Prebirth
Ancient Guam Era

Prebirth

Prebirth Åntes di finañågu The pattera (nurse midwife) and suruhånu (traditional doctor) played important roles in the CHamoru/Chamorro  society, especially when it came to pre-birth-to-birth

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Mother and Child
Ancient Guam Era

Birth

The birth of a child is the most important family event in CHamoru society. It marks the beginning of family celebrations and obligations that define

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Holy Flame. The candle represents the child who has become a newly baptized Catholic. Mendiola family collection.
Birth and Childhood Practices

Baotismo: Baptism

In the past, picking a name for the child was a family affair. In the early matrilineal CHamoru society, the name of a newborn child

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