Abstract
The study presents some of the conclusions reached within a postdoctoral project financed by the Romanian National Research Council. After having investigated childbirth beliefs and practices in villages of Moldavia, the author continues on the same topic, but she interviews urbanites this time. The fact that they left their rural homes almost 50 years ago to live in cities did not change the traditional behaviour when it comes to rituals and life crises. The study reveals how the generally human need to influence positively the future preserves magic gestures and superstitions regarding the new-born.
Keywords: childbirth beliefs, heathen baby, superstitions, Godparents, urban anthropology.
Cuvinte-cheie: obiceiuri de naştere, copilul păgân, superstiţii, naşi, antropologie urbană.