In the ruling classes in both German, Celtic and Slavic peoples there was an institutionalised form of hostage-taking by fosterage to secure loyalties and was practised in pre-christian times. Kings, princes, dukes, etc., placed their children as a hostage with a neighbour and the neighbour was (almost) certain that the parent would not risk the life of their offspring by entering alliances with "dangeous persons" otherwise the child would be mistreated or killed. Such child hostages were often exchanged to ensure a "mutual understanding". The practice of godparenting among the common citizenry was intended as an insurance policy for the wellbeing of the child, should the parents die before adulthood, as well as providing a security for that the child should be brought up in the Christan faith. It has also been common for a childless person to be invited to be a godparent, in the hope that the child may inherit the worldry goods of the godparent. ********************************************************* * Bill Stevenson * Mag. art. ( Geogr.sci.) * Incorporated Urban Planner * Research Librarian/Map Librarian * Aalborg University Library * Postbox 8220 * DK-9220 AALBORG * Denmark * E-mail: [email protected] * Telephone: (+45) 9635 9384 * Telefax: (+45) 9815 3844 * URL: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/2271 ********************************************************* We are drowning in information, while thirsting for wisdom This message was transmitted using information enriched recyclable electrons ****************************************************************** > -----Original Message----- > From: Ira J Lund [SMTP:[email protected]] > Sent: 17. september 2001 14.05 > To: [email protected] > Subject: RE: [CFTW] How to do with the swedish "faddrar"? > > A lot depends on the individual wishes. In CFT-Win you can attach more > than > one set of parents to an individual and indicate the parent type - such as > "god parent". > > In ancient Scandinavian this god parent relationship often resulted in the > god parent raising the child, even though the the natural birth parents > were still alive. Such is the case of King Håkon "the Good" (son of Harald > Hårfager "Fairhaired") who was raised by his godfather, the English King > Athelstan. In my genealogy, I do not show this godparent relationship, > although with such an intimate connection between the child and > godparents, > it sure makes one wonder. > > Ira > > At 12:01 PM 9/17/01 +0200, you wrote: > >Does CFTW handle this in any way? > >///Tomas > > > >-----Original Message----- > >From: Bill Stevenson [mailto:[email protected]] > >Sent: den 17 september 2001 08:38 > >To: [email protected] > >Subject: RE: [CFTW] How to do with the swedish "faddrar"? > > > > > >It means "godfather" ie one who takes upon themselves the responsibility > for > >the child´s upbringing should the parents die before adulthood. This is > the > >procedure in the Evangelical Lutheran (and other) church(es). > > ------------------------------------------------ > Mr. Ira J. Lund > E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.cf-software.com > > Cumberland Family Software, 385 Idaho Springs Road, Clarksville TN 37043 > > > ==== CFT-WIN Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from CFT-WIN, send an e-mail message to: > [email protected] (for individual messages) > [email protected] (for Digest mode) > Subject: unsubscribe > In the body include only one word: unsubscribe > (Turn OFF your signature file when sending this command) > > ============================== > Shop Ancestry - Everything you need to Discover, Preserve & Celebrate > your heritage! > http://shop.myfamily.com/ancestrycatalog