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birth customs (the Howdie (enact certain superstitious rituals during…
birth customs
the Howdie
version of a midwife in Scotland
come around when the baby was due
enact certain superstitious rituals during labor
ensure a safe delivery
knots/belts/ties need to be untied
all onlookers instructed not to sit w/ crossed arms and legs
all doors&windows need to be unlocked
help the baby find its way into the world
all mirrors be covered up
all bottles left opened
after baby arrived, Howdie attend to ward off the evil eye
potion made of rowan berries/ whiskey/butter/salt
given to the mother
all women eat 3 spoons of oatmeal
fortify baby & bring luck
sprinkling the baby with cake
fruit cake w/ marzipan and icing
the cake would be sprinkle over the baby's head at the christening
symbol of circular nature of family life
practiced in Ireland
drinking posset
during birth - mother drinks hot milk mixed w/ alcohol& spices
specially posset kettles w/ drinking spout were generally used
milk - replenish mother's flagging energy and numb the pain
later replaced w/ warm wine called 'caudle' / caudel
subfumigating
mother to- be ushered in
the womb appalled by the stench
contract the baby to come along
practiced during Anglo- Saxon times
process :
fish eyes
other animal products
horse hooves
cat feces
burned on fire to make a bad smell
hanselling
Scots tradition - new born baby given a silver coin to bring good luck
IF little mite grasps the coin w/ iron fist - he/she grow up to be a miser
IF the coin drops quickly - got a shopaholic in your hands