40 Days-thanks Victor

[makas@...]

http://www.aina.org/books/aov.htm

Birth And Baptism

Pregnant women promise that if they have a son they will offer him to 
serve the church. But if they have a daughter a sum of money or in kind 
they will give to the church as a gift. When the child is born it is 
immediately bathed in cold water and sprinkled with salt and wrapped him 
cloths. They have learned from what Prophet Khezkiel wrote: "On the day 
you were born your biblical cord was not cut, you were not washed in 
water and you were not wrapped in cloths."
A son brings more happiness to a family than a daughter. Just like 
Armenians when a boy is born all boys quickly go to the relatives of the 
newly born boy, bless him and receive gifts.
Baptism

According to custom the child is baptized on the seventh day of its 
birth. One day before baptism, the godfather is informed and in the 
morning he goes to the mother of the child and takes with him a sheep if 
he is wealthy. He takes the child and gives it to his wife and together 
they go to the church. If the godfather is well to do he requests a 
priest to conduct religious service and another priest to baptize the 
child. After baptism, the godfather and godmother, without the priest 
take the child with lit candles and deliver it to the mother. She takes 
the child and puts it her side or in the cradle. Later, dinner is served 
to all members of the family.
The child is kept at daytime in the cloths it was baptized. On the eight 
day of the birth, the godmother comes and smears the child with the oil 
the priest had blessed the child. The water in which the child was 
bathed is thrown in the river or at a clean place. After this, the child 
is bathed again and dressed in new cloths. The mother who has given 
birth to a son she remains in bed for 40 days and if to a daughter, 60 
days. All this time she is separated from her husband. She does not 
leave the house and she takes her meals alone, does no work because she 
is considered as unclean. After 40 or 60 days she takes a bath, baths 
her child and goes to the church and takes a gift for the priest. The 
gift may be a piece of cloth, incense, oil, or money. The priest prays 
on her and on her child.
When the son takes his first step the family showers on him raisins, 
roasted pistachios and the children gathered on the occasion pick them.