A Wiccaning or Paganing is a

Neopagan Modern paganism, also known as contemporary paganism and neopaganism, is a term for a religion or family of religions influenced by the various historical pre-Christian beliefs of pre-modern peoples in Europe and adjacent areas of North Afric ...

ritual analogous to the christening or baptism of an

infant An infant or baby is the very young offspring of human beings. ''Infant'' (from the Latin word ''infans'', meaning 'unable to speak' or 'speechless') is a formal or specialised synonym for the common term ''baby''. The terms may also be used to ...

.Garber, Kathleen (1997)
Wiccaning/Paganing
Specific groups may have alternate names for this rite. In accordance with the importance put on free will in Neopagan traditions, infants are not necessarily expected to choose a Pagan path for themselves when they grow older. The ceremony, like its

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

equivalent, is focused on the parents' beliefs and the family's communal commitment to look after the child.

Rites

A Wiccaning can take many forms, drawn from older pagan traditions, folklore, and the more modern beliefs of the individuals involved. In most the central event is the presentation of the infant to a God and Goddess usually through being held up by its Mother, a High Priest, and/or High Priestess in sight of the sky. Other aspects of the ritual may include sprinkling silvered water on the infant's forehead as part of a

saining Saining is a Scots word for blessing, protecting, or consecrating.Ross, David and Gavin D. Smith, ''Scots-English/English-Scots Dictionary (Hippocrene Practical Dictionary)'', 1998, p102. ''Sain'' is cognate with the Irish and Scottish Gaelic '' ...

(Scottish rite for blessing and consecrating)Ellison, Skip
Naming and Saining the Baby
or passing the child over a fire.

References

Naming ceremonies Wiccan terminology {{Neopaganism-stub