In this case we
called it the planting of the Belly Button. And it was only the belly button.
In some parts of
the world the whole of baby’s placenta is buried in a ceremony involving the
families of the baby.
When this happens,
the ceremony is called the Baby Cord Ceremony.
It arose in the
belief that humans came from the stars, birthing through the Milky Way, to this
earth. The cord represented the connection not only between mother and child,
but also to the stars.
That placenta is viewed as the Tree of Life that feeds and nurtures the baby. At the ceremony it is
buried under a tree symbolically continuing the connection between the baby and
the earth which will continue to nourish him or her.
Here is part of the
ceremony we used
“ In
accordance with a Maori tradition, together with the tree the parents will
plant part of the baby’s belly button to remind us of the connection between
human life and the world we live in.
As the parents want everyone
here to be part of the baby’s life, they ask that each of you, in turn, adds a
little bit of soil into the container to anticipate the part you will play in their
child’s life.”
