The Tinguian - Social, Religious, and Economic Life of a Philippine Tribe by Fay-Cooper Cole
page 54 of 363 (14%)
page 54 of 363 (14%)
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Among the Tinguian of Ilocos Norte it is customary for the person who is giving the name to wave a burning torch beneath the winnower, meanwhile saying, if to a boy, "Here is your light when you go to fight. Here is your light when you go to other towns." If the child is a girl, she says, "Here is your light when you go to sell things." In the San Juan district, the fire is made of pine sticks; for "the burning pine gives a bright light, and thus makes it clear to the spirits that the child is born. The heat and smoke make the child hard and sturdy." Just before the naming, the rice winnower is circled above the fire and the person officiating calls to the spirits, saying, "Come and take this child, or I shall take it." Then, as the infant still remains alive, she proceeds to give it its name. [59] A Tinguian child is nearly always named after a dead ancestor; often it receives two names--one for a relative in the father's family, and one in the mother's. A third name commemorating the day or some event, or perhaps the name of a spirit, is frequently added. [60] Certain names, such as Abacas ("worthless"), Inaknam ("taken up"), and Dolso ("rice-chaff") are common. If the infant is ailing, or if the family has been unfortunate in raising children, the newborn is named in the regular way, then is placed on an old rice winnower, and is carried to a refuse heap and left. Evil spirits witnessing this will think that the child is dead, and will pay no more heed to it. After a time, a woman from another house will pick the child up and carry it back to the dwelling, where it is renamed. In such a case it is probable that the new name will recall the event. [61] If a former child has died, it is possible that the infant will receive |
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