In the Christian faith, if you intend to raise your child as a Christian, the first step is to baptize your child. This used to be a strict religious requirement, but although it is still taken seriously, people’s motivations are slightly different these days as it is also an excuse to get together with all your family and friends and celebrate. I love any excuse for a party and let’s face it, who doesn’t?
Depending on your church it will depend on how strict they are regarding your attendance before and after the baptism. Some clerics like to see you attend regularly and others don’t mind as long as you attend church on big occasions. Some don’t even require that!
The fundamental thing about a baptism is to get the child to accept that he believes in Jesus and repents of his sins. These are the traditional requirements, but in recent years it has been questioned how a baby or young child can accept these things. Because of the seriousness of this promise, some people choose to have a blessing and let the child decide for himself when he is old enough.
Once you’ve decided what kind of service you want, work things out with your vicar. They help customize the ceremony and let you know what stipulations they have for when they would prefer to have the ceremony such as their big Sunday service. Some churches will want more information about the faith and baptism of parents and godparents. Historically, the child’s godparents should be people with strong Christian beliefs and people you would trust to care for your child if something were to happen to him. More and more these days, people are chosen because they are close friends or relatives rather than being selected to be foster parents. Are they likely to be there for your child twenty years from now? It is a very serious consideration. In the past it has been traditional for a girl to have two godmothers and one godfather and for boys to have two godfathers and one godmother. These days you can choose what you want and as many as you want.
Regarding christening gowns, some people wear heirloom gowns that are worn by all generations of that family. Some choose to buy a new one or one from a vintage store to start their own traditions. If the child is a little older when he is baptized, she wears a suit or dress that is elegant but appropriate for the occasion.
On the day, you must show up with enough time before the service. The congregation is required to repeat the vows and then there will be a specific time for the baptism and for the godparents to make their declarations.
After the service, there is usually a small ‘tea’ where people can sit and celebrate, eat and drink. If people have brought cards and gifts, that is when they are delivered. Christening gifts were always very old-fashioned until recently when more modern and unusual gifts have become popular. Where people used to give ornamental silver rattles or money boxes, things like ‘baby blessing jars’ are now the thing to give. Each jar contains heart-shaped pieces of paper for people to write their wishes for the child in their life. It makes a great gift that won’t just slip into a box or the back of a cupboard but will be cherished and enjoyed for many years to come.