History of the Baby Shower: Part Two - Baby Showers in Ancient Greece

There was a great deal of ceremony and ritual relating to newborns in Ancient Greece. In such a make dominated society, having a child was one of the only ways for a woman to gain status and importance.

Not quite the model baby shower, but around a week after the birth, the father of the child would walk around the hearth several times, while holding the baby - to symbolize the integration of the new life into the family and household.

Like in Ancient Egypt, the Greeks also believed a woman who had given birth had a period of impurity, in which she must be kept isolated. However, after ten days, she would be deemed to have 'recovered' and would be welcomed back into society with a meal with family and friends.
At this meal, gifts would be dedicated to the birth Goddess Eileithyia. Items would usually be aimed more at the woman than the child, with items associated with the changed body shape - such as dresses and girdles. Subtle hint, anyone?

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