The Significance of the Bris and Naming Ceremonies

Bris A bris gown is worn by a male child to the Jewish ceremony of bris, a term that refers to the covenant of circumcision. Bris is also known as berit milah or bris milah. The covenant of circumcision derives from Genesis chapter 17, in which God makes a promise to Abram (a name God changes to Abraham) that he will be the father of nations. The mark of that covenant would be circumcision. The conclusion in Genesis establishes the mark's significance: "The uncircumcised male--shall have his soul cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant." The bris takes place on the eighth day of the male child's life and is performed by a mohel, or circumciser. As seven days represents creation, an eight-day-old male has transcended the physical to the metaphysical. The bris ceremony also involves the naming of the male child, commonly after a living relative or friend, or in some traditions, a deceased relative.

Naming

A naming set is worn by a female child to the Jewish naming ceremony, which is known as zeved habat, simchat bat, or brit bat. Traditional elements of the naming ceremony include the birkat gomel, or mother's thanksgiving for deliverance, a recital from Song of Songs, and the namegiving prayer.

Unlike with bris, there is no explicit source in the Mishnah or Talmuds regarding zeved habat. Traditionally, however, the baby girl is named on the first Shabbat after her birth.

The female naming ceremony has taken on more importance in Judaism in recent years. The terms simchat bat and brit bat are relatively new developments. These ceremonies are often followed by a private or communal celebration at home or at the synagogue.

The Hebrew name for a male child takes the form "[child's name] bar [father's name]," while the form for the female child is "[child's name] bat [father's name]." Bar and bat mean son and daughter respectively.

What's the Difference Between Christening and Baptism?

Christening and baptism are not identical, though in modern times the two terms are used so interchangeably as to become synonymous. A brief description of each term can help explain their differences and similarities.

Christening

Christening (meaning "to make Christian") is the practice of bestowing a Christian name at baptism. A new name represents a change in condition, and the baptism of early adult Christians was thus often (but not always) accompanied by christening. The name chosen was often out of reverence for a martyr, or was the name of one of the major apostles such as Peter or John.

Some religious traditions still practice christening. In the Eastern Orthodox faith, for example, those who are baptized take the name of a saint, and that saint's name day is from then on celebrated like a spiritual birthday.

Baptism

Baptism is a sacrament or deeply symbolic act in practically every branch of Christianity. Baptism represents death and rebirth, forgiveness from sin, identification with Christ, and incorporation into the church. A white baptism gown, baptism outfit, or baptism dress is traditionally worn to represent the cleansing aspect of the ceremony.

Whereas christening has minimal basis in scriptural tradition, the ceremony of baptism is supported by many Biblical examples, most notably that of Christ being baptized by John the Baptist.

The close link between christening and baptism was established because the symbolism of baptism made it an appropriate time to take a Christian name. In cases of infant baptism, christening and baptism were virtually identical, as the child was receiving its first name during the ceremony. This proximity eventually made the two terms virtually interchangeable, even after naming became a wholly secular event occurring at birth.

Signs remain of the history of christening beyond the baptism ceremony. A person's given name is still sometimes referred to as his or her Christian name. Christen has also come to mean the naming of an object or the using of it for the first time, whereas baptism, such as in the phrase "baptism by fire," refers more specifically to a transformative or initiatory experience.