Second naming

Second naming is a Zeribian rite of passage performed around a child's seventh birthday, and marks the transition from the careless childhood to the responsibilities and rights of youth.

Naming

Baby names

Until a Zeribian turnes seven-years-old, they are called by a baby name. These names are usually names of unimportant small animals, such as biš 'mouse', leŋ 'fish' gwar 'frog' or win 'bird'. These names are often used with the diminutive suffix -ik (eg. Bišik 'small mouse') This tradition is believed to protect the child from attracting the attention of bad spirits, that might possess the child before they are old enough to resist.

Second names

At seven a new name is given, that is chosen from a pool of suitable adult names. The second name is usually permanent, but can change after something significant happens in the person's life. The new name is often descriptive, and derived from the child's strong characteristics, such as Nazarpe 'strong feet' or Šynter 'looking at the stars'. Zeribians think that Faren names are funny, because they often have names that Zeribians would only have as a baby.

The party

The second naming is usually performed as a birthday party on the child's seventh birthday. At the party the child is using their new youth clothes for the first time, and is called by the new name. The ritual usually includes breaking, burning or burying an item associated with the childhood. In some communities the party includes the child having their first drinking of Sahfyl, a culturally important mildly alcoholic beverage, but they are usually not allowed to take part in drinking it regularly until they are closer to 20-years-old or married.

Public traditions

The exact execution of the ritual varies from place to place. In some places the seventh birthday is celebrated within the family, and this is usually the case for the commoners. In many large settlements the ritual has been institutionalised. For example at Toad Cape all the children attending the temple school (the noble and higher commoner children), that have turned seven during the year, spend the last week of the year in the school grounds focusing in studying and meditating, and then emerge renewed to their families during the New year's celebration.
After the birthday the male children are introduced formally to their clans. A father can bring the boy to any clan meeting, or in some cases the clan may hold a party to welcome in the new member. A boy is now allowed to attend the clan meetings and gradually gain auxiliary positions. However, they become full voting members only at 40-years-old. The girls are property of their fathers clan until marriage, but are then transferred to their husbands clan. They never gain the right to vote or participate the meetings.

Clothing

At this age the children are required to start wearing appropriate clothes in public, while the young children often go naked. During the birthday the child also receives their first formal outfit. For boys this is a loin cloth and a cape, and a shirt for cold weather, and for girls a long dress. The main colour of the outfit is usually white, but might include colourful decorations. A popular decoration is a stiching of the animal from the child's former name, placed on the chest of a dress or the hanging front of the loin cloth. In this way the childs patron animal continues to protect the child.

New responsibities and rights

A child is now considered to be part of the youth rather than babies with no responsibilities. They are now expected to help their parents, either doing housework or in their profession. They should start using polite language when talking to people requiring it. A child also starts to gradually take part in the religious life, including following the rules of ritual purity. They are for example expected to start avoiding touching strangers, especially ritually unclean people, and can start participating in food restrctions and fasting for short periods of time.

Related Ethnicities

• Zeribians