The forty day tradition following childbirth is quite ancient. It is part of the Mosaic Law, the Law of Moses, and appears in the Old Testament in the Bible. Without a doubt the ancient Hebrews and other people of the Middle East practiced this tradition, including in Anatolia, modern day Turkey.
Either because of Jewish tradition or becuase the Spanish Christians were adhering to the fact that for 40 days after Jesus was born, Mary was considered unclean according to Mosaic Law. After the 40 days were over, both the mother and child were purified. Here's the Biblical verse:
Luke 2:22-24
22And when the forty days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him [Jesus] up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord
23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord),
24and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
EL DÍA DE LA PRESENTACIÓN
A los cuarenta días del nacimiento de Jesús, María y José se levantaron temprano. Era un día normal en el que María haría su primera visita al templo como se acostumbraba entonces que cada mujer hiciese después del parto. Pusieron carga en una bestia, tomaron al niño y se pusieron en marcha hacia el templo de Jerusalén. José llevaba un par de tórtolas en una canasta...
The forty-day threshold belief;
People in Anatolia call any sickness experienced by the mother or the baby and any failure to regain health within 40 days of giving birth as "the falling forties" or some similar name such as name; "kirk basmasi", "kirk düsmesi", "kirk karismasi", "logusa basmasi", and "aydas". It is a common belief that a number of living things and objects will harm mother and newborn baby in the forty-day period after birth. Practices and measures to prevent the 'falling forties' are very common.
In order to prevent the 'falling forties';
- Mother and baby are not allowed out for forty days,
- Care is taken not to bring together women and newborn babies who have not passed through this forty-day period.
The falling forties in a baby used to be related to poor development and weight loss. Various religious and magical practices were considered to be a remedy to prevent the falling forties.' Nowadays, such practices are almost extinct.
Forty-day precautions; Washing the mother and child within 40 days of birth to prevent them falling ill within that period is known as "making the forties". It is commonly referred to as "kirklama", or "kirk dökme" and "kirk çikarma".
The practice is commonly carried out on the 40th day after birth. This period differs according to region, however, and may be carried out on the 7th, 20th, 30th, 37th, 39th or 41st day. Although there may be some differences in procedure in different regions, the aim is the same.
"Making the forties" is still a common practice today as in the past among those customs and practices related to birth.
Hope this helps.
Steven H.
-----Original Message-----
From: Peggy Delgado
To: ranchos@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, 23 Jul 2005 23:32:39 -0700
Subject: RE: [ranchos] Re: information on records & "Guardar Reposo 40 días"
I have a coworker who is of Indian descent and they, too, have a similar custom. The new mother stays abed and the relatives do all the housework, preparation of food, etc. The mother is not allowed to do anything but take care of the newborn. The duration of this custom is 40 days.
Peggy Delgado
When I was working at a hospital in Silicon Valley, we hired several Vietnamese immigrants (mostly women) as interpreters. They too have the custom of the new mother not leaving her bed for an extended time (how long I can't remember). During this period the mother was waited on hand and foot by her family and served her meals at bedside to eat alone. They were mostly Buddhists. How curious that such a custom is practiced world-wide! I wonder if the Bible or the Koran or Buddhist, etc. teachings all dictate that practice for new mothers?
Emilie Garcia
Port Orchard, WA.
----- Original Message -----
From: Joseph Puentest
Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2005 12:52 AM
Subject: Re: [ranchos] Re: information on records & "Guardar Reposo 40 días"
Was it literal or was it not. I bet that in different time periods this
rule went from being widely practiced to not. Let's find out.
okay many people have relatives they are visiting when they go to
Mexico. . .let's start asking the old ones what they remember. We don't
need to make this the center of our investigation but a couple of
questions in passing makes for keeping the conversation interesting.
a civil discussion like this is so interesting. . .thank you all for
participating.
joseph
v.h.villarreal wrote:
>I really doubt that this is an accurate interpretation or a widespread
>practice even in the old days. "Guardar reposo por 40 días" or
>resting for 40 days wasn't supposed to be taken that the mother should
>stay in bed, not taking a bath, etc. rather that she should "keep the
>husband away from her bed for 40 days", if you know what I mean...
>
>Victor
>
>
Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
