What to give a girl for christening?
One of the most important questions that arise before relatives and guests on the eve of the baptism ceremony is what is best to present to a newborn baby for christening, since such gifts will play the role of powerful amulets for the little princess in the future.
Features of choice
To organize the baptism of a little person, and christening a baby is best up to a year, his parents must pick up a godfather and mother.
This is a great honor and responsibility, since these people are considered to be the spiritual guides of children along their life path. Together with the baby's parents, the godparents should help raise her in full accordance with certain religious rules from an early age, help her in everything, in certain cases even financially support her goddaughter. In other words, these are some of the closest people for a girl after mom and dad.
On the day of the baptism ceremony, the little godparents traditionally present various surprises, which can have both religious themes and can be completely ordinary.
In addition to the most important people on this day, other relatives also give gifts to the newly-born Christian, and first of all, these are grandparents as representatives of the most experienced generation.
It is worth giving something really useful for a baptized baby, at the same time, it is better to ask relatives in advance what kind of children's things they may need today. Thus, you can avoid the possibility of presenting the same type of present purchased by different guests.
The main gift presented by the godfather is a cross, because he will personify faith and be a talisman for any believer. If you buy a cross for a nursing baby, make sure that it is completely safe - the product should not be too large, it is better that there are no sharp edges in it, therefore we choose a thing with rounded edges that will not scratch the delicate skin of the child.
It is best to consecrate a child's cross first. This little thing can be gold or gilded, silver, and it can even be made of copper or wood; it is hung on the baby's neck on a short chain or on a strong beautiful string.
From her godmother, the baby often receives a kryzhma as a gift, and with it, also beautiful clothes for baptism. Kits of this kind can be found in church shops as well as in regular children's departments. Kryzhma is used only once - immediately after the baptismal ceremony. Together with beautiful clothes for the baby, you can buy a beautiful diaper, which will be decorated with religious symbols, the godmother will be able to accept the baby from the hands of the priest after bathing in the font.
Guests can present their gifts to the newly baptized girl. Let's figure out what you can give a baby up to a year for her christening. This will directly depend on who specifically presents the gift.
Traditionally, the most respectable family members - grandparents - are the first to congratulate the granddaughter, their surprises can be the most original, especially those that are created with their own hands will be interesting:
- a beautiful box or basket made of wood or birch bark, where you can prudently put delicious sweets;
- souvenir figurines made of plaster in the form of different angels;
- homemade furniture - a neat children's chair, a beautiful shelf for books;
- clothes for a girl or an unusual picture-cross-stitch or satin stitch in a stylized frame.
And also memorable gizmos for the baby can become small souvenirs with a pronounced Orthodox theme - statues made of various materials that depict saints, small-sized icons or medallions with the faces of the Virgin or the Lord, unusual church candles, and the like.
At the christening of a newborn from parents can get a gift an interesting set of silver or nickel silver tableware for children: spoon, fork, cup, saucer. Many believe that these 2 metals have the ability to attract goodness and well-being into the house, and are able to protect the baby from the evil eye or damage. In addition, everyone knows that silver has bactericidal properties - it is preferable to use such cutlery at such an early age.
You can leave on this item the beautifully engraved name of the baby and the date of her Baptism - for a long memory.
Small ones can be a very valuable gift. precious metal earrings... They will become the very first decoration in the life of a newly baptized baby, so she will remember them for a long time.
However, it is not necessary to buy something directly related to the baptismal ceremony. Aunt and uncle can buy beautiful linen for the baby's crib, the crib itself or a fashionable stroller, a colorfully decorated playpen, a soft toy. The girl's parents will clearly be happy with an elegant dress or suit for the future fashionista.
If material opportunities allow, then you can choose as a gift items of furniture for children, a dollhouse or a bicycle.
Family friends and ordinary guests can present a silver bell, an original rattle, which can be kept in the family for many years as a relic, or can please the baby and her family with such practical gifts as:
- birthday cake or cake;
- family professional photo session;
- a set of stylized photo frames;
- various toys safe for babies;
- a set of quality towels.
At the same time, gifts should be chosen from the heart and presented to the baby with sincere love!
Basic Gift List
There are no specific strict rules for the selection of gifts for children's christenings. The main thing is that when choosing a surprise for a small child on an important christening day for him, you put all your brightest feelings into this present. The gift itself should be both memorable and as useful as possible.
Here are some surprises for newly baptized children:
- any toys for the baby will do - children's books from safe materials, soft large cubes, musical bright mobiles for the crib, rugs for development;
- children's vehicles - wheelchairs or rocking chairs;
- comfortable undershirts, sliders, sets of festive clothes;
- bath for bathing, changing table or chest of drawers;
- playpen, which folds up in the form of a crib or screen;
- mattress for the crib;
- stroller for walkinghaving a raincoat and an insect screen.
But there can be creative presentations as well. Let's take a look at some of them.
Ladanka
A child clearly cannot refuse such a little thing, even being at the age of a teenager. Teenagers are interested in various mysterious subjects. And the incense in this regard is perfect as a talisman, because it is a small bag, which is often decorated with a drawing of an icon, or a cross is applied on it. This pouch is usually worn around the neck.
It is here that they put a small piece of incense. But a teenager can carry other dear little things in this bag. Since the incense is considered a wearable item, which is usually not displayed, you can wear there those things that are especially dear to your heart. And if a teenager is a true believer, then he will find a suitable use for this bag.
Silver spoon
A silver spoon is most often presented "for the first tooth", but there is such an exception as an unusual surprise for a baby's christening. Such an object has a special role - it is needed for the sacrament. And although in the temple the baby will not be given Cahors from a separate spoon, it will still be useful to have such an object at home. The baby can be given consecrated water to drink from such a spoon, as well as take medicine.
Album for memorable photos
This kind of gift is very useful. In such an album, mom and dad will be able to start collecting the first photos of their baby, so that they can look at them later and remember the most important years of her life.
Other gift ideas.
- You can always choose a gift that will be extremely useful in everyday life. You can buy a small yogurt maker, a special bottle sterilizer, or small household appliances.
- A beautiful children's Bible will become a wonderful gift for a little girl. The child will gradually learn the basics of such a teaching as Christianity, become familiar with the 10 commandments. This is the very first and main guide for the little girl in matters of faith.
- Friends most often give clothes and children's shoes. To give a thing in size, you should just buy this kind of items for growth. Small children grow up very quickly, and therefore new items of clothing and beautiful shoes will always come in handy in the family. To make the gift unusual, you can decorate it with beautiful embroidery.
- The little one will like high-quality underwear for a crib, especially if it has prints from famous cartoons, princesses from a fairy tale or funny drawings with funny animals. With such underwear, the baby will have the calmest dreams.
- For christenings, you can easily purchase a small but comfortable pillow and a warm blanket; crosses are often embroidered on them, or products with ready-made embroidery are purchased. These kinds of items will remind the child of the momentous baptismal event.
- If the girl is already 3-4 years old, then she can choose baby cosmetics as a gift. It is necessary to buy children's sets of cosmetics only in proven markets, so as not to doubt its quality and be completely sure that it will not harm the girl.
- Toys, if correctly selected, will also delight any toddler.You can choose a nice big doll or other big toy. Nowadays in children's stores there is a large assortment of all kinds of educational games.
What icon to give?
Icon donation is one of the oldest Christian traditions. Icons are considered a good talisman against evil forces, help to improve health, guarantee longevity, give peace and tranquility. At the same time, you can find a fairly large number of varieties of icons as gifts from guests and relatives for christenings. The most valuable surprise is the individual icons.
On this kind of holiday, nominal icons are most often presented, especially if they depict the face of the saint whose name the newborn was named after. And you can also present images with the face of Christ or the protector of girls - the Mother of God. Most often, the church where the child is baptized has its own main icon. The baby should be presented with an icon depicting the face of the saints on it - in memory of this temple.
Many young children are gifted icons of St. Panteleimon, because it is believed that his image will protect the child from all kinds of diseases. For a baby, if she has health problems, it is quite appropriate to give this particular amulet.
If you dream of taking the most responsible attitude to the selection of a shrine for the most memorable present for a girl, then be sure to contact the priest, and he will help you choose the right option. From him you can also learn a lot of useful information about this icon, about its true purpose. Then, passing on this gift, you can tell the girl's family in detail what this item will mean for their child.
And also worth choosing as a gift measured icon. Obviously, not everyone knows about this amulet, which is not strange. After all, previously measured icons were made only for children of royalty, they were most often painted for the birth of a particular child - the future heir. Today you can find workshops where you will be offered to write a measured icon to order.
You need to select a measured icon for the name of the baby that is going to be christened. If they decided to call her Martha, then the image must be chosen. St. Martha. Church names will differ significantly from worldly ones. Therefore, first you should ask the priest what kind of icon you can choose for the girl.
In addition to the measured icon, the godmother can give her goddaughter an icon of her guardian angel. Such an icon is placed at the head of the baby's bed in order to protect her from diseases and all sorts of troubles.
What can you do with your own hands?
A warm knitted blanket for a baby is just a great option to protect her from a draft on street walks. And in winter, it can be a nice addition to a small baby blanket if it gets cold in the house. This kind of blanket can be used to cover a girl's bed when she is awake and uses a walker.
A stunning christening gift - a delicate blanket, which will be sewn from natural materials using the now popular patchwork technique.
A cake made of diapers of different sizes is both a rather creative gift and a good help for young mothers and fathers, since nowadays diapers are not cheap, so this kind of present will be considered quite appropriate.
A beautiful image and a prayer that is embroidered with a cross for a baby is both an interesting gift and a special talisman that will protect your baby for her whole life.
When going to visit a newborn girl for the first time after her christening, she must definitely bring something sweet as a gift so that the child's life is long and sweet.
A sweet large bouquet of different candies will come in handy, because it is stylish, and not quite usual, and very tasty.
About what to give a girl for christening, see below.