Tamil Traditions
What is the Tamil ceremony for a pregnant woman in her odd-numbered month of pregnancy?
Valaikappu
How many weeks is a full-term pregnancy?
40 Weeks
In Tamil families, what’s a common first gift given to a newborn?
Gold jewelry (chain, bangles, or anklet)
I hold milk, but I’m not a cow.
Baby bottle
Finish the line: “Twinkle Twinkle Little…”
Star
What traditional jewelry is worn during the Valaikappu?
Glass Bangles
Which vitamin is especially important during pregnancy?
Folic Acid
What’s a nickname Tamil elders often call a baby, regardless of gender?
Kutti (குட்டி), Thangam (gold) or kunju
I’m soft, colorful, and babies cuddle with me.
Stuffed toy / Teddy bear
What English baby song features sharks?
Baby Shark
What sweet are often served at Tamil baby ceremonies?
Laddu, Kesari or Jalebi
What is the term for a baby born before 37 weeks?
What is the common Tamil lullaby used to calm babies down?
Aararo Aariraro – traditional Tamil thalattu
I keep babies dry, but I’m not an umbrella.
Diaper
What Tamil lullaby is about a butterfly?
vannathi poochi vannathi poochi, parakkuthu paar...
What is the name of the ceremony where a baby is fed solid food for the first time?
Rice-feeding ceremony or Annaprashanam
This part of the body expands up to 10 cm during labour.
Cervix
In Tamil culture, what is often applied to a baby’s forehead or cheeks to ward off the evil eye?
A small black dot made from kohl
I play music or hang above cribs, what am I?
Baby mobile
What popular Tamil children’s rhyme is about the moon?
“Nila nila odi vaa”
During Valaikappu, why are bangles in odd numbers traditionally worn on both hands by the mother-to-be?
The sound of the bangles is believed to stimulate the baby's hearing in the womb and bring positive energy to the mother.
What organ connects the baby to the mother?
Placenta
In many Tamil families, what is the fun tradition involving a tray of objects placed in front of a baby on their first birthday to predict their future?
Pallu Kollukattai ceremony – the baby chooses from items like a pen (scholar), money (wealth), jewelry (luxury), or book (knowledge) to “predict” their future path.
I help parents carry the baby hands-free.
Baby sling or carrier
In the Tamil rhyme “Aathichudi,” written by the poet Avvaiyar, what letter does every line begin with?
Each line begins with a letter from the Tamil alphabet (A, Aa, E, Ee...). It’s a moral alphabet used in childhood education.