Baby showers are constantly growing in popularity – even in the distant lands of India, China and South Africa.  The customs of celebrating Mums-to-be may differ from the Baby Showers that we know here in the UK but they are all wonderful ways of sharing the joy and excitement of becoming a new Mum.

In India Baby Showers are called ‘Godh Bharai’ which has a lovely meaning – it translates as ‘to fill the lap’.  The tradition is to fill the Mum-to-be’s lap with gifts, sweets and fruits to bless her and her little one with abundance and love.

Parties in India end of the 7th month or in the 8th month of pregnancy.  The Godh Bharai is a women-only party with singing and dancing, fun and games and feasting.  Gifts include jewellery and money for the expectant Mum, baby clothes and accessories that she will need once her baby is born.  Silver bangles are given as they represent prosperity, intelligence, success and strength – all good wishes for both Mother and baby.

As the Godh Bharai is for women only there is normally an amount of teasing and fun but it’s also a great way of giving the Mum-to-be love and support at such an important time in her life.

Celebrations in China
Baby Showers in China are known as ‘Red Egg and Ginger Parties’ and are held on the evening of the first or second full moon after the baby’s birth and are big celebrations.  They are banquets with 8 course meals and gifts range from little red envelopes full of money (red is a lucky colour in China), prams and pushchairs to baby clothes and accessories.  Guests are presented with hard boiled eggs that have been dyed red (to symbolize happiness and the renewal of life) and picked red ginger (which is supposed to balance out an overtired new Mum’s yin and yang with a little heat).

Parties in africa
In South Africa Baby Showers are called Stork Parties and are often planned as a surprise for the Mum-to-be.  They take place typically when the expectant Mum is about 6 months pregnant.

Stork Parties are very similar to American Baby Showers due to the high volume of American television programs viewed in South Africa.  They are relaxed and informal but they really go to town on their cakes!  The cakes made as central pieces for the Stork Party are beautifully crafted and decorated, with several bakeries specialising in them.  Even the cup cakes are stunning!  In fact Stork Parties are becoming so popular in South Africa they have professional event planners to help organize them.

Ingredients

• 1 (9-inch) round cake
• 1 plain bread stick
• 1 roll red Fruit by the Foot
• 1 tube (.75 ounces each) decorating gels; blue, green, red, yellow, and orange
• 1 large orange spice drop
• 1/2 cup light blue jelly beans

Tools:

• A bread knife
• 3-inch round cookie cutter or glass
• 1 freezer-weight zip lock bag
• 1 small clean paintbrush

Trimming the cake:

1. Place the cake on a clean work surface. Using the bread knife cut the cake to make the top level. Cut the cake in half crosswise to make 2 semi-circles.
2. Spread some vanilla frosting on top of one cut side of cake. Place the other piece, cut side down and sandwich cakes together.
3. Use a cookie cutter or glass to cut 3 scallop pieces, 1 inch deep, along cut side of cake. Transfer the cake to a serving platter.

Frosting the cake:

1. Spoon 1/2 cup of the vanilla frosting into a zip lock bag.
2. Spread the remaining vanilla frosting over the top and sides of cake and make smooth.
3. Snip a small corner from the bag with the vanilla frosting and pipe and outline along edge of cake. Pipe 5 more lines of vanilla frosting to make even sections on top of cake.

To complete the cake:

1. Wrap the fruit leather around the bread stick, overlapping slightly, to cover completely. Press the breadstick into the base of the cake to look like the handle.
2. Press the large spice top at the top of the cake, adding more frosting if necessary.
3. Use the colored gels and fill in each section on top of the cake with a different color to create the stripes. Use the small paintbrush to help spread the gels evenly.
4. Arrange the blue jellybeans on the serving platter to look like raindrops.

Serves 12