Baby showers are fast becoming increasingly popular around the world, and businesses have responded with baby shower party supplies specially designed for the occasion. A baby shower is a celebration of the pending or recent birth of a baby, and are typically though not necessarily a women-only event, especially when held informally at one's workplace with colleagues. Hispanics seem to be the ones who indulge in such commemorative events the most, though as previously mentioned the practice is a growing one worldwide.
Baby showers are, however, generally regarded as being an American tradition, having been started by a German immigrant during the eighteenth century, a silversmith and businessman who encouraged gift-giving among the upper classes of New York. (Whether he also sold them cheap party supplies is unknown!) Also, the word "shower" is assumed to refer to the fact that the woman receiving the honors is showered with gifts, but this etymology is in dispute.
Baby showers were originally meant for women but with its popularity has come the attendance of men. It had also been traditional for baby showers to be held only for the first child, though over time the tradition was extended for every birth. Nowadays, there are even men-only baby showers, often for homosexuals. In some cultures, such as among certain Jews and Ethiopians, a celebration only takes place after the actual birth.
Baby showers are now being held in Europe and Asia as well. In the more traditional cultures of Third World countries, baby showers still remain a women-only affair. In the United States, more formal baby showers take place outside the workplace while those occurring at work usually involve the mother being taken out to lunch or dinner by her colleagues in addition to receiving gifts and even outright cash. Though such events can involve company approval, they are almost always organized by a close friend among coworkers. Being that these kinds of baby showers are fairly ad hoc events, there are very few common practices or rules. Thus, like bridal showers and bachelor's parties, they are often open to new ideas. For example, rubbing the expectant mother's belly is now something that is often entertained. In this regard, 3D ultrasound photos are also passed around. Less elaborate celebrations are sometimes called diaper showers, involving small necessities such as diapers and baby food, often for those expectant mothers who already have children and presumably need far less.
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