Remember Cinderella’s industrious little ‘fairy’ Godmother who swept her away from her wicked stepmother, in a pumpkin horse carriage to meet her prince charming? Of course you do. You also remember Marlon Brando, silent and sinister, Mario Puzo’s Godfather. The term God ‘parent’, therefore you see, ranges over a plethora of meanings and indications. Often therefore it is seen as a rather confusing term by new parents.

The God parents have been a traditional a part of the naming ceremony. But whether the term itself is appropriate to be associated with the event remains a point of much disagreement amongst people.

Some argue that the term Godparents is inexorably linked to religious christenings and baptisms, usually sacrosanct events which are viewed as far more significant than an ordinary Naming Ceremony. The word ‘God’ apparently enlivens in people a feeling of religion, which can be a burden. They thus started trying to replace the word God with far ‘simpler’ words for the purpose. Everything from the term ‘Guideparents’ to ‘Guardparents’ to ‘mentor’ and ‘Sponsors’ have been known to be used recently. As the Naming Ceremony itself becomes more popular far more such names are expected to rise up.

Irrespective of what you call them however the primary duty of the ‘Godparents’ is to take care of the child in case some unfortunate event claims the parents.

The Naming Ceremony and the selection of the Godparent is of course a completely secular celebration and is in no way linked to the ceremonies held in order to induct individuals into a certain religion. Nor is the event a precursor of a possible baptism or christening. It is simply an event marking the arrival of a new member of the family which is attended by everyone who belongs to the family as a whole.

The Naming Ceremony therefore is an event marking a welcome of sorts; it’s a way of inviting the individual into the world, into society.

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