Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1906 — Baptism la Morocco. [ARTICLE]

Baptism la Morocco.

This is the way an Infant 18 christened in Morocco: “When the first child is born—and the parents are accustomed to wish for a girl as a happy omen—the mother of the young matron sends a basket containing the layette of the infant, along with henna, eggs and pigeons. The baby is stained with henna from head to foot and the little body smeared with butter and wrapped in flannels. The seventh day is the dap of baptism. At the first hour of the morning the friends are invited to the repast. About 9 o’clock a ‘taleb,’ or, better still, a ’shereef,” sacrifices a sheep on behalf of the child and as he cuts the animal’s throat pronounces the sacramental words. Tn the name of God it is the baptism of such an one, son of such an one.' Then the child is washed for the first time, henna is put on its hands and feet, khol under its eyes; it is clothed in its finest robes and put into its mother’s bed, at the head of which lighted tapers are burning.” r