What to give a child for christening
In connection with the baptism of a small child, and this should be done, preferably before the age of one, parents and relatives must choose his godfather and mother. This is a great honor and a great responsibility, because these people become spiritual mentors of children, and must guide them throughout their lives along the right path and educate them in accordance with religious traditions.
Along with their parents, they raise the child from an early age, help him in everything, and in some cases, can financially support the family of their godson. In other words, these are his closest people after mom and dad.
On the day of baptism, godparents traditionally give gifts of both religious content and ordinary necessary things. In addition to them, other relatives also present gifts to the little Christian, and first of all, the older generation of the family - grandparents.
It has long been believed that on this peaceful, bright day one should not give:
- alcohol;
- weapon;
- cash.
Perhaps we can agree with the first two points - such gifts are inappropriate, but there are different opinions about money. Nowadays, many families continue to live more than modestly, especially in the outback, and, of course, any amount that can be spent on things for the baby - diapers, baby clothes and much more will help them. There will be nothing shameful if one of the relatives thus takes part in the fate of the baby. But then it is better to hand the banknotes to parents in a beautiful postcard envelope with a picture of a temple or other symbolic image.
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Of course, you need to give something useful for the baptized child’s home, but then it’s worth asking your relatives in advance what children’s things the family needs. This way you can avoid identical gifts bought by different people.
There is no need to discuss this issue when it comes to sweet gifts. In most cases, after baptism, a small celebration with tea is held and it will be good if there are pastries or cakes on the table. Such a holiday cannot be noisy, especially since dancing and alcohol are not expected; in addition, you should not invite strangers or unfamiliar people to such a personal event.
What do they give to the godfather?
Choosing a gift for your godfather is not so easy. If women are distinguished by sentimentality and piety, then men in this regard are more restrained and practically non-superstitious. When choosing a gift for your godfather, you should rely not only on his hobbies, but also on his family status. If he is married, the gift can be chosen taking into account the household needs of his family.
From goddaughter
It is known that the godfather for the christening of a child must pay for the ceremony in the church, purchase a cross and a chain (a rope for him) for the godson. For this reason, it is worth respecting the man who agreed to such a responsible role by presenting him with a return gift. The following gifts would be appropriate from a goddaughter:
- an icon depicting a saint bearing the same name as the man;
- a car “cross”, consecrated in the church, and sold there;
- angel figurine;
- personalized silver spoon;
- personalized pen;
- “save and preserve” ring.
The list of possible gifts may be changed and supplemented. In some cases, it is better to ask your godfather what he would like to receive in terms of a present.
From godson
Wonderful gifts for the godfather on the day of christening from the godson will be:
- a joint photo made on canvas, framed by a handmade frame;
- a train made of silver with an engraving in the form of the date of the event and the baby’s name;
- passport cover;
- tie holder;
- pen;
- handmade clutch wallet;
- umbrella with an unusual print.
In addition, it is important to take into account the person’s hobbies when choosing a gift for him. You should not ignore sets of household utensils, since perhaps the man himself will not purchase, for example, devices that speed up the cooking process, but will be very happy with them
A business person will be glad to have a beautiful case or a desktop organizer, which will allow him to bring order to his desktop.
Gifts tailored to the godfather's hobby
There are often cases when a gift is chosen taking into account a person’s hobbies. On christening day, extreme sports enthusiasts can be given the following gifts:
- certificate for a sightseeing tour by helicopter;
- parachute jump certificate;
- certificate for the purchase of goods in sports stores.
Movie lovers will definitely like such gifts as:
- a notepad for recording impressions of films watched;
- “What movie did I watch” scratch card;
- a subscription to a cinema (premiere screenings, for example);
- cinema tickets for the upcoming premiere.
For those who like to collect certain figurines, you can present the one that is missing. A person who loves to work with wood will appreciate a quality set of tools. A book lover will be pleased to receive a series of works by his favorite author. An athlete will appreciate a non-classic version of a sports bag or laundry duffel bag, which he can use while going to training. Food lovers will definitely appreciate unusual sets of dishes or even just beautifully designed personalized mugs.
What to give a child for christening from the godfather
Godparents are selected according to certain rules prescribed by church canons. They cannot be spouses, real father and mother, dissenters, or people with the same name as the child. In addition, there is an age limit - such responsibility can be taken by a girl no younger than 13 years old and a guy no younger than 15 years old. As for the degree of relationship to the godson’s family, it, by and large, does not matter, the main thing is that they are like-minded people. Baptism can take place on any day of the week, but is usually done on Saturday. Traditionally, godparents come to the child's home to take him to church, but they are not allowed to sit down.
If the godson is a boy, then the godfather becomes his main caregiver and educator, and teaches him love, morality and good deeds.
The main gift from the godfather is the cross, the personification of Faith and the main amulet of a believer. When choosing a thing for an infant, you need to make sure in advance that it is safe for the baby - it should not be too large, and it is better if it has rounded edges rather than sharp ones that will not scratch the baby’s delicate skin. In addition, it must be previously consecrated. This special item can be made of gold, silver, copper or wood and hung on a chain or strong cord.
The godfather not only gives an important religious attribute for the sacrament, but also pays for this solemn, church procedure. Spiritual literature is also an important gift from a mentor:
- A children's Bible, which parents will initially read to the baby, and later he himself will be able to learn from it about the origin of the world, the exploits of biblical heroes, the lives of prophets and kings, and also comprehend the meaning of life. There are beautiful large publications with magnificent illustrations, which will certainly be useful for the godson’s soul and his spiritual development.
- A prayer book (prayer book) is essentially a collection of prayers that is relevant for every believer, because not a day goes by without turning to God. In the future, a child will definitely need this liturgical book, which will help him grow morally, improve, be pure and immaculate.
- The life of the saint whose name the baby is named is, as a rule, a description of the lives of martyrs and great martyrs, instructive stories that help to understand the meaning of righteousness, and how important it is to constantly work on one’s shortcomings.
What to give a child for christening is already determined by tradition, but, in addition, the godfather can give the baby other gifts: rattles for the baby, carousels for the bed, a silver spoon, a candlestick in the shape of an angel, educational games. When the godson grows up, gifts for him can include school and sports supplies, modern computer devices, and clothes.
Traditional gifts
What to give a boy for baptism? All traditional gifts can be purchased at the church store or those purchased at the church can be blessed. By choosing them, you will never go wrong, because they perfectly correspond to the symbolism and spirit of the holiday.
Clothes for baptism
Baptismal clothes, which are used after immersion in the font, will be a necessary gift for a child. The classic option is a long shirt, but here it is worth considering the boy’s age: for older people, a suit of a short shirt and pants may be more suitable. Clothes should be made of natural fabrics (cotton, linen), not restrict movement and be easy to put on, because the time for performing the sacrament is limited. There is no need to overdo it with the decor, it will disturb the child. And for the cold season, choose warmer fabrics. Dyed clothes will be the most suitable answer to the question of what to give your godson for christening.
Set of towels
Baptismal towels are also necessary during the ceremony, because after the font the child needs to be dried. The same principles apply here as with clothing: the fabric should be soft, pleasant to the body and without any special decoration. If you did not buy a special towel for baptism, then choose a plain white one. This will be a good and budget-friendly christening gift for your grandson.
Kryzhma
This is a special lace canopy that is used in the baptism process. Choose fabric that is as pleasant to the body as possible. But in the case of kryzhma, as with other baptismal clothes, it is not necessary to pay a lot of money, because these items are used only once. In the future, parents will keep the kryzhma in memory of the sacrament performed. It will become a special family heirloom.
Icons
In this case, there are several options for donating various icons. First, give an icon of the saint in whose honor the child is named. It can be small in size or “measured”, that is, it can be the size of a boy (in this case, the icon is made to order). Secondly, you can give images of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the apostles. Any guest can give an icon for baptism; there are no restrictions.
Religious literature
You can give a child the Psalter, the Bible, and the Gospel, so that he begins to comprehend the intricacies of Christianity from childhood. And so that this study is not too complicated, you can give adapted versions for children, as well as collections of Orthodox fairy tales.
Religious items
Religious items include various incense lamps, lamps and decorations that were previously consecrated in the temple. If the child is too young to carry it, his parents can keep the gifts at home. Here's what you can give your grandmother for her grandson's christening.
Candlesticks for church candles
You can choose beautiful and unusual options. Silver is widely used for baptism gifts; candlesticks made from this material, with proper care, will delight the eye for a long time and remind you of the eternal.
Silver
What to give to a godfather for a child's christening? Silver spoons, toys, plates and other items also make great gifts. Moreover, the child can definitely use this himself. Silver products are much cheaper than gold and much more durable than any train made of plastic. This value will not lose its value and will always remind the child of you.
What to give a child for christening from the godmother
A godmother is a kind angel who protects her spiritual child from danger and takes care of the purity of his soul throughout his life; moreover, she helps the child in all matters.
Gifts from the godmother are also important and significant, since they subsequently protect the godson in many dangerous situations:
- First of all, this is a dimensional icon on which a saint is drawn who protects the child. It is depicted in a strict manner, characteristic of the icon painting style. It is important that the board used for this is equal in length to the height of the child at the time of birth. In most cases, such an item is ordered in advance from the master, and is of real value.
- Instead of a measured icon, the godmother can give her godson an icon of a guardian angel. Usually, it is placed at the head of the child's bed. They do this to protect the baby from diseases and troubles.
- Just like the godfather, the spiritual mother can give the baby’s parents books of the Holy Scriptures - it is believed that the collection of these esoteric books was created by people through their communication with God. For true believers, who are usually fathers and mothers who baptize their children, this is necessary spiritual food that is needed, along with physical food.
- Like a real mother, the godmother is obliged to think about the baby's attire during the ceremony. Kryzhma is a piece of linen, a blanket or white clothing needed to wrap a child in after ablution. Today it is customary to give a set of such clothes, decorated with lace, which includes a shirt, cap and towel for the godson. Before the procedure, these things are illuminated by the priest, and after baptism they are removed and carefully stored - they are considered protective amulets for the reborn little person. Many people additionally embroider a cross on these things, since this increases the power of such a talisman immensely.
In addition, the godmother can give her goddaughter gold or silver jewelry, such as a pendant, bracelet and earrings, which she will wear when she grows up. Positively charged amulets will include the godmother’s own handmade knitted booties, scarves and slippers, socks, blouses and dresses, other children’s clothing, as well as hand-woven hair ties, bracelets, and other homemade items.
In turn, the child’s parents also give the godparents symbolic, memorable gifts in the form of incense, candlesticks, small icons, beautiful postcards, and treat them after the ceremony with special church dishes made from grain and honey.
The best gift options from parents to godparents
Usually, at the sacrament of Baptism, gifts are given to the baby, but it would not be amiss to please the godparents, who from that moment become new members of the family and are responsible for the child before God. It is not necessary to purchase something very expensive; even a modest gift appropriate for the occasion will please a couple of godparents and will remind them of this day in the future.
The choice also depends on the gender of the person who is going to become the second parent for the baptized person. What is suitable for a woman will look inappropriate as a gift for a man.
Icon
An image of the face of saints or the Lord is given to both men and women; such a gift would be especially appropriate if they are devout and often attend church. A universal icon as a gift to a godparent will be an image of the face of a saint who patronizes a person, that is, a personalized one. If a married couple takes part in the sacrament, then you can purchase for them the image of Matrona of Moscow or Xenia of St. Petersburg, who are considered the protectors of the family hearth.
An icon of Jesus Christ would also be a good gift for a man, and an image of the Virgin Mary for a woman. However, before purchasing a gift, you need to ask what icons are already hanging in the house of the future godparents, so as not to buy the same thing.
Prayer book
This gift is also equally suitable for both men and women. An original idea would be a cover for a prayer book with the initials of the godparents and an image of the patron saint. Such a gift can be ordered in a workshop, or you can make it yourself using embroidery.
Bible
A gift-bound Bible will be an unforgettable gift for the sacrament of Baptism for recipients. The embossed cover for the Holy Letter also looks original.
Napkins with embroidery
A set of embroidered napkins is more suitable as a gift for the godmother, but if this is a married couple, it will also be a good solution. You can embroider the initials of your recipients, lines from the Bible or short prayers on them. Since this is a woman’s job, and the mother of the person being baptized does not have time for needlework after giving birth, they order such a gift from craftswomen. It will not cost much, but at the same time it will be a pleasant surprise for your godfathers.
Ladanka
Incense is presented as a gift to both the godmother and the father. Depending on the financial capabilities of the parents of the person being baptized, this may be an item made of silver or gold plated. A creative solution would be to give the recipients the same amulet with their initials.
Christening gifts for a child from guests and relatives
Family members, close and distant relatives can present their gifts to the godchildren. There is a certain list of what to give to a child under one year old for christening. For babies of different sexes, you can choose specific gifts on this joyful special day.
Let's see what gifts for godchildren are acceptable:
- toys for children - large children's books made of high-quality plastic and rubber, soft cubes, crib mobiles, educational mats, bead boards, rattles, sorters, rubber toys;
- children's vehicles - pushers, gurneys, rocking chairs;
- beautiful vests, rompers and slips, bed linen made from natural materials;
- a comfortable bathtub made of hypoallergenic material, combined with a changing table and chest of drawers, or a separate children's bathtub with hydromassage;
- playpen, foldable, in the form of a crib and screen;
- orthopedic mattress for a crib or stroller made of natural latex;
- baby stroller with cradle, seat block, rain cover and mosquito net.
Gifts for a boy’s christening include large and small cars, blocks and construction sets, remote-controlled toys, educational games; for older children: things necessary for school - globes, maps, tablets, clocks, kits for creativity based on hobbies.
When choosing christening gifts for a girl , you can choose a beautiful doll or an elegant dress. Goddaughters, babies and older children are presented with beautiful jewelry, silver cutlery, beautiful boxes and jewelry boxes, elegant lamps or candlesticks in the shape of an angel, and interesting religious books.
Household members can easily buy children's furniture for children of both sexes, for example, a high-quality transformable crib with a transverse swing pendulum and a compact chest of drawers with drawers for storing clothes and other children's things.
Is it worth giving money?
In general, such a gift would not be inappropriate.
If you really don’t know what to give for a christening, then you can stop at money.
Children always need to buy something, so parents will use the amount at their own discretion.
It’s worth winning money with interesting packaging, a postcard or an envelope. They can be decorated to match the theme of the baptism.
Christening gifts from grandparents
Representatives of the older generation treat their grandchildren with endless warmth and trepidation, and on the day of baptism they have the opportunity to present them with a good memorable gift. Such things can be useful in the everyday life of children or have a religious nature and be given for educational purposes.
Gifts from grandfather can be different, especially interesting are those made with your own hands:
- this is a beautiful wooden or birch bark box or basket for your granddaughter, in which you can put sweets and fruits;
- a personally assembled model of a car, helicopter or ship;
- souvenir figurines made of wood or plaster in the form of angels;
- pieces of furniture, such as a homemade children's high chair, a book shelf or even a desk for a schoolchild.
Gifts from a grandmother are clothes sewn for her granddaughters, a suit, a dress, a beautiful blouse, a knitted scarf with a hat, multi-colored socks or a picturesque cross-stitch or satin stitch painting in a beautiful frame, which can become a family heirloom.
Also, inexpensive souvenirs on religious themes can be memorabilia - figurines made of metal, porcelain, ceramics depicting holy saints, small icons and medallions with the face of the Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary, original church candles, bronze bells with an angel, vessels for fir trees, incense and special jugs for ablution.
What is kryzhma?
This is a piece of white cloth that is needed to wrap the baby in it after the bath. In the future, the kryzhma will become a talisman for this person. It must be kept for life. Can't be washed or used in everyday life. It is believed that after the ritual, kryzhma acquires healing properties. For example, people believe that if you cover a sick child with this white cloth, he will soon recover.
Orthodox people believe that the one who preserved the Kryzhma saved his happiness.
Previously, only white fabric was used. Now the range of this category of goods has become larger, factories have begun to produce very beautiful colored kryzhmas.
Sometimes, instead of this attribute, high-quality towels that are decorated with embroidery are used. Some have images of angels. You can also embroider the date of baptism on such products. This kind of kryzhma can never be confused with a sheet, and storing it is much more pleasant. The terry product will keep your baby dry and warm. And if the future godmother is a needlewoman, you can decorate the kryzhma with braid, lace, and satin bows.
For convenience, church kryzhmas are sold in cute bags. In such a product you can store packaged children's hair from tonsure (if they give it to you), as well as baptismal candles.
