Naming Ceremonies

Naming ceremonies are usually the first one that any θɛʃɾə would partake in. The ceremony is quite short in comparison to other ceremonies, and takes less than a ɹuhɔ to complete (useful, considering that there 1-13 young in a litter).

The timing of the ceremony is important, and must take place under the same ɹuhɔ (moon phase) under which the individual was born. For newly born young, this is usually done a single ɑnɾɪ after birth, unless the parent takes longer than that to return to the ʍɔkɛɾɪ, in which case the ceremony is done at the next occasion that the same ɹuhɔ is.

Like most ceremonies, it starts with a modified cleansing ritual, that is significantly shorter and requires only a single temporary piercing which is attached just behind the back of the skull.

In addition, the young also get their first set of permanent piercings, usually a single pair of earrings that sit low in the ears, just below the pocket

While this is a naming ceremony, the individuals usually have a name beforehand, it simply is not formalised.

It is usually the primary caregiver that choses a name for the child, but anyone can be requested to name a child (a big honour, and very impolite if refused the wrong way). This is usually if that person did something big, especially if it was for that child in particular (e.g. saving the child’s life, in some way or another).

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For individuals that are older, but not formally integrated into any ʍɔkɛɾɪ, the naming ceremonies are modified depending on the age of the individual. Dependent on personal preference, the name will either be a translated form of their current (but not ceremoniously formalised) name, or a name of their own choosing. Occasionally they will ask another to bestow a name for them.

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Names can be changed, and this requires both a De-naming ceremony and a Re-naming ceremony. There are slightly different to the standard naming ceremonies, with more steps involved. These vary primarily on the age of the individual, and that typically only alters the length of the cleansing ceremony. These must also be done under the same ɹuhɔ under which the individual was born. Depending on the ʍɔkɛɾɪ, the individual may have the two ceremonies done one after the other within that ɹuhɔ, or have the them go a whole ɑnɾɪ without a formalised name.