Christening gift for a child - TOP 100 best ideas from godparents

The christening of a child is a bright family holiday, to which it is customary to invite the child’s godparents, relatives, and close friends. In terms of significance in Orthodoxy, this day is comparable to the birth of a person - a baby is born spiritually for a righteous life. On the occasion of Epiphany, parents prepare treats, and guests bring gifts to the hero of the occasion. The issue of gifts for the christening of a child can be classified as the preferences and financial capabilities of parents and godparents. As a rule, the gift from the godparents is a baptismal set, as well as other accessories necessary for baptism (pectoral cross, icon, donation for performing the ceremony in the temple).

If everything is more or less clear with godparents, then what should you give the baby to other invited guests and relatives?

Christening gifts from godparents

Content:

Godparents are given an honorable role at the sacrament of baptism. From the moment of baptism, these people become second parents and spiritual mentors for the baby. Since ancient times, it has been customary that godparents should prepare such symbolic gifts for their godson as a pectoral cross, which he will wear around his neck, an outfit in which the ceremony will take place, and other gifts. What to give your godson for christening?

Pectoral cross. It is absolutely not necessary to buy an expensive item made of gold; on the contrary, silver is more appropriate here. There is also no need to buy a chain; the church shop sells special strong ropes for crosses. A cross or crucifix must be blessed in the church before the ceremony. You can also buy it already consecrated in a shop near the church.

There are special requirements for a cross for babies: its shape must be such that it does not scratch the baby’s delicate skin, all small parts must be well soldered to prevent them from detaching and getting into the baby’s respiratory tract.

Kryzhma is a blanket in which the baby is wrapped after the bath. You can sew this attribute yourself from light material. The fabric should be soft, natural, pleasant to the body and absorb moisture well. According to tradition, kryzhma is a white piece of fabric, but recently it is increasingly decorated with various stripes and embroideries in the form of a cross, an angel, some kind of pattern or church symbol. It is believed that a cross embroidered on fabric is a good symbol, a sign of purity.

Before use, the kryzhma must also be blessed by the priest. After dipping in holy water, the baby is wrapped in kryzhma and remains there until the end of the ceremony. At the end, the baby is dressed in new, elegant clothes.

Baby clothes. As a christening gift, the godparents must present the girl with a new elegant dress, and the boy with a shirt. Previously, godparents independently sewed outfits for their godchildren. Currently, there is no such need, since on store shelves you can choose clothes for every taste. If the godparents know how to sew, then an outfit made with their own hands after the christening will be very useful.

As for the ready-made baptism kit, it most often includes a dress or shirt, a cap or cap and socks. Christening dresses are decorated with beautiful embroidery, lace, ribbons and bows.

Clothes should be comfortable, made from natural materials, fit the child in size and be appropriate for the weather. It is customary to keep clothes and attributes for baptism for life; they are not burned, much less thrown away.

Dishes and toys. Not long ago, people began to give a silver spoon to their baby for baptism. A silver spoon is a beautiful, practical product that will definitely come in handy for your little one. Under no circumstances should you leave your baby without a toy for the holiday. A girl will be delighted with a doll or soft toy, and as a christening gift for a boy, you can buy a car or a construction set.

What to give as a gift from your godfather: useful tips

The spiritual parent accepts responsibility before God for the boy, for the spiritual education of his cross. Among the main gifts from him are:

• pectoral cross. Choose an attribute for baptism according to your financial capabilities. There are copper, silver, gold, and wooden versions of products. It is better to buy them at the temple. If you purchased a precious item in a jewelry boutique, the priest will bless it before placing it around the boy’s neck;
• a chain made of the same metal as the cross; you can purchase a special ribbon made of natural material of the appropriate length;

• As a bonus, an Orthodox pectoral icon with the face of the Saint will be suitable for the gift - the church ministers will help you choose the appropriate option. You can choose an inexpensive attribute or a product made of valuable metal;
• a talisman or talisman against the evil eye or a silver bell is a powerful protector against all bad weather. Also acts as an additional gift from the godfather;
• two-in-one stroller: with a cradle and a walking block. Perhaps mom and dad haven’t had time to acquire such transport yet;
• payment of expenses associated with the baptismal ceremony is done by the godfather, although by agreement the child’s parents can also pay for the services of the church;
• photo session in the temple - photo and video filming of the baptism ceremony, it can be financed by the godfather at will, making it as a gift to the baby.

Gifts for the Sacrament of Baptism from guests

If you have been invited to a significant and solemn ceremony of baptism, then be sure to prepare a gift not only for the baby, but also for his parents, because for them this event is also important and exciting. What to give a child for christening? The answer to this question is multifaceted.

Currently, there are no special requirements for gifts, but it is good if it is memorable and practical. Gift options:

• Photo album. Among the abundance of photo products, you can choose a photo album designed in the appropriate theme so that the baby’s parents fill it with pictures from the upcoming event.
• A bouquet of flowers and a box of sweets - sweets, cookies, marmalade. Flowers are a universal gift and parents will be very pleased to receive them for a child’s christening, and sweets will be an excellent addition to the holiday table.
• A personalized icon is a symbolic christening gift that can be given to both a boy and a girl.
• Every child should have a children's Bible with colorful illustrations and it can be an excellent gift on this special day.
• Baby clothes. Everyone knows that children grow by the hour, so a new dress, suit, trousers, blouse will never be superfluous. It is best to buy clothes as a gift 1-2 sizes larger.
• Children's bed linen, a towel, and a set of bedding are a practical and necessary gift for every family.
• Gold earrings for a girl or a gold chain for a boy are expensive, but high-quality and necessary gifts that will remind you of you even after several years.

Traditional gifts

Not many people know that christening is the spiritual birthday of a child, when a little person enters the fold of the church. On this day, gifts are brought to the baby as a sign of the completion of a spiritual sacrament. Is it really possible to just bring toys and clothes in honor of such a significant event? Our ancestors gave their godchildren necessary and symbolic objects.

List of godparents' gifts:

• silver spoon “to bite”;
• silver cup;
• icon of the Guardian Angel;
• children's Bible;
• clothes with Orthodox symbols;
• a bag for storing the first strand;
• cross;
• kryzhma.

A silver spoon and cup are very useful things for a baby. Using a spoon you can not only feed the baby, but also disinfect the water. To disinfect water, simply place the spoon in a container of water for several hours.

Important! If a child uses silverware, his baby teeth will not turn black.

The Icon of the Guardian Angel is a wonderful gift for christening. An icon can be given to a child of any gender, just like silverware. You can also give a personalized icon to your baby. Godparents can agree on which of them will give which icon. You can also give an icon of the Mother of God to a girl and an icon of the Wonderworker to a boy.

The icon of the Guardian Angel, placed at the baby’s cradle, protects his night’s sleep.

Along with the icon, you can give your child a children's Bible as a gift. This will remind parents of their responsibilities to raise their child in the spirit of Orthodox traditions. The Bible will be the first book of the new Christian.

Not everyone knows what kryzhma is. This is a special diaper in which the baby is wrapped after immersion in the font. Now you can use a beautiful white towel or a special fabric with embroidered Orthodox symbols. After christening, the krymza is not washed, but simply dried.

Kryzhma serves as a talisman for a Christian for life. With its help, you can treat illnesses - simply take cover or wipe the body with prayer.

The baptismal swaddling cloth must be protected like the apple of your eye. Previously, evil witches could cause severe damage through it or steal a child’s happy share. Also, with the help of kryzhma, rejuvenation rituals were and are carried out. Therefore, parents must treat the baby's belongings responsibly so that they do not get stolen.

A cross is a necessary item for a christening. The metal can be any, but the cross must first be consecrated. If you buy a cross in a church, you do not need to consecrate it.

The bag for the first cut curls is given by the godmother. You can sew it yourself, or you can buy it in a store. It is advisable to embroider the baby's name on the bag. According to Orthodox tradition, the first cut curls are not thrown away, but are kept for life.

Note! Since the baby is in the arms of the godmother during the baptism ceremony, she buys all the outfits and kryzhma. The godfather gives a cross.

What does a godmother give to a boy or girl at christening? A traditional gift is a baptismal kit for a baby:

• shirt;
• diaper;
• cap;
• socks;
• booties.

The color of the set should be light colors - white, soft blue, soft pink or beige. A christening gift for a girl includes a dress. In cold weather, you need to additionally buy a warm blouse.

If only one godparent (father or mother) is chosen, the parents agree on the purchase of things necessary for the ceremony. If a godfather is chosen, then the baby's mother buys the christening clothes. However, the godfather can purchase the baptismal kit himself if he wishes.

Gift from grandparents

The older generation takes Orthodox events more reverently and seriously, and baptisms are much more important to them than other significant dates.
A gift from grandparents should be special, such as an angel pendant in gold or silver, or a photo frame decorated with church designs and symbols. In addition to memorable gifts, grandparents can please their grandson or granddaughter with a toy or buy clothes. Grandmothers love to combine the useful with the practical to make it easier for parents to spend on their baby.

What is better not to give?

It is unacceptable to give alcoholic beverages on this day, with the exception of Cahors - church wine, symbolizing the blood of Jesus Christ, as well as money. On the other hand, money is a good gift, especially if the giver does not know how to please the family on this bright day. But they should be a useful addition to the main themed gift.

Thus, baptism gifts can be varied. There are many ideas. Godparents usually give everything related to Christian themes, and other guests simply give useful things.

Which icon should I give for christening?

Orthodox gifts are always relevant at christenings. This could be the image of the baby’s patron saint, with the face of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker - this is a universal icon for a boy, or an icon of a guardian angel. Often sick children are recommended to have an icon of St. Panteleimon the Healer, and the face of St. Matrona is a talisman of troubles and misfortunes.

The icon of the Savior will be appropriate under any circumstances. If you find it difficult to choose, you can always ask a priest for advice.

Is it worth giving money?

Nobody canceled such a gift for baptism. It can be presented when the person invited to the holiday knows little about the young family and simply does not know what they might need. And after presenting an envelope with an amount that on average can vary from 3,000 to 5,000 rubles, he will definitely be sure that he has not offended anyone.

In general, the decision on how much he will offer as a gift is determined by the donor himself. It all depends on his financial condition, social status, and the closeness of his relationship with his young family. You should not put your last money in an envelope or lend it, since baptism is a bright holiday and all gifts should be given with a pure heart and bright thoughts.

Other gifts

It is not at all necessary to select symbolic gifts for Christening. You can give something really useful and necessary, for example:

• Walkers.
• Chair for babies.
• Bike.
• Scooter.
• Swing.
• Tolokar.
• Packing of diapers.
• A set of personal hygiene products.
• Mobile for a crib.
• Souvenirs.
• Developmental mat.
• Books.
• A commemorative box for storing the first baby tooth, the first hair cut, a pacifier, tags from the maternity hospital, and so on.

Popular gift ideas

When puzzling over what to give a boy for a christening, you should turn to popular ideas. These include:

• clothes (it is important to check the sizes with the child’s mother);
• sets for bathing in the bathroom (it is worth asking your parents in advance what hygiene products they use, since babies are often allergic to certain products);
• walkers;
• blanket for the crib;
• a soft double-sided blanket (there are workshops that knit such items to order, embroidering a short protective prayer along their edge);
• bath sets (cocoon towel, allowing you to completely wrap your baby after taking a bath, bootie slippers, robe);
• children's digital photo frames;
• photo albums that allow you to record significant moments in your baby’s life by recording them and pasting in pictures.

What to give an adult for christening?

Many people think that christenings are exclusively a children’s event, but this is not so. Many people come to this when they are of a conscious age and make their own decision and choice of faith. What is customary to give at christenings?

• Bibles in a beautiful binding will appeal not only to children, but also to adults and Orthodox Christians.
• Iconostasis is a shelf for storing icons. This is a very symbolic and necessary gift. You can buy an iconostasis in a store to make an original custom gift.
• A candlestick, incense, a cross, a crucifix - all this can and should be given as a christening gift.
• Money is a universal gift option for any event or holiday.

Guest gifts

Those invited to the christening can give any gifts for the baby; they do not have to be themed.

List of guest gifts:

• soft toy in beautiful packaging;
• bed linen sets;
• terry towel;
• baby blanket;
• photo frame with photo album;
• elegant clothes;
• playpen, walkers, rocking chairs;
• bathing items.

The list can be supplemented at your discretion. The main thing is that a christening gift should be given from the heart.

Photos of christening gifts

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How to make your christening congratulations memorable?

Whoever gives a gift always hopes that it will be pleasant and memorable. In order for this to happen, sometimes it is enough to decorate your gift in an unusual way, for example, in bright wrapping paper. It would be useful to offer assistance to young parents in organizing the holiday and decorating the room where the celebration will be held after the ceremony.

Naturally, we should not forget that we need to congratulate the child’s parents, in particular the mother. She will be especially pleased to receive a bouquet of beautiful flowers, as well as a “sweet” or “fruit” basket. It’s worth asking, of course, whether the young mother is breastfeeding, so that when decorating the basket you don’t put in something that she won’t be able to eat. When choosing a gift, it is important to take into account all the wishes of the baby’s parents, and also ask what other invitees will give. Otherwise, you can give two identical gifts, which will not be particularly pleasant.

What not to give to a godson or goddaughter

The choice of gifts for a spiritual son or daughter has no restrictions, except for alcohol, sharp and cutting objects, and money.

Alcohol

A gift of wine or a stronger alcoholic drink to a godson is not worthy of a godfather. Encouraging people to try intoxicating drinks at a young age is a sin. It doesn't matter whether it's a collectible wine or not. The Orthodox Church condemns drunkenness. A spiritual mentor should have a beneficial influence on the formation of character, instill faith in God, and not give rise to a bad habit.

Weapon

You cannot give edged weapons. According to popular belief, this will bring bad luck to the godson. Christians believe that evil will come with the knife.

Money

According to custom, godparents pay for the ceremony of the sacrament, purchase baptismal robes and a pectoral cross. Additionally, they can provide financial support to parents when organizing a feast. The souvenir from the godparents should remain with the godson as a memory. Money, like a gift, will be spent without leaving a memory.

But there is an ancient custom of putting coins in the swaddling cloth in which a child is wrapped before baptism, and in the baptismal font, so that he will be healthy and rich.

Interesting gift ideas for children

The giver wants his gift to be noticeable, unique, and useful.

Diaper cake

An original gift for a child will be a “cake” made from diapers. Depending on the size of the “cake,” you can pack from 30 to 50 diapers. To make a gift, in addition to diapers, they use a tray, elastic bands, ribbons, and bows. The technology is simple: diapers are rolled into a tube and secured with an elastic band.

Then place the folded diapers on a tray, securing them with a common rubber band and removing those that were on the diapers. For two- and three-story structures, a cardboard tube is placed in the center, onto which subsequent “layers” are strung. The elastic bands are covered with ribbons, the top is decorated with bows and small toys. Packed in gift wrap.

Decorations

It is appropriate to give a girl jewelry, including those made of precious metals and stones. But when choosing jewelry, you must remember that stones have magical powers: they can become talismans for a child or harm him. You should not give earrings, rings, necklaces made of pearls or opal. They attract tears and failures.

Sapphire, diamond, ruby, garnet bring health and success. Since ancient times, turquoise has been revered as a stone of happiness in the East. The talisman is selected according to the child’s date of birth: the sum of the digits of the days in the month, the serial number of the month in the year and the year are determined. The resulting amount is divided into numbers and added again. The resulting result is compared with the gradation. Sometimes they are guided only by the date of the month. For example, for a girl born on the 6th, 15th or 24th, jewelry with garnet, sapphire, and agate will be a talisman.

Synthetic stones do not have this property, so you can purchase jewelry based on your own taste.

Icon

For Baptism, it is recommended to give a child a personalized icon (the name of the saint is the same as the name of the convert). If there is no specific saint on this date, then the image for the gift is chosen according to the time period during which the veneration of the Mother of God, an icon and some saint occurs. The choice of icon of the Mother of God recommended by the Orthodox Church by date of birth:

• from January 21 to February 21 - Vladimirskaya, or St. Athanasius;
• from February 22 to March 22 – Iverskaya, St. Alexy;
• from March 23 to April 22 – Kazanskaya, St. George the Confessor;
• from April 23 to May 22 – Iverskaya, St. Tamara;
• from November 24 to December 21 – Tikhvinskaya, St. Nikolai.

In June-July, they choose the “Joy of All Who Sorrow” icon as a gift, in July-August – “The Protection of the Virgin Mary”, from August 24 to September 23 – the “Burning Bush” icon.

The images of Saints Sergius of Radonezh (September-October), Apostle Paul (October-November), Seraphim of Sarov (December-January) will be personalized icons for the newly baptized child. Icons purchased outside of the church must be blessed before donation.

Who should buy a cross for a child's baptism?

The fact is that the Church does not oblige any of the participants in the Sacrament of Baptism to buy a cross for the baby. Such a decision must come from the heart. Therefore, parents, godparents, and relatives can give a symbol of faith to a child. As practice shows, a cross for a girl’s baptism is usually bought by her godmother.

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From goddaughter

You definitely need to consult with your child, because he may be planning his own special gift for his godmother, which she will definitely like. For example, a portrait of her godmother drawn by a child will be very pleasant to her, she will definitely be delighted with such a gift.

In addition to this, if the emphasis is on practical things, you can focus on cosmetics. Every woman wants to look good. And to achieve this, you need to use a lot of different cosmetics.

A good set of high-quality cosmetics will definitely suit her taste. Moreover, he will be able to please her for a very long time, throughout his entire use. In addition to the cosmetics set, you can give a small magazine that will show various makeup techniques and break them down step by step. This will allow her to experiment with her image, always surprising those around her and loved ones.

However, it is worth considering the fact that a woman may prefer a certain brand of cosmetics. However, there is a way out here too. If you don’t know exactly which brand your godmother prefers, you can make an original set. It will include several brands of cosmetics, magazines and guides. So there is a great chance to give the right brand, and, moreover, to suggest that other brands are also worthy of attention, she will understand this in comparison.

Cute things

It is worth understanding that the gift should take into account the person’s age. However, there are things that can be given to people at any age. For example, a beautiful box for storing jewelry will come in handy for a woman at any age. Moreover, you can order original embroidery on this box with warm words. This way the gift will definitely remind you of you regularly and give warm memories.

Ideas for homemade gifts

If the children are still small, then their parents are responsible for congratulating the named mother. But it’s still better if they allow them to contribute by making a gift for their godmother with their own hands. After all, things created by children invariably look very touching. The child can be assigned:

Draw a postcard. Even a baby can cope with this task. Anyone can paint a sheet of paper. An older child can use the appliqué technique.

Make a keychain from polymer clay. Despite the fact that this material is considered quite easy to process, it is difficult for a child to create something worthy from it, other than a keychain. But he can easily make this accessory.

Collect a bouquet of sweets. Of course, a baby is unlikely to be able to create a serious bouquet. However, attaching candies to sticks and making a bunch of them should not be a problem.

Make a photo frame. The material can be cardboard, and the decor can be coffee beans, pasta, rhinestones, buttons, cereals. At the end of the work, the product must be carefully varnished.

If you want to pleasantly surprise the birthday girl, choose a handmade gift for your godmother’s birthday. It will certainly stand out among store products.

By hobby, profession and passion godmother

Every woman has her own personal interests. Something distracts her, something interests her. It will be nice for the godmother to receive such a gift for her birthday.

Hobbies can be different. Not necessarily "ladies'".

If she likes to drive a car, then you need to give her what she has long wanted to buy for her “iron horse”:

– battery-powered vacuum cleaner for the interior;

Gadgets powered by a cigarette lighter, camera and phone holders would also be useful.

Knowledge of professional features is especially valued by the godmother. Spends a lot of time in the office? Massagers and special chair cushions will help relieve fatigue. There are many options for devices on sale that connect via USB connectors. Products that make life easier - things that help you relax or organize space - are especially valuable for the birthday girl.

It’s even easier when the godmother is passionate about some kind of needlework.

The following are available to choose from:

– embroidery kits with floss, beads, diamonds;

If you know that the birthday girl is known as a good housewife and loves to cook, then present her with accessories for the kitchen and bathroom. Products useful for everyday life are never superfluous.