Baptism

The selection of godparents and others who stand in some ceremonial relationship to the parents, known as koma, had generally already taken place before the birth (cf. p. 70). Baptizing in the church followed two or three days after the birth, usually during the morning hours. The child, carried by the midwife, was taken to church by its godmother, where the godfather and the komas had already gathered. When they arrived back home they entered saying the proverb known throughout Europe: “We took away a pagan, and brought home a Christian.” The baby’s father or grandmother lifted it across the threshold and with this, the infant became a full-fledged member of the family. Now they called it by its name for the first time, because before baptism they had called it only “Little One”, “Little Don’t Know”, “No Name”, or other similar names in order to protect it from evil spells.

A feast is held either just after the baptism or on the following Saturday; mostly only the members of the family and the godparents and other komas participate in this, although, of course, the midwife cannot be left out of it. We do not know of traditional dishes common to the entire linguistic region, although in some places milk loaf and particularly large pretzels can be looked upon as traditional. Good wishes are expressed in prose, although at times, in verse:

Godmother I ask you, prithee,

Take good care and raise this kiddie,

So he will a handsome man be

Such as takes the lassies’ fancy,

Hay-hey, hey-hey, hey!

Magyarvista (former Kolozs County)