A World of Baby Showers – Baby Showers in India and China

Baby Showers are popular all around the world – even in the distant lands of India and China. The customs of celebrating Mums-to-be may differ from the Baby Showers that we know here in US but they are all wonderful ways of sharing the joy and excitement of becoming a new Mum.
 
In India Baby Showers are called 'Godh Bharai' which has a lovely meaning – it translates as 'to fill the lap'.  The tradition is to fill the Mum-to-be's lap with gifts, sweets and fruits to bless her and her little one with abundance and prosperity. 

The Godh Bharai is usually held at the end of the 7th month or in the 8th month of pregnancy. The Godh Bharai is a women-only party with singing and dancing, fun and games and feasting.  Gifts include jewellery and money for the expectant Mum, baby clothes and accessories that she will need once her baby is born. Silver bangles are given as they represent prosperity, intelligence, success and strength – all good wishes for both Mother and baby.
As the Godh Bharai is for women only there is normally an amount of teasing and fun but it’s also a great way of giving the Mum-to-be love and support at such an important time in her life.

Baby Showers in China are known as 'Red Egg and Ginger Parties' and are held on the evening of the first or second full moon after the baby’s birth and are big celebrations.  They are banquets with 8 course meals and gifts range from little red envelopes full of money (red is a lucky colour in China), prams and pushchairs to baby clothes and accessories.  Guests are presented with hard boiled eggs that have been dyed red (to symbolize happiness and the renewal of life) and picked red ginger (which is supposed to balance out an overtired new Mum’s yin and yang with a little heat).