ward off evil spirits. No gifts are given before the birth out of fear this will attract evil spirits to the infant in its vulnerable state. A few African tribes subscribe to a similar system of beliefs and practices.

For people who believe in reincarnation, like the Hmong, the process changes. They have a shaman put the soul of a departed person into the child after he or she is three days old and then places a silver necklace on the child to lock the soul in and keep it from wandering out before it gains awareness. If a child dies somehow before three days have come, then the child is not even buried, because they believe that child has no soul.

These are just a few of many examples of the variety of methods used to deal with pregnancy throughout the world. The methods are as vast as the cultures that spawn them, but one things remains constant: appreciation for the act that birthed us all.

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