Every step you make before, during, and after the christening of your child reflects on your reverence in the ceremony. You need to know who to invite, what to wear, how to go about the entire process, and how to act. If you’ve never done this before, here’s what you need to know.
The Ceremony
The ceremony itself is a religious one where your child will be “adopted†into the Church. This ceremony usually involves the dipping of the baby’s head in water, or pouring of water over the baby’s head. It usually occurs at the end of church service and friends and relatives may join in the service. It’s common to host a get-together after the ceremony and invite the priest, though this is not absolutely necessary.
The Dress
Your baby or child will wear one of several christening gowns depending on whether it’s a boy or girl being christened and how old he or she is. If the child will be fully immersed in water, it will also be necessary to have a towel handy. Usually, the preferred color for everything the child wears is white.
It’s a good idea for you to dress conservatively too. Women should wear knee-length or longer skirts, a dress, and a formal top. Sometimes, formal slacks and a blouse are acceptable too. Look at kids party clothes in Brazil for ideas on how to dress your other children.
Men should wear more formal clothes as well, but can get by with slacks, a button down, and a sport coat or blazer. A tie is For a more conservative approach, men should wear a suit.
Contacting The Church
Contact the church in advance to plan for the ceremony. It doesn’t have to be several months in advance, but the sooner the better – your church may have special events being held at the church for several Sundays in a row. Speaking with your pastor in advance will also let you become familiar with the process before it happens. Your pastor can teach you what the ceremony is all about, how he or she will conduct it, and what your responsibilities are.
Who To Invite
It’s common to invite friends and family members – especially close friends. But, really, this is a personal event, so you should invite those whom you feel especially close to. It’s expected that you will choose Godparents. Godparents serve as spiritual advisors to the child throughout his or her life. They are chosen by you and are usually either especially close relatives or friends.
Gifts
It’s not necessary to buy gifts, and guests need not buy them for the ceremony. If they do buy them, common gifts include silver spoon or place setting, a silver cup, or a silver photo frame. You may also choose to give something to the godparents you’ve chosen, however it doesn’t have to be anything expensive. It doesn’t have to be anything at all, in fact.
And, while the priest won’t expect anything in return, a financial contribution to the church is often appreciated.
GUEST BLOGGER: Diane Leclair is a greeting card lady of many years. When she’s not setting up the latest holiday display, she’s sharing what she has learned about enjoying life’s stages. You can read her informative articles on a number of websites and blogs today.
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