Women who helped with the birth may also attend and take part in the ceremonial feast which follows. When leaving the pirt, a new mother will often leave a gift for Mara. Nine days after the baby is born, her godparents host a name-giving ceremony, or Krustaba, at the parents' home which lasts two days. In Latvia, a baby girl has two godmothers and one godfather. A boy has two godfathers and one godmother.
Parents usually appoint relatives as godparents.
Latvians believe children inherit their godparents' good qualities, so they select someone they'd like their children to emulate. In addition to participating in the name-giving ceremony, godparents are expected to raise the child in the event that the parents cannot. The name-giving ceremony begins in the morning. Guests arrive bringing gifts for the baby and food for the feast. And women wear their best and most expensive jewelry.