What do they give a girl for christening: the best gift ideas in the spirit of tradition and modernity

Usually children are baptized at a very tender age, and taking this into account, you have to choose a gift for them. Not only things related to Orthodox themes will be appropriate, but also essential things that will help parents raise their little miracle. By the time the girl is at least one year old, she will have to change a bunch of clothes. After all, during the first year of life, a child grows very much. The child’s weight almost quadruples (and sometimes more), and his height almost doubles. So ordinary clothes can also be a good gift for a child. But if you want to give something that will last a lifetime, then you need to approach the choice seriously and with all responsibility.

What do you usually give at christenings?

As a rule, things that are directly related to religion are always remembered. These are incense, crosses, church literature for children, etc. All this can be given to a girl for christening, and even books, because the time is not far off when they can be read aloud to a daughter or granddaughter. Often such books describe the exploits of saints in a language that is simple and understandable to a child. Another theme is Christmas. Books about this event can have virtually no text, but with beautiful pictures with captions, from which the story about the Holy Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ is made up.

incense

You can give your baby an amulet. A girl may not even give up this subject in adolescence, but just show interest in it. Teenagers love all sorts of amulets. And the amulet is perfect instead, because it is a bag, usually decorated with an icon or an image of a cross, which is worn around the neck. You need to put a piece of incense there. However, a girl can store other small things in such a bag. Since an amulet is a wearable item that is not displayed, you can store there what is dear to your heart. And if the girl is a believer, then she will find a worthy use for this bag.

Measuring icon

Not everyone has heard of such a talisman, and this is not surprising. After all, dimensional icons were previously made exclusively for royalty; they were painted for the birth of a child - an heir to the throne or simply a grand duke or princess. Today there are sites that offer the creation of dimensional icons for anyone. These are the resources of icon painting workshops, so there is no need to fear that the image will turn out to be painted by a random person.

You need to choose a dimensional icon based on the name of the child who is going to be baptized. If the girl was named Martha, then you need to choose the image of Saint Martha. Church names differ from secular ones, and this is not uncommon today. Therefore, it is advisable to find out from the priest which icon should be selected for a particular girl’s name.

Kryzhma and clothes for baptism

Another little-known word is kryzhma. It means special baptismal clothes. Sets of clothing for baptism can be sold in church shops and regular children's stores. The kryzhma is worn only once - immediately after the baptismal rite in the font. Along with the clothes, you can also buy a diaper embroidered with Orthodox symbols, which the godmother uses to receive the baby from the priest after the font.

Pectoral cross

The cross is the main object that appears in the baptismal ceremony. It is better to buy it in advance. Usually crosses are sold in church shops, which are located at churches or separately. In both cases, the crosses have already been consecrated. And if you bought this attribute in a jewelry store, then it may not be consecrated. Then he will have to be blessed in the church in advance.

Parents often ask: is it necessary to purchase a chain for a cross and should it be consecrated? You can also buy it, and a blessed one, at that, but it’s too early to put it around the baby’s neck. At first, the girl should wear a cross on a string. The chain is easier to break and can cut into the baby's delicate body, so it can be put aside until the girl can wear it. But in any case, this is a good christening gift, because it will come in handy, and it is also very valuable.

Children's Bible

You can also get such a book in an Orthodox shop or store. Today there is no persecution of church literature, so the choice is quite wide. The Bible for children is adapted material that a child can understand. A children's Bible can be given even to a little one who will not soon learn to read. Many mothers try to keep the sacred book at the head of the crib or even under the child’s pillow, believing that this will protect him from various misfortunes, including the evil eye or damage.

The sacrament of baptism: what rules must be followed

The baby must be baptized as quickly as possible, since with this ritual the child approaches God and will be protected by higher powers.

It has long been believed that this ritual should be performed on the 40th day after the birth of the baby, when the mother is cleansed after childbirth and can enter the temple. This ritual strengthens the baby’s health, so previously weak and sickly children could be baptized even in the maternity hospital.

Today there are no strict rules at what age a child should be baptized. The date of christening is the choice of the parents.

If you do not baptize a child before the age of 7, then his wishes should be taken into account.

During Baptism, a Christian name is chosen from the Orthodox Saints. It is desirable that it coincides with the child’s name or is consonant with it. The church name symbolizes a guardian angel who will protect a person throughout his life. The day of remembrance of a saint or a saint with this name closest after Baptism is the child’s name day.

In many ways, the christening of a girl and a boy are similar. Let's consider the main traditions and signs of this church rite:

• After the ritual, you should not wipe the baptismal water from your face.
• The baptismal attire should be white, which symbolizes purity and purity.
• The baptismal robe and towel cannot be washed. They need to be hidden and stored as a talisman. It is believed that if they are applied to a sick child, it will speed up his recovery.
• The cap or cap that was put on the girl during the Sacrament must be worn for several months.
• The ringing of bells before Epiphany is a good omen, symbolizing a happy life.
• Among the bad omens are the postponement of the date of the ceremony and the Baptism of several children in the same font.

The main task on the eve of christening is to choose the right godparents.

They are entrusted with the important function of spiritual education of a godson or goddaughter, so these should be people who can become a worthy example for the child and win his authority. The main spiritual mentor is the godfather of the same sex as the child. According to church canons, having two godparents is not even mandatory. It is important that the girl is baptized by the godmother, and the boy by the godfather.

To avoid making a mistake when choosing godparents, study the following rules:

• Godparents cannot be the child's parents or related people.
• Non-believers and people of other faiths, the mentally ill and immoral individuals are not allowed to participate in the ritual.
• Monks and nuns are also not allowed to become godparents.
• You should adhere to age restrictions (girls after 13 years old can be godparents, boys after 15).
• Spouses or people planning to marry cannot be godparents of one child. Also, godparents are subsequently prohibited from entering into intimate relationships.
• A pregnant woman cannot become a godmother. It is believed that her godson and child will often get sick.

To conduct the ceremony, godparents must know two prayers: “Our Father” and “Creed.” In order not to forget the words at the most crucial moment, it is better to write down the text of the prayers on a piece of paper and take it with you to church.

• There are many ideas about what to give a boy for christening.
• Basic rules for baptizing a child that must be followed. Source here.

Christening gift ideas for a girl from the godfather

Godparents can not only fulfill their role in the baptismal ceremony, but also present some kind of gift to the child. You can give your goddaughter something useful that the parents themselves are not able to buy, or a traditional gift.

silver spoon

A silver spoon is usually given as a gift for the first tooth, but there is an exception: a christening gift. This spoon has its own purpose - for communion. And although in church they don’t give baby Cahors from an individual spoon, it wouldn’t hurt to have a similar one at home. It will not be superfluous for the baby. The baby can be given holy or ordinary water from this spoon, as well as medicine.

Baptism cross

Traditionally, it was believed that the godfather should buy the cross. After all, he is then supposed to raise his goddaughter in the Orthodox tradition. Of course, in the past godparents were chosen not because of a good life, but because they were afraid that the child might remain an orphan. And then either his godfather or his godmother had to take him into the family. But this is from an everyday point of view. But the church attached a different meaning to this: godparents must take part in the upbringing of the child and raise him as a believer. And the cross is a symbol of faith.

Walkers

A girl will be able to take her first steps with the help of such a device earlier than just like that. In addition, it will be perfectly protected from many troubles, and not just from falls. This is a large children's item, so it can be expensive for parents, and they already have a lot of expenses. If the godfather gives her a walker, it will be a great help and benefit for the baby when she learns to walk.

Photo album

Such a gift is not directly related to the baptismal ceremony, but it will be very useful in the future. In this album, parents can start collecting photographs of the girl, so that later they will have something to remember about the first years of her life.

Digital photo frame

You can upload any photos into such a frame, including christening photos. So this gift from your godfather will be very appropriate. In addition, he can show off in this frame himself. The main thing is to choose a good quality photo frame so that it will work for a long time. After all, the goddaughter must then use this gift herself.

Orthodox gifts

Since christening is a sacred sacrament, it is not surprising that first of all all invited guests think about giving Orthodox gifts. Indeed, this fits the event perfectly. What exactly can they give:

1. Pectoral cross. The alloy from which it is made does not matter. Here it is at the request of the donor or according to his financial capabilities. The cross can be given on a ribbon or directly on a chain. As a rule, such a gift is given by the child’s godfather.
2. A piece of new fabric or a towel that has not been used before. It will be needed to wipe the boy after he is washed with holy water. As a rule, this is a fabric or towel decorated with lace or characteristic embroidery.
3. Baptism set, which includes: booties, cap and shirt. If christenings are held for the hot season, then a thin vest is given; if for the cold season, a blouse made of insulated knitwear is given.
4. A children's Bible, personalized icons, a church image made of wood or other materials, sacred books - all this will be a good gift.

According to the Orthodox rules of the baptism ceremony, the godmother must purchase a special baptism kit for the baby. As a last resort, each element is purchased separately:

• Kryzhma, which is considered the main element in the set and sacrament, is a light-colored towel (often white) with a beautiful cross in the center. In the old days, the godmother would embroider such an item herself. To do this, they took natural fabrics with a pleasant texture, came up with special patterns and decorated them with unique braid.

• A baby's christening shirt will also be a good gift from the godmother. For a certain season, choose the right material for a blouse. For example, in the winter it is considered optimal to use flannelette fabric, in the summer - cotton or linen.

The cross, personalized icon and other expenses are covered directly by the godfather. In some cases, godparents have the opportunity to cooperate and provide one gift for two.

What to give a girl at her christening from her godmother

There are some things that are traditionally given by the godmother. However, parents or other relatives can already buy them in advance. But this is not a reason to buy the same thing or to refuse to buy a gift altogether.

What a godmother must give

Kryzhma

- this is the item that, according to custom, is bought by the godmother. If the parents have already bought a baptismal shirt, then the godmother can buy a diaper. After all, after the bath, a naked baby needs to be wrapped in something, wiped off, and only then put on the kryzhma. If a girl is baptized in cold weather, then you can also give her a blanket: it certainly won’t be superfluous in the household.

DIY birthday gift for your goddaughter

You can make a kryzhma, a blanket, and a diaper with your own hands. That is, an ordinary object can be embroidered with christening symbols, or the child’s name can be embroidered. You can also give your baby angels, but what you make them from depends on your inclinations. You can sculpt them from clay and bake them in an oven, then this gift can be stored for a long time.

Diaper cake for goddaughter

If a girl is in infancy, then waterproof diapers are a daily necessity for her. There are several options for making an impromptu cake using ribbon and diapers. And although it has nothing to do with the baptism of the baby, it is still a very necessary thing, and, moreover, presented in an unusual way.

Decorations for a little princess for christening

A girl can be baptized not even in the first year of her life, and then she will be happy with any decoration. If these are earrings, then you can even choose them from jewelry metal. Firstly, they are less likely to be lost than chains or rings, and secondly, gold and silver very rarely cause allergies. In general, these metals are considered beneficial to humans.

If parents think that jewelry should be saved and given to the child later, then they should not be offended. Perhaps they want to save them until the little princess reaches a more conscious age, when she will be able to appreciate this gift and treat it with care.

Presents for parents

Godmothers and fathers are called to be the spiritual mentors of the child. According to tradition, they present certain gifts on Orthodox themes. This is a kryzhma and a baptismal shirt for a boy, as well as a pectoral cross.

The kryzhma can look like a towel or a piece of material. It should be white and made of natural fabric. When choosing a towel in a store, keep in mind that it cannot be small. The child needs to be completely wrapped in the kryzhma, so the size must be appropriate.

The material for krymzha can be cotton or bleached linen. If the godmother knows how to embroider, then you can embroider an angel or the baby’s name on the towel. Now in stores you can buy ready-made baptismal towels with Christian paraphernalia. In addition to the krymzha, the godmother can also give a baptismal shirt for the boy. It should also be natural, white, without unnecessary decorations or patterns.

The godfather gives the child a cross. The cross can be gold, silver or simple. Instead of a chain, which can cause discomfort to a small child, you can buy a simple braid or soft cord. The cross must be consecrated in the church before the ceremony. Also, the godfather traditionally bears the costs of the baptismal ceremony.

In addition to the fact that guests come with gifts for the boy, they can also present gifts to the child’s parents:

1. Basket of fruits or sweets.
2. A personalized cake in honor of the christening, which all guests present will definitely try.
3. Cahors wine with a good aging period.
4. Organization of filming of christenings.
5. Delivery of flowers to the location of the baptism ceremony.
6. Celebrating christening in a cafe.
7. Presentation of a set of casts for taking a boy's foot and palm print.

What to give for christenings from guests

Guests invited to the christening also do not stand aside and present the baby with all sorts of useful things. Certainly no rules apply to gifts from guests, and christenings are an excellent occasion to help a young family financially.

Beautiful children's bed

Bed linen for a baby is an urgent need. You have to change it more often than an adult, so a couple of sets won’t hurt. A child's bed doesn't have to be boring. It is better if you choose material with pictures. In addition to the usual duvet cover, pillowcase and sheet, you can buy sides for a baby crib, a canopy on a tripod, etc. A mobile phone would be an excellent addition.

Toys for development

Any toy serves the development of an infant. There are special games that develop fine motor skills of the fingers. But for very little ones, beautiful rattles are suitable. This is not just fun: they develop hearing and vision because they are bright and colorful. Developmental toys should be purchased according to age. If you are invited, for example, to the christening of a six-month-old girl, then you can give her not only rattles, but also more complex games.

Clothes

The same goes for clothes. For an infant, it may be for growth, because children of this age grow quickly. The main thing is that the cap, overalls, rompers or other items of clothing are not too small for the girl. It is better to ask the young mother about the size in advance. You can also find out your color preferences. Some children suit exclusively bright colors, others – pastel ones. Even at this age, there are differences in skin tones, eye color and hair color, and outfits should match all of this.

Radio nanny

This device is indispensable when there are few relatives in the house, and therefore you have to leave the baby alone. Perhaps the family does not have extra funds to buy this necessary and useful thing, or more precisely, a pair of walkie-talkies, one of which is located by the baby’s crib, the other by mom or dad, who are busy doing laundry or cooking. Today you can find the most colorful baby monitors, but it is important to be sure that the device was produced by a good company and will not let you down at a crucial moment.

Set of children's dishes

At a certain point, the child, in addition to bottles, will begin to use a bowl, spoon, and cup. You can give all these items as a gift, because there is a high probability that your parents have not purchased them yet. But even if this set of children’s dishes is a spare one, it’s okay, it will always find a use in the household of a small household.

Playing educational mat

This rug is a great alternative to a playpen. Some children cannot stand being put in a cage, but they feel good on a play mat: after all, it has arcs with interesting toys, light and sound effects. It is advisable to choose rugs with sides and with bright, varied toys: even if such an item seems more tasteless than one painted in one color, it is still better to stick with it. This was done on purpose, because it is difficult for a baby to concentrate on the same toy for a long time, as well as on the same color.

Handmade gift

A gift made independently is valued no less, and sometimes even more, than a purchased one. Such a gift is made by hand for a specific baby, and all the love and tenderness is put into it. In spiritual terms, such a gift is the most precious.

If the godmother knows how to embroider or knit, and perhaps sews well, it will not be difficult for her to create something on her own. Among other things, such a gift will be original.

Often, a needlewoman can decorate baptismal accessories. To do this, she will need to choose natural fabric, cotton lace and satin ribbon.

Certain souvenirs dedicated to the sacrament of baptism can also be created. For example you could do:

1. Angel. For this purpose, you will need a tiny baby doll, who will need to sew a white shirt and also make wings. To create a halo you will need fluffy wire of sufficient flexibility. At the back you will need to glue a beautiful satin bow made of white ribbon. The last thing left to add is to put a beaded cross into the hands of your angel.
2. Another beautiful gift is a large cross cut out of fairly thick paper. You also need to cut two doves from the same material. On one of the doves you can place wishes for the child. And then tie them to balloons that will be filled with helium in advance.

Now you know what gifts are given to a boy at christening. You know what gifts godparents, as well as other guests and close relatives, must give. Choose a gift based on religious themes and give it from the bottom of your heart.

What to give a granddaughter for christening from her grandparents

The baby's grandparents can be quite wealthy people. Many of them are still working, so they can buy an expensive gift. But if they have late children, or their children had a baby late, then the grandparents may already be pensioners, and then their contribution in terms of the cost of the gift will be noticeably more modest. But this does not mean at all that it will not be so significant for the baby.

Handmade clothes or diapers

If a grandmother sews baby clothes on a machine, as well as diapers, sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers, all this will be an excellent help for a young family. The fabrics used to make clothes for babies cost mere pennies, but for some reason the finished products made from them turn out to be expensive.

Children's blanket

A knitted blanket for a baby is a great way to protect her from the evening cool during summer walks. And in winter, it can be an addition to a baby blanket if the apartment is not very warm. This blanket can be used to cover a baby’s crib when the girl is awake and in a playpen or walker. Or even walk with her.

Bicycle or stroller

A stroller is not always a transformer; sometimes parents first buy a regular “lying” stroller or receive it from friends whose child has already grown up. Therefore, a donated stroller is an invaluable help to a young family. If you already have a regular stroller (including a transformable one), then parents will not refuse an additional stroller-cane as an easy option.

A bicycle with a long handle (or a sled, if we are talking about winter) is also a wonderful and timely gift. Parents often use this alternative to a stroller when their baby starts attending nursery.

Chair for babies

Children's furniture is also not purchased immediately. And it will be especially nice to receive a high chair made by grandpa himself. If the grandfather knows how to make things from wood, he will be able to find instructions from the same craftsmen on the Internet. And then the girl will have the most original chair. After all, grandfather will approach its production creatively.

Features of choice

When purchasing any item for godparents, the gender of the future recipient is taken into account.

For the godmother

A good solution for a gift for the godmother would be something that will remind her of the day of the sacrament. For these purposes, they make a collage of photographs of the woman and the future godson and frame it in a beautiful frame, with an inscription on the back with wishes and lines of prayer. Embroidered kitchen napkins or personalized towels would also be a good present.

When choosing a gift, you should also pay attention to the interests and hobbies of the future godmother:

1. If a girl often goes on business trips or simply loves to travel, a handmade suitcase cover or an embossed leather cover for a foreign passport will be suitable as a gift.
2. For needlewomen, a special set for embroidery, sewing or knitting would be a suitable gift.
3. For girls who love to read, a collector's edition or vintage-style book shelf is a great gift idea.

In addition, as a thank you for participating in the sacrament of baptism, they are presented with a photo holder, an ice cream maker or a sandwich maker, a handmade brooch or an original cosmetic bag, as well as a set of glasses or a set of soaps with different scents.

For the godfather

When choosing a gift for the godfather, they are guided not only by his hobbies, but also by his family status; in the latter case, they choose things that will be useful in everyday life and the household.

For example:

1. Angel figurine.
2. Handmade clutch purse or original tie holder.
3. Umbrella with an unusual print.
4. Desk organizer.
5. A subscription to a cinema or sporting event.
6. A set of tools for working with wood.
7. Personalized mugs or glasses.

Also presented as a gift are a sports bag or sack, a set of books by a favorite author, a beautifully designed notebook or photo album. In this case, everything depends on the financial situation of the parents of the person being baptized and the appropriateness of the gift to the situation.

What icon to give to a girl for christening

At christenings people often give icons depicting the saint whose name the girl is named after. You can also present an image depicting Jesus Christ or the Virgin Mary. Usually in the temple where a child is baptized, there is a main icon. For example, this is the Church of Cosmas and Damian. This means that the girl can also be given an icon with these saints - in memory of the temple.

Many children are given Saint Panteleimon as a gift, as they believe that it brings health and protection from disease. For a little girl, if she is often sick, it is quite appropriate to present this icon.

If you want to be thoughtful about choosing a shrine for a gift to your goddaughter, then consult your priest, and he will tell you the most correct option. In addition, you can learn a lot about this icon and its meaning from the priest. Then, when presenting this gift, you can tell the parents what it will mean for the girl.