My time in Senegal has been marked with many holidays and family celebrations. Many of them feel familiar and carry similar traditions to American holidays, but some are completely foreign. I'll share in this blog post about the holidays and celebrations I've been part of in my Pulaar village in the southernmost region of Senegal. Please keep in mind that much like America, Senegal is a diverse country with many groups of people who may celebrate these occasions differently.
Baby showers
When a woman is has a baby, the Dennabo, or the baby shower, takes place one week after the baby is born. The baby shower is a naming ceremony as the baby will not be given one until it has reached one week of age, though in my experience in asking women at the health post who have just given birth, they generally already know what they’re going to name the new baby. The custom of waiting a week to give a name and also a birth certificate is rooted in the relatively high infant mortality rate in Senegal. Although these rates have dropped significantly in recent decades, this tradition carries on.
Because the families cannot assume the baby will live, they theoretically don’t plan for the big party until the day before.
