Tibetan Traditions – Traditions of Giving Birth

Tibetan women are diligent. After marriage, they are responsible for doing housework, taking care of parents in law and going outdoor work. At the first three to four months of pregnancy, they still need to work. After five to six months, the labor intensity will be reduced.

At the time of parturition, the women in pasturing areas will give birth to a child in the cattle lair or newly made simple tent. The women in farming areas also can not give birth to child in their bedroom. They will giver birth to child in cattle lair or sheepfold. In the past, there was no midwife. The puerpera have to give birth to child by herself. If it is a difficult birth, Tibetans will invite monks to chant scriptures. In Northern Tibet, there is custom to feed the puerpera fish soup since they think it can make the puerpera give birth to child smoothly.

In Tibetan traditions, Tibetans will hang a red strip on the door or make a special mark to tell others do not come in the house if there is a puerpera in the family.

After giving birth to a child, the family member will present a bowl of "Magu" (a kind of drink which made up of melting ghee and brown sugar) to the puerpera. It can help the puerpera to recover and supply nutrient.

On the third day after the baby was born (the forth day for girl), Tibetans will hold a rite which named "Pangse". At that time, the relations and friends will come to congratulate with barley wine, butter tea and some gifts to the baby. In the belief of Tibetans, the baby is with some dirty things and bad luck which will block the health of baby. This rite can drive off the dirty things and bad luck on the baby, and protect them grow up healthy. At the day of holding "Pangse", Tibetans will pile up a mound of pebble in front of the gate (white pebble for boys), and burn cypress branches. The guests should first drop some tsamba flour on the pebble mound and cypress braches mound before coming into the house.

One month later, Tibetans will choose a lucky day to hold the rite of coming out. On that day, the mother and baby will go out with new dress. They will first pilgrimage to monasteries, to pray for the blessing of God. Then, they will visit relations and friends. When the baby goes out for the first time, Tibetans will smear a little boiler coal on his or her nose so that the ghost can not find him or her.