Anointing With Oil

[zombieharlot]

What does it mean, symbolize, or represent?

Tonight my mother wanted to anoint me with oil. Was it disrespectful of me to say no?

 

[sojourner]

In an arid climate where people rarely bathed, anointing the body with oil was a way to replenish lost moisture without further drying the skin making people feel better. It became associated with spiritual healing as a way to "help people feel better." Sort of like "kissing the boo-boo."
[edit] If you don't want to be anointed, there is nothing wrong with refusing it. Maybe you would find it a hindrance to your "feeling better" -- which is the whole point of the anointing.

There is also an anointing associated with recognizing kingship or authority -- I'm not sure where that comes from.