Alternative

Alternatives To Religious Baptisms and Christenings

Baptisms and christenings are the traditional religious rituals to welcome a baby into the church. Although more people are leaning away from religious ceremonies, there is still a need to celebrate the birth of a child with a secular ritual. If you’re looking for a non-religious option for a baptism, you can create a ceremony that fits your beliefs. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Baby Blessing Ceremony

Pull in any elements of your choosing when you host a baby blessing ceremony. It could be an interfaith ceremony or a no-faith ceremony where you bring your friends and family together to meet your baby and welcome him or her into your community. Ask each guest to bring a special blessing to the baby, not a physical gift, but a hope or desire for the future or words of wisdom. You could create a memory box and light candles before having a meal together.

Naming Ceremony 

Naming ceremonies are parts of many cultures. With a bit of creativity, you can structure your ritual around your own culture and traditions, including elements that have meaning for your family. Use modern technology to make a video of good wishes that your child can revisit each year on birthdays. Ask an officiant to speak words of wisdom over the child or bring family members together to provide special blessings. Instead of a balloon release, which is bad for the environment, hold a bubble-blowing ceremony as a way to send your hopes for your child into the world.

Plant a Tree 

In many cultures, trees are planted at births and deaths to represent life and growth. Select a tree that is right for the growing zone and won’t get too large for the yard. Watching the tree grow as the child grows is a nice remembrance for parents and grandparents both. Dogwood trees represent loyalty and kindness. A gingko tree represents longevity. Maple trees symbolize intelligence and generosity. If you don’t have a yard where you can plant a tree, look for a small or dwarf variety that can be planted in a container or find a park where you can dedicate a tree.

Create a Time Capsule 

You could incorporate a time capsule into your blessing ceremony or make it on your own if you can’t bring your support system together. Ask each guest to bring something for your baby to commemorate the birth. You could include family photos, a newspaper from the day of the birth, stamps, coins or other gifts to be opened when the child reaches a significant birthday. Label the box and stash it away in a closet.

Alternatives to Godparents 

At one time, godparents would take over raising a child if the parents died. Today, godparents are more of a religious support system. There’s no reason to call them godparents. Humanists call these people “guideparents.” Some Unitarian churches call them Anam Cáirde, which means soul friends. You could refer to the person or persons you choose as a mentor or as an honorary aunt and uncle. The title itself isn’t as important as the relationship.

Create a Joyous Occasion 

A baptism isn’t a spectacle. It’s a meaningful ritual to welcome the baby. If you want to hold a non-religious alternative, you can still celebrate your child’s entrance into your life with a small party that has meaning for your family. Don’t think about going over the top. Think about how to personalize your ceremony for your child and your support system. Make the ceremony about the child instead of any religion. Bring meaning to your child’s birth by choosing the elements that have value for you and your family.

Alternatives to Diamonds for Engagement Rings

Diamonds are beautiful, however there are many beautiful stones that exist.

Though diamonds are a girls best friend, there are plenty of other beautiful stones out that are more budget friendly and will surely stand out.

Wedding and engagement rings have a long history, probably from Roman customs where a woman would wear rings attached to small keys, which demonstrated her ownership by her husband. Women were considered property for many years, and we’re fortunate that this has changed. The first rings with diamonds were recorded in the late 1400s. Maximilian I, the King of the Romans and Holy Roman Emperor, commissioned a diamond ring for his betrothed, Mary of Burgundy.

Maximilian is responsible for the diamond engagement ring trend, but it was the Victorians who popularized the ornate designs and beautiful settings that we know today. However, diamonds were largely inaccessible to the masses until De Beers began mining in the late 1800s. The demand for diamonds dropped during the Depression, but De Beers Company fought back by using the movie stars of the time to advertise the diamonds.

Are Diamonds Really a Girl’s Best Friend?

In the 1953 film, “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” Marilyn Monroe sang:

“The French are glad to die for love.

They delight in fighting duels.

But I prefer a man who lives

And gives expensive jewels.

A kiss on the hand

May be quite continental,

But diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”

Diamonds might be considered traditional, but not everyone can afford these rare gems. Some people don’t want to support the industry. There are a lot of other gemstones that can be made into beautiful rings. Here are some of the best alternatives.

Alternative Stones

  • Garnets come in shades of pink and red most commonly, but you can also find them in other colors. Although garnets aren’t as hard as other gems, only a 7.0 on the Mohs scale (a diamond is a 10), you’ll be able to get a bigger gem for a fraction of the cost.
  • Sapphires are most commonly a blue gem, but you can find them in other hues. The best part is that sapphires are generally one-third of the price of diamonds. You can get a larger stone, but make sure it’s well cut.
  • Emeralds come in beautiful shades of green, and although they aren’t one of the more popular gems these days, they can look chic and timeless in a ring setting that will last forever.
  • Pearls are an iconic look, but they do tend to scratch and tarnish easily. You can find very elegant pearls at a good price, but don’t plan on wearing the ring every day to make it last.
  • Opals can reflect the entire rainbow as they move in the light. No two opals look the same, but they are in the middle of the Mohs scale. Opals don’t stand up to daily wear like a diamond might, but they still make a beautiful ring.
  • Onyx is generally black in color, but it can come in a variety of colors for fine jewelry. The black stone pairs with anything you wear and it looks timeless and chic.
  • Sunstones are a very abundant gemstone and come in a variety of shades including peach, red, orange and green. Many are found just south of the border in Oregon.
  • Amethyst is a pretty, purple gem that is durable but less expensive than diamond. The gem is beautifully paired with gold or silver for a classic look.