What is "circumcision"?

The so-called "circumcision" is a religious ceremony of Judaism and Islam. In Judaism, "circumcision" refers to cutting the foreskin of a baby boy's penis with a stone knife, which is a sign of joining Judaism. In Islam, "circumcision", also known as "Haitnai", refers to cutting off the foreskin of a boy's penis and the external reproductive organs of a girl with a scalpel, which is a way to obtain adult qualifications and the right to marry.

(1) Judaism's "circumcision"

According to Genesis, God made Abraham the father of all peoples and made a covenant with him. Every boy must be circumcised on the eighth day after birth as a sign of making a Covenant. An uncircumcised man cannot be the son of the Lord. Therefore, the Jewish people have the custom of circumcising newborn babies.

On the eighth day after the birth of a Jewish baby boy, his parents will perform Jewish circumcision on him, which indicates that the baby will become a full member of the Jewish family. A religious naming ceremony was held immediately after circumcision. Circumcision is always held in the early hours of the morning, and parents usually prepare a delayed breakfast as a holiday light meal. If parents want to circumcise their babies in maternity hospitals, they must consider whether the hospital conditions are suitable for circumcision.

After the Jewish baby is born, parents only need to call relatives and friends and invite them to participate in circumcision. When circumcision is held in a synagogue, guests and family members of the baby should wear ceremonial clothes. Whether women participate in the circumcision ceremony depends on local customs.

The naming ceremony of Jewish baby girls was held in the synagogue on the first Sunday after the full moon.

② the "circumcision" of Islam

According to the Islamic canon, all Muslim boys are circumcised, and uncircumcised men are not allowed to get married. Later, some Islamic nations evolved into: women who have not been circumcised are not allowed to get married. Therefore, among Muslims, circumcision has gradually become a "rite of passage".

The custom of circumcising children has been circulating in Egypt, Syria and other countries in the Middle East and North Africa for thousands of years and is still prevalent today. There are four theories about the origin of circumcision: first, circumcision originated from Islamic teachings; Second, circumcision stems from the tribal spirit of martial sacrifice. In order to defend the survival and interests of the tribe, people need to cultivate men's courage and fearless spirit, so they cut off a part of the human body without anesthesia to create heroes. Thirdly, circumcision comes from the viewpoint of health and hygiene. Circumcision of boys is to prevent internal secretions from gathering under the foreskin and causing inflammation. Fourth, men can't get married without circumcision.

In ancient times, circumcision was usually held when children were 7 years old, and the ceremony was very grand, sometimes no less than a wedding, or held at the same time as a wedding. Children of rich families will wear red and green, have a big banquet and celebrate it, and then priests will circumcise their children in public. Now, in order to reduce the psychological burden of children, cutting surgery is performed shortly after the child is born. Boys are usually circumcised about 8 days after birth, and doctors cut the skin on the penis head in the hospital. Girls are generally circumcised at the age of 3 to 10, and the female external genitalia is cut off. Female circumcision is regarded as a proof of chastity, and it is difficult for girls who have not had surgery to get married. In recent years, female circumcision has been strongly opposed by public opinion, so in Egypt, Sudan and other countries, most doctors, midwives, rural witches and even parents secretly perform it. Due to poor disinfection, many gynecological diseases are caused.

In Kenya, Okyay people regard circumcision as an adult ceremony, and think that those who are not circumcised are not adults, nor can they achieve the status of adults in society. Circumcision is usually held in an open field, where there is a house and a holy tree nearby. On the morning of the ceremony, boys and girls came to the room with branches in their hands and singing songs. Adult men and women are also dressed up to gather. When circumcising, men and women are separated. Boys are performed by experienced adult men or male doctors. Boys should show courage, endure the pain, don't shout, girls should be played by women. After dancing around the sacred tree for two weeks, the girls sat in front of the tree. Suddenly, a woman hugged the girl from behind, and another woman quickly circumcised her from the front with a sharp knife. The girl must hold back the pain and not shout. After the ceremony, people held branches, surrounded houses and sacred trees, and sang songs to praise the courage of these boys and girls. The circumcised girl has been living in this house for the next six months, and adult men are not allowed to visit. After half a year, they will be adults and can get married.

In Asia, the custom of "circumcision" is also popular among Muslims in Pakistan and Malays in Malaysia. But only boys are circumcised. In Pakistan, circumcision is usually performed between 15 and 7 years old. Parents should choose a good day, invite relatives and friends to attend, dress the boy like the groom, and the barber will circumcise the boy. In Malaysia, when a boy reaches the age of 10 to 12, parents will invite friends, relatives and neighbors to attend the circumcision ceremony. After the child takes a bath, he dresses up as the groom and is circumcised by the invited circumcision. But now circumcision in Malaysia has been greatly reduced, and even if it is held, it is not as grand as last month.