El bolo

in new mexico, after the baptism, there is a simple ceremony in which the padrinos give back to the parents the baptized child; they do so while saying:

compadre y comadre:

les entregamos esta rosa que salió

con los santos sacramentos y el agua

que recibió. Se llama _________________

godfather and godmother:

we give you this rose (child) that has received

the holy sacraments and the water.

His/her name is _______________________

The parents accept the child saying:

Recibimos esta rosa que de la iglesia salió

Con los santos sacramentos y el agua que recibió.

Gracias.

We receive this rose (child) which came out of

Church having received the holy sacraments

And the water.

Thank you.

The home festivity after baptism is universal. It includes food and drink, and sometimes a toast to the new child and its parents, some music, and sometimes a dance. Pennies, nickels, dimes and even quarters are tossed up in the air by the godparents for children to pick up. This custom, called el bolo, is also practiced at house blessings and weddings. It seems analogous to the throwing of rice at a wedding or money into a wishing well in hopeful expectation of abundance and good fortune in life. This custom is common in texas and California and almost non-existent in new mexico.