LTGimimas ir krikštynos - tai žmogaus gyvenimo ciklo papročių ir apeigų dalis, kuri, žmonių suvokimu, turėjo didžiulę įtaką tolesniam individo vystymuisi. Abiejų rūšių apeigos žymi naujo žmogaus gimt į Pirmosios - fizinę, antrosios - socialinę. Visa, kas susiję su žmogaus gimimu, išskiriame kaip intymią, gana uždarą žmogaus gyvenimo sritį. Tuo tarpu krikštynos yra viešos, jos susieja ne tik šeimą, bet ir kaimo bei konfesinę bendruomenę. Visa tai sudaro vientisą gimtuvių ciklą, kuris laike ir erdvėje egzistuoja kaip biologinis ir socialinis reiškinys. Knygoje nagrinėjamos Lietuvos kaimo XIX a. pabaigos - XX a. I pusės gimtuvės ir krikštynos. Darbas parašytas humanitarinių mokslų etnologijos krypties daktaro disertacijos pagrindu. [Iš Pratarmės]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Gimdymo papročiai; Krikštas; Apeigos ir ceremonijos; Papročiai ir buitis.
ENBirth and baptism belong to one of the most important areas of folk culture. Childbirth customs are activated as soon as a woman feels she will have a child. Pregnancy is a specific condition distinguishing expectant mother from other women. Most of cultures deem that conception makes woman different. In our opinion, the following two reasons account for such a view. First, the rites aimed at woman’s separation sought to protect both woman and child. Observation of settled norms secured safe pregnancy. Second, woman actually becomes different due to her condition. Hence the opinion that various environmental phenomena can easily harm her; on the other hand, woman can influence the environment. Woman’s distinctiveness was also determined by the following circumstance: people thought that during pregnancy and shortly after delivery woman was impure, consequently, dangerous to the environment. According to A. Van Gennep, the nations that considered woman “impure” thought that “the impurity” could be transferred to the child: hence restrictions applicable also to the infant. In spite of the irrational character of the reasons, the restrictions rested on a rational basis, as they chiefly served the purpose of protecting the health of mother and child. Thus, the rites protected both the mother and the child. From the very beginning of pregnancy till the woman’s return to society she was required to practice self-denial and observe imposed restrictions. These are the essential childbirth moments characteristic of all nations. They are regulated by biological factors, though in a definite society woman’s behaviour and relations depend on generally accepted principles of behaviour. [From the publication]