There is a Romanian tradition which says that, one year after baptizing a baby, the godparents have to cut a strand from the baby's hair and give it to his mother to keep.
Even if I kept and practiced this tradition for every godchild I have, I didn't know until last weekend that this is not an orthodox custom, but a pagan one. The religion does not say to practice it, it has nothing to do with the church, but is a good opportunity for the family to gather and cherish the moment of being together.
So, the tradition says that the godparents dress the baby with new clothes...
... offer gifts to the baby and let him choose some objects from a plate.
It is said that the child's future is designed by his choices, so the parents and godparents put on the plate kind of everything they wish the baby to pick, like books, pens, money, beauty gear, car keys, all the crazy stuff you can imagine. The baby can choose only 3 of them.
Wait, there is something more: the godmother has to break a cake above the baby's head, for wealth and luck in the baby's future life.
We take the tradition very seriously here, so Maria received all the necessary gifts to improve her future: new clothes and shoes (a very nice white collection), gold earrings and a necklace, a wonderful cake and, of course, toys.
She chose the best possible things:
the Book
the Lipstick
and her father's car keys.
Her brother, Andrei, took her in his arms...
... and made her melt of sweet brother's love.
Then, all the kids did what they know best: played and played and played again.
We are all wishing Maria the best and beautiful life, good fortune and plenty of love!
Good luck and good life, my dear niece and god-daughter!
