- July 29, 2019
- Leisure
- Tatiana Morozova
In the modern Russian Orthodox tradition, it is customary to perform the sacrament of baptism in infancy. It is believed that after this ceremony the child is under the protection of a guardian angel. In our country, it is customary to celebrate the day of acceptance of a new person into the Christian faith. How is the christening of a child celebrated and what do you need to know about preparing for the ceremony?
At what age can a child be baptized?
At the dawn of Christianity, the rite of baptism was performed only for mature adults. Infants were not baptized, since it was believed that they were sinless from birth and awareness was needed to accept faith. Against the backdrop of this tradition, many people began to postpone baptism until advanced age. They believed that it was possible to lead a sinful life and then repent and become sinless. Observing similar behavior in society, the church introduced the rule to baptize infants already on the eighth day after birth. Nowadays, there are no special deadlines or standards for undergoing the rite of initiation into the faith. In Russian tradition, it is customary to baptize infants during the first year of life. Most often, the ceremony is performed for babies aged three months and older. On this significant bright day, the child’s mother must be present in the church. Please note that, according to Orthodox traditions, a woman can visit the temple only on the 40th day after giving birth.
Bonbonnieres for christenings
In many countries, it is customary to prepare baptismal bonbonnieres for guests .
Sweets, almonds, and dragees are placed inside. In addition, you can put a small candle, an icon or a miniature framed photo of your baby in the bonbonniere. Gifts can be placed in small boxes or wrapped in pieces of fabric (for example, organza, tulle) and tied with a ribbon like a bag. You can also wrap the present in beautiful paper and also tie it with a ribbon. Guests will be very pleased to leave something as a souvenir of your child's christening.
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Preparing for baptism
Preparing for a child’s baptism must begin by visiting the chosen church. Today this ritual is performed by almost all operating churches, some only on Saturday and Sunday. Pre-registration is required. Once you have agreed on a suitable time and day, you can think about how to celebrate your baby's christening. Usually this event is celebrated with the people closest to the baby. In addition to parents and chosen godparents, you can invite grandparents, uncles and aunts to the temple. You should not gather a large crowd and try to organize a celebration comparable to a wedding. The smaller the child, the more modest the holiday should be. The sacrament of baptism usually lasts 1-1.5 hours. During this time, the baby may get tired of a large number of people and unusual surroundings, and he will need rest afterwards. Many modern parents want to film the entire ceremony. Most temples allow filming, but you should definitely ask the priest about this in advance. Having received your blessing, you can order a videographer.
Choosing godparents
Godparents, or godparents, are the spiritual mentors of the godson. Believers and truly religious people should be elected to these responsible “positions.” It is a common belief that only an adult can become someone's godfather. It's a delusion. A girl over 13 years old can become a godmother, and a boy who has already turned 15 can become a godfather. Children must be baptized. In our country, most often two godparents (mother and father) are chosen for a child. In fact, the sacrament of baptism can be performed with one recipient, he must be of the same sex as the baby. It is believed that a person who has been asked to become a godfather for a child has no right to refuse. The church has its own restrictions on the choice of recipients. People who have close relationships, such as husband and wife or a couple in love, cannot become godparents of one child. It is also unacceptable to choose recipients who profess a different faith. Before inviting someone to be your godparent, think twice. After the sacrament of baptism, he will officially become a member of your family and a relative of the child. The godfather and godfather must be present at all family holidays, communicate regularly and participate in the life and upbringing of their godson constantly. You can consult with godparents whether it is necessary to celebrate the child’s christening and how best to organize it.
How to celebrate a christening? Entertainment for christening celebrations
Christening is a touching holiday that usually takes place among family and friends. As a rule, this holiday is quite quiet. Often without alcohol. But this does not mean that the celebration should be boring. If you have planned a reception, be sure to come up with entertainment by creating a christening script .
If there are children at the party, make sure they have something to do. You can buy Bible-themed coloring books, as well as pencils and markers. When the children have eaten, they can get carried away with coloring if they want. At the same time, they will become acquainted with biblical stories. For older children, you can prepare board games.
Make a poster for congratulations from all guests. Take a large sheet of wallpaper, draw a sun in the center and paste in a photo of the hero of the occasion. Decorate the poster with small images of angels, crosses, church domes, doves, but most of the poster should be blank. Hang the sheet on the wall and prepare felt-tip pens and markers. Let all guests, including children, circle their palm and write a wish for the godson in it. Leave this poster as a keepsake for your child along with a baptismal shirt, icon, etc.
Here are some more fun and festive moments you can include in your baby girl or baby boy christening scenario.
1. Charter for raising a baptized baby
Let the presenter or one of the relatives read out the “Charter for raising a baptized baby”
Mother's responsibilities:
1. Arrange regular and timely provision of the baby with fresh milk, clean diapers and new rattles.
2. Learn at least a dozen lullabies and perform them every evening. If the mother does not have hearing and voice, she is obliged to develop her vocal abilities.
3. Maintain good relations with your child’s godparents by regularly treating them to various goodies.
Father's responsibilities:
1. Protect the child’s mother from various problems and troubles so that she can regularly and timely provide the baby with fresh milk, clean diapers and new rattles.
2. Regularly exercise the muscles of the arms and legs in order to easily carry various heavy objects necessary for the child over any distance, such as a stroller, sled, bicycle, electric car, baby’s mother, etc.
Responsibilities of godmothers and fathers
When going to church for the sacrament of baptism, the child’s parents and recipients must wear their pectoral crosses. Men should dress in formal suits, and women should wear clothing that covers their shoulders and legs to at least the knees. Representatives of the fair sex should tie a scarf on their heads. Regardless of how the christening of a child is celebrated in a particular family, the recipients should come to this holiday with gifts. The godmother purchases a baptism kit, which consists of: a diaper, a shirt, a cap for the baby and several candles. The godfather must pay for the ceremony. Parents should not buy a cross for their child on their own. It is chosen by the godmother for a girl, and by the godfather for a boy. The godparents become relatives of their godson as soon as they agree to participate in the baptismal ceremony. It is considered acceptable and natural to ask them for help in preparing for the ceremony and holiday.
Baptism gifts
How do Orthodox people celebrate the christening of a child these days? After church it is not customary to go home. The child's parents must invite everyone who came to the sacrament of baptism to at least a symbolic table. You can limit yourself to drinking tea with sweets and light snacks. In our country, there is a widespread tradition of giving gifts for baptism. On this occasion, it is appropriate to give an icon of the baby’s patron saint and a silver spoon. You can also give universal gifts: toys, clothes for the child and money. Sometimes they also give bedding for the crib, dishes and a Bible. It is best to give gifts in the house where the child’s christening is celebrated after a church ceremony.
Holiday at home
Epiphany is a spiritual and family holiday that the church recommends to celebrate in moderation. If the main hero of the occasion is still very young, it is best to go home immediately after church. How do you celebrate a child's christening at home? On such a bright holiday, it is better to sit at the table for a conversation, excluding TV and music. The hostess can create a menu to suit her taste. It is acceptable to limit yourself to a festive tea party, but you can also set a full table with hot dishes, salads and snacks. The Church does not prohibit alcohol on this holiday, but recommends that it be consumed in moderation. It is appropriate to order a cake for baptism. Let it be big, tasty and beautifully decorated.
Overseas caviar – eggplant
No, I’m not going to write out recipes. I’ll rather speculate about the format of the feast. First I'll just list:
- A generous table with main courses, salads, appetizers and drinks;
- Light buffet;
- Outdoor picnic;
- Tea party with confectionery delights.
Let me note right away that the presence of alcoholic drinks on the table is a matter of taste and preference, but the nature of the occasion encourages you to abstain or limit yourself to a small amount of wine. You shouldn’t turn a bright celebration into a banal drunken party.
This remark may sound a little rude, but we communicate with you honestly and openly, right? Therefore, I say what worries me and what I want to protect you from, my dears.
So, when planning a gourmet holiday, make sure that this is not a burden for the young mother: organize a culinary team to help the hostess or completely free her from this concern. Especially if you were honored by being chosen as one of the godparents.
A good option is to use the services of a cafe, restaurant or catering. What is catering and where to look for it? Almost any self-respecting restaurant will not ask you to organize a meal outside the restaurant: be it in an apartment, a specially rented hall or a personal plot.
In this case, ready-made dishes will be delivered to the address specified with all the necessary serving and service personnel. There are companies specializing in catering - you just have to look.
A buffet table is associated with appetizers on skewers. In general, this is true, but the main feature is the lack of seats: treats are on laid tables - come take them and enjoy them. This format encourages communication between guests.
An outdoor picnic is usually associated with cooking barbecue. This is a stereotype that you don’t have to follow: create your own menu and enjoy spending time in pleasant company and in the fresh air.
I repeat again: the main thing is the comfort of the hero of the occasion and his mother, everything else is secondary. As for the culinary traditions of christenings, on this occasion it is customary to serve poultry - chicken. Previously, they attached importance to what kind of bird it would be - a hen or a cockerel, and the choice depended on the gender of the churched child.
As for me, the best way to celebrate christening is to have tea in a cozy company.
This way, guests are more likely to remember the occasion and event, rather than the taste of jellied fish, it is easier for the hostess to cope with preparation and cleanup after, and the event is not constrained by a time frame. For example, preparing a shish kebab takes time, while drinking tea, if necessary, can be quickly curtailed or last until you get bored.
Options for the holiday
The day of the sacrament of baptism is very exciting for the whole family. Many modern parents try to free themselves from everyday worries on major holidays. A great option is to organize a baptism celebration in a banquet hall. This holiday format is suitable if the child is at least 6 months old. How is a child's christening celebrated in a restaurant? You should not order animators and other secular entertainment. Such a bright family holiday is more suitable for communication; it is allowed to turn on muffled, calm music. If the baptism is held in the summer, it is allowed to celebrate it in nature. This could be a self-organized picnic or a feast in a country restaurant complex.
How not to celebrate a child's baptism
The church does not have clear requirements for how to properly celebrate the baptism of a child in a family. Traditionally, this joyful event is celebrated once, and always every day. If baptism is carried out during the period of fasting, it is desirable that the festive table be modest. Many Lenten dishes have excellent taste and can be served beautifully if desired. Another important requirement for the holiday: moderation in alcohol consumption. There may be alcoholic drinks on the festive table, but they are drunk on this day rather for taste in small quantities. How do true believers celebrate the christening of a child? During the celebration, you should not dance or listen to loud music. It is better to spend this holiday in a calm and family atmosphere.
What to treat? Menu for christening
According to the old Russian tradition, porridge with milk, butter and sugar was prepared for christenings. Nowadays, it is not customary to serve porridge at holidays, but you can prepare a delicious cereal casserole for dessert, serving it with exotic fruits, berries and sweet sauce .
Previously, poultry was baked into the porridge: as a rule, a chicken (if a girl was baptized) or a rooster (if the godson was a boy). Baking a bird for christenings is still worthwhile in our time. And you can stuff it with just porridge (for example, buckwheat).
In the old days, a separate porridge was prepared for the young father - very salty and spicy, almost scalding. Horseradish, mustard, and pepper were added to it. The same can be done at modern christenings: make the baby's or baby's dad eat a small portion of extremely spicy and salty porridge. Eating such porridge was equated, albeit only partially, with the hardships of childbirth. And on the day of christening, dad was invited to experience these hardships for himself.
In addition, there must be a lot of sweets on the baptismal table. As already mentioned, christenings have always been considered a children's holiday - many children of different ages were invited to it. Treats were prepared for them: nuts, gingerbread, cookies, fruit. Today it is difficult to imagine a holiday, especially for children, without cake.
For a christening celebration, you can make a cake in the shape of a cross. The usual biscuit dough is prepared, poured into a rectangular shape and baked. The finished chilled biscuit is cut into strips, from which a cross is formed. The strips of cake are held together with thick buttercream. The cross can simply be cut out entirely from biscuit fabric. To decorate the cake, you can use white and colored cream or sweet mastic: blue for the christening of a boy and pink for a cake in honor of a girl. The cake can also be made in the shape of a baptismal shirt, bible, etc.
