Posted by Katariina on June 30, 1997 at 09:54:33:
In reply to Re: Confinement ends at ? posted by Kathy F. on June 29, 1997 at 13:42:06
] ] No, that has always been called Baptism, as far as I know!This was somwthing to do with the woman being "unclean" after childbirth, I think.
] A holdover from old Jewish custom? (In the New Testament, there is some mention of Mary's days of purification.)
I know nothing of those religious things, but this has been a very common belief among many different cultures. So I believe that's what it refers to. Also menstrual blood and things like that, relating especially to women, were considered "unclean" for example in the middle ages. they would even go so far sometimes, that if you touched a menstruating woman, you would become unclean yourself (I can't remember when or where, but it was so). More about this and other curiosities from the middle ages in The Broken Spell by Peter Spierenburg. (I strongly recommend it to everyone interested in the middle ages, it's a very good book.)
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