The Amme (nurse) invited the godparents to the baptism. Formerly there
were 10 to 12 couples and the baptism was always combined with a midday meal.
Today the child often only has two godparents. The midday feast was a
rarity. If the child was a girl, the godmother planted a rosemary bush
from which the help received a twig on the occasion of the wedding. The
"Stafiermachen?" began when the child was three or four years old. The
woman who has just given birth was provided with food. The relatives,
neighbors, and acquaintances supplied fully laden baskets of the best
delicacies. In grandfather's time the boys were adorned with bouquets and
the girls were adorned with wreaths at confirmation. On the occasion of
the first communion the parents and godparents also go to Holy Communion.
