The birth customs of the Rakhine people

Rakhine pregnant women often ask midwives to take care of them when they give birth. If a pregnant woman has difficulty in giving birth, she must drink the misfortune-dispelling water, or write the letter na on the palm leaves used to build the house, and then insert them upside down in the pregnant woman's bun. At the same time, the pregnant woman's box, door, and water jar lid must be opened. Ask for help. If a pregnant woman gives birth to a boy for her first child, she should immediately insert jujube branches at the four corners of the house and cherry branches inside the house to prevent ghosts from causing trouble. At the same time, women among relatives and friends should light a fire in the delivery room and take turns accompanying the mother at night. On the third day after delivery, the fire must be replaced. The fire and ashes in the brazier must be poured out and replaced with new firewood. The fire in the delivery room cannot be used for other purposes. During confinement, mothers should eat beard ginger and drink turmeric wine. They should not eat fresh fish, potatoes, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, peppers, soybeans, pork, and should not touch honey. Mothers should take a bath with hot water after giving birth. After bathing, turmeric should be applied all over the body. Children can only wash their hair after they are one month old.

The mother will leave the delivery room on the fifth or seventh day after giving birth (usually the seventh day when the baby is born and the fifth day when the second baby is born). When leaving the delivery room, discard the production equipment and dismantle the stove. Rice is scattered throughout the room and palm branches are waved to ward off evil spirits. On that day, a symbolic lock of the baby's hair is also shaved. The host also needs to prepare a rice sieve, put soap locust, a handful of rice mixed with turmeric and oil, a stone, and an iron rod in it. When the guests arrive, they should touch the soap locust in the rice sieve and say some auspicious words, and then put the baby in the cradle. They should remember the kindness of Buddha and shake the cradle to wish the baby a long life. According to the customs of the Rakhine ethnic group, on the day the mother leaves the delivery room, she must invite relatives and friends to have a meal and name the child. Naming is usually done on the fifth or seventh day after the child is born. When naming, a woman first carries the child downstairs to let the child see the sun and moon, and rubs some soil on the baby's feet to show good luck, and then takes the child back upstairs. If the baby is a boy, a mirror and a bag should be placed; if the baby is a girl, a comb and mirror should be placed. Girls also have their ears pierced. Then the name of the child is announced and the guests are served with meals or other food. The Rakhine people, like the Bamar people, do not have surnames. When they name their first child, they often include the word "武" (u) in the name, which means "first" or "first". When naming other children, they like to add the word "shwe" in their names, which means "gold". Rakhine people give names with three syllables when they fall in love. The corresponding article of the person's name can be added according to the person's gender, age, position, etc. The method is exactly the same as that of the Bamar people.