Baptism is a Christian rite, symbolizing the spiritual rebirth of a person, his entry into the bosom of the church. From time immemorial, by baptism of water, foreigners joined believing Christians and trusted themselves with God. Those who wanted to be baptized gathered on the shore of a pond and, like Jesus Christ, accepted the sacrament. The water method of baptism has been preserved to this day. Priests of Orthodox churches baptize those who wish in special fonts or use holy water and special vessels.
The ceremony itself is followed by the Feast of Christening, which has become widespread in modern conditions, when there is an increased interest in religion, the revival of church traditions, and the restoration of churches. Many parents seek to christen their child in infancy on the eighth or fortieth day after birth. Others, on the contrary, prefer to raise a child and then give him the opportunity to make a decision on this issue.
The christening of the girl and the boy are similar in essence, but different in some details. In both cases,
godparents are first chosen
. It is also common that the godmother of the baby buys for him a special baptismal set, which necessarily includes a piece of cloth or a special towel - a kryzhma, into which the child is wrapped after the font. You can’t wash it anymore - it’s a holy thing. There is a belief that a child will recover faster if he is wrapped in a baptismal kryzhma during an illness. At the christening of the girl, the godmother buys a vest and a pink cap with pink ribbons, and the godfather - a silver or gold cross, a chain, a thread or a ribbon, and also organizes a festive table. During
baptism, the girl is given the name of the saint who will prayerfully protect her from evil misfortunes and troubles. The day of this name will be her Angel Day. According to the traditions of the Orthodox Church, the mother and father of the baby, as well as future godparents, must confess and partake of the sacrament.
During the ceremony, the godparents hold the baby in their arms, or stand on either side of it, if the child is no longer small. The christening of the girl is distinguished by the fact that her godfather holds her in her arms, and the boy - the godmother. This rite makes godparents responsible for the child before God.
Naturally, such a holiday is not complete without gifts. The question arises:
"What is given for christening?" Different presents are presented to the girl and the boy, if they are already not quite small. What
to give to the christening girl is up to the invitees themselves to decide. The easiest thing in this case is grandparents. According to the ancient Orthodox tradition, they should give a silver spoon (it is also given to the boy). It is believed that if you tap on her teeth, they will be healthy. One of the relatives can give a
children's Bible, which will be in the spirit of a holiday. Also, icons, church charms, children's books about Orthodoxy can be a good gift for both the girl and the boy. Toys and sweets are always a welcome surprise for any child.
A baptismal silver spoon, the Bible, icons and charms are kept in the family and passed from generation to generation, gaining more and more value and enriching family traditions.
The christening of a girl and a boy should become an unforgettable event for them, filled with special meaning. Modern reality offers such a great opportunity as filming to save commemorative shots.