What to give a girl for christening from her godmother and godfather

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.

Gifts from godmother

On the day of the sacrament, the godmother becomes the child’s spiritual mother, and from that moment, like the parents, she is responsible for raising the girl. Gifts from a woman carry a certain emotional and semantic load, because any object will become a powerful amulet not only for childhood, but also in adulthood.

Options for classic gifts from godmother:

Baptismal clothes . This is the most important thing that should be given to a girl for christening from her godmother. The kit should include kryzhma. This is a diaper or towel with Christian symbols. The child is wrapped in this cloth at a certain point in the ritual. Also, the future godmother prepares special clothes in advance - a cap, booties, a shirt. It is desirable that all items be white. All these items are not washed after baptism, but simply dried. It is believed that baptismal clothing can act as a talisman, and in moments of illness, the child is wrapped in kryzhma so that he can more easily endure the disease and recover faster.
Silver spoon . This is one of the traditional gifts from the godmother on the occasion of the sacrament of christening. Instead of one item, you can present a whole set, which, in addition to a spoon, includes a small cup or plate.

Children's dishes are not only used for their intended purpose, but can also be passed on as an inheritance.

Icon with a guardian angel or saint who patronizes a girl . In former times, there was a tradition of presenting a measured icon according to the baby’s height, but now it has lost its relevance. Of particular value are the images of saints, which are made to order by masters. But you can also buy an icon in an icon shop. During the acquisition process, you should ask whether the icon has been consecrated or not. If necessary, the icon can be consecrated in any church.

What should natural parents do?

The christening of a girl is the most important event in a person’s life, regardless of age. Usually a child is baptized in the first year after birth, then the parents take full responsibility for the Sacrament that occurs. The Church recommends not delaying the ceremony, because the baby will have her own Guardian Angel. There are other advantages of early baptism: children at an unconscious age can more easily endure the ritual, but it is difficult for an older child or teenager to stand for a long time in the temple.

What the girl’s mother and father should take care of in advance:

Find the place where the baptism will take place, agree with the priest on the exact date and time.
Choose godparents. This is a responsible step that parents must approach with all responsibility. Godparents are responsible before God for the moral and spiritual development of the girl, so it is better to offer this to believers who are not indifferent to the fate and life of the baby.
Find a new name for your daughter. If in the church canons there is no corresponding name that was given to the girl at birth, then a consonant one is selected. In this case, it is advisable to contact a priest who will tell you which saints are venerated on the baby’s birthday or baptism. From this moment on, the daughter will have another heavenly intercessor, the holy great martyr, who will protect and help.

Every parent wants to give their child something amazing for the first Sacrament. According to tradition, gifts are brought by godparents and guests, and mothers and fathers set the festive table. But if you really want to please the baby, give her an educational toy or an electronic rattle. You should not give expensive gifts, because baptism is not a reason to demonstrate financial capabilities, but a great Sacrament, after which the daughter will become part of the Holy Church and acquire her own angel, regardless of the financial situation of the parents.

Gift from godfather

According to tradition, the godfather presents the child with a cross. This pendant accompanies the girl all her life. If at a more mature age a girl wants to change the pendant to another, then the baptismal cross is carefully kept not only as a reminder of the sacrament of baptism, but also as a powerful amulet.

Silver is most often purchased because it is believed that this metal has a beneficial effect on the body. But, you can choose a cross made of tin, wood, gold or other material.

In addition to the cross, it is appropriate to present a small children's Bible with beautiful illustrations.

This is a memorable gift that will be treasured for a lifetime.

To give a nice gift not only to the goddaughter, but also to her father and mother, the godfather can organize a professional video filming or photo session. It is also often the godfather who pays for the ceremony.

Options for godparents

Baptism set: shirt, kryzhma and headdress (cap). All details of clothing should be white - this is the color of innocence and purification. They symbolize the beginning of a righteous life in faith. Patterns and ornaments can be pink, gold, silver - your choice. Before the ceremony, you need to put them in order: wash them in baby powder and iron them. Nothing should spoil the baptism experience. These accessories can be decorated with the child's name and baptism date if you know how to embroider.
Accessories for baptism: openwork booties, a special cap, a bag for storing the kryzhma and shirt, a dress instead of a shirt.
Icon with the face of the Patron Saint.
Homemade attributes for the first months of a baby’s life: socks and hats.

A cross along with a chain, gaitan or rope. He needs to be baptized. As a rule, the priest does this before the child’s baptism. The product should not be jewelry; excessive pomp is completely inappropriate. The essence of baptism is contrary to luxury, and expensive things can get lost or become a temptation for a dishonest person. It is better to choose a simple silver cross without precious stones.
Personalized icon in honor of the Patron Saint.

Silverware: cup, cup, sippy cup.
Candlestick.
Children's Bible.
Life of the Patron Saint.
A bag or case for a cross.

Gifts from relatives

To avoid getting into trouble, it is best to ask young parents what to give the girl for her christening. It's better to avoid surprises than to hand over things that will never be used for their intended purpose.

Gift options that will always be appropriate:

A certificate for the purchase of goods for children or money in an envelope will no doubt be useful to a young couple who is just starting to establish their life.
Diapers, bedding sets . A wonderful gift from grandma. For baby's sensitive skin, it is best to choose natural fabric.
Jewelry . This is the most common christening gift for a girl. A pendant, pendant, earrings, chain, bracelet or other item will do. It is appropriate to apply an engraving to the surface of the product, which will remind you of the day of the sacrament and the donor.

A silver brooch with an engraving and a beautiful figurine will be a reminder of the christening

Is money the best gift?

Not really.
For christenings, it is better to give not material goods, but objects endowed with a sacred meaning that corresponds to the spirit of the event. For example, a godfather, according to a long-standing tradition, can take over donations to the temple where the girl is baptized. He can also pay for photography in the church. Guests and relatives can organize and provide a feast. You won’t give money directly, but at least you will reduce the costs of the ceremony, which will become a bright memory in the life of the family. Another option to give money is a certificate for a purchase in a children's store. If a young family needs help, it is easier and more tactful to provide it this way. On the one hand, you will not give banknotes, but the necessary items for caring for the child. On the other hand, parents themselves will choose what they need most, and this gift will fully correspond to their ideals.

Gifts from guests

Guests most often give practical gifts that young parents can use for their intended purpose.

Beautiful clothes . Among what to give a girl from guests, she takes first place. These are different sets, dresses, overalls, suits. But when choosing, you should give preference to things that will grow. Babies grow very quickly in the first year of life and need a complete wardrobe change every three months. If you give a large amount of clothes for a certain age, then there is a possibility that the child will not even have time to try on most of the things.
Bedding or bumpers for a crib . The most common options are sets depicting famous cartoon or fairy tale characters.
Educational toys . These are different dolls, soft animals, musical toys, strollers, doll clothes. You can purchase an option that will be of interest to the child after some time.
Handmade photo album . The child is constantly growing and changing. Surely parents will want to stop the moment and keep it in their memory. In the album you can not only paste pictures, but also write comments. It can also be replaced with a digital photo frame.

You can buy a photo album ready-made or make it yourself

Developmental mat . This gift option is suitable for little ones. As soon as the girl starts crawling, the rug will lose its relevance. The rugs are always bright, colorful, and equipped with hanging structures. Also, many products are capable of making certain sounds when you press a certain place.

And it will come in handy ! Find out what you can give a boy for a christening.

Choosing an icon

People who are believers present items related to religion. When deciding which icon to give to a girl for christening, pay attention to the following points.

An icon with a saint, after whom the girl was named. This could be an icon of St. Barbara, Anastasia of Rome and others. There are many named icons, and several saints can have the same name. Before you make your choice, you should find out exactly who the child is named after. People turn to the namesake saint with personal requests and various problems.

Every person has a saint in whose honor he received a name. Icons of such saints are powerful amulets and provide protection at critical moments.

If a child was born on a certain holiday, for example, the Annunciation, then an icon with this plot would be appropriate as a baptismal gift. You can also purchase an icon with the image of a saint who is remembered on the day of celebration.

Images of Panteleimon the Healer or Matrona of Moscow are given to children who were born weak and often need medical care.

Do not forget that christening occurs only once, and the icon will be kept throughout your life. You should choose products that will not fade in a short period of time. Icons made of sheet silver are considered to be of the highest quality. They are not susceptible to mechanical stress and do not deform, since the base of such an icon is made of high quality wood.

You should also consider the option of handwritten aged icons. This is a wonderful christening gift for a girl. An icon made of solid cypress or oak is not afraid of exposure to moisture or temperature changes.

Handwritten aged icon is sold in a natural wood box

More ideas ! See what else you can give to your goddaughter for baptism and other holidays.

Godmother

Before agreeing to baptize a child, a woman must accept the great responsibility placed on her shoulders. It is important to understand what it means to be a godfather, and not to superficially follow the traditions of Orthodoxy. It is imperative to choose a suitable candidate with faith in your heart and full responsibility. This could be a relative or friend, not necessarily married, but a believer and an exemplary one. If she is not baptized, it is important to be baptized before the fateful day for the baby and be sure to receive communion.

Responsibilities of a Godmother

You should not conduct an interview or casting for the role of second parents. You just need to draw a conclusion about the attitude of the applicants towards God, the people around them and all living things. If the baby’s mother thinks that godparents should only buy a cross and a kryzhma, and then participate in the church sacrament, and that’s where participation in the fate of the new person ends, then she is very mistaken. Spiritual education and development of a child is what a godmother should be able to do throughout her life. In this case we are talking about the following responsibilities of godparents:

Be with the child all the time, help in difficult situations.
Teach prayers and simply talk about God, his role in the life of every person, and attend church together.
Every year, congratulate you on your birthday and give gifts on Angel’s Day.
Take communion regularly, involve your godson/goddaughter in the ritual.

How many times can you be a godfather?

Every Orthodox person can take part in this church rite, an unlimited number of times, if the child’s parents request it. A truthful and informed decision is welcome. Another important question that worries us before the sacrament is who can be godparents, according to church scripture? All believing relatives and friends can take on responsibilities, for example, an older brother, sister, girlfriend, friend, grandfather, grandmother, even stepfather. Cannot be godparents:

non-believers;
church ministers;
people of other faiths;
unbaptized;
mentally unstable people;
biological parents.

Memorable gifts

Many friends and acquaintances are wondering what to give a child for a christening to a girl so that the day of celebration remains in the memory for a long time. There are several interesting ideas for implementing this idea:

Medallion “My Wish” . An unusual and beautiful option for what to give for a girl’s christening. This is a decoration that is located on a chain. Inside the medallion you can place an engraving or a card with wishes for the girl.
Cubes with photos . Only environmentally friendly materials are used to make the toy, and the cubes cannot harm the child. Photos of children are placed on the surface of the cubes. During the game, the baby will remember the appearance of all relatives much faster.
Kit for creating a cast of a handle and a leg along with a frame . Such a gift can stop a moment and preserve one of the most priceless moments in life. The finished cast is framed as a painting and used as an interior element.

There are a lot of options for designing impressions

Silver or gold coin with the image of the Guardian Angel . On the second side it is customary to engrave with the date of the celebration and wishes. Such christening gifts for a girl are a good financial investment. The coin comes with a certificate and gift case. Often a capsule with a movable element is inserted inside the coin.
Handmade porcelain doll in the form of an angel . A beautiful product will decorate the room of the hero of the occasion and serve as a kind of amulet.
A bag for the first cut strands . During the baptism ceremony, the priest cuts off a small part of the child's hair. These hairs are carefully stored. You can buy a bag or sew it yourself.

Also a reason ! Find out what gifts you can give to godchildren for one year.

Universal ideas

If you are thinking about what to give a girl for christening, you need to understand what she will need for baptism? What will remind you of him years later? What can become a reliable talisman for a person? All answers to these questions are wonderful gifts. For example…

Silver spoon for first feeding with Christian symbols. Silver is traditionally considered a noble metal for tableware, which was a measure of material well-being. But not only because of the preciousness of the metal. The healing properties of silver are indispensable in a baby’s first meals: it disinfects and ionizes the contents.
A panel with a religious plot as a room decoration.
Icon in honor of the child's heavenly patroness.
Chain for a pectoral cross.
Children's Bible with pictures.
An icon on a chain with the image of a Guardian Angel.

A cross and a set of clothes for baptism should be given by godparents. If you decide to baptize a girl at a conscious age, then give more suitable things:

Puzzles with pictures of religious content;
Angel doll;
Lives of the Saints;
Trip to holy places;
Bracelet with icons;
Ring "Save and Preserve".

Practical gifts

Do not forget that a young family is just beginning to organize their life, and many items or devices will not become superfluous. Christening gifts for girls can also be practical.

Warm blanket and orthopedic pillow or mattress.
Electric clothes dryer. This is especially true for those who live in an apartment.
Set of cosmetics for baby care.
Baby feeding chair.
Stroller.

When buying a stroller, you should ask the young mother’s opinion about the design and colors

A heating toy with cherry pits inside . If desired, the girl's initials are embroidered on the surface of the product.
Yogurt maker.
Bizibor d. This is one of the most popular educational games. You can make it yourself or order it. Thanks to the toy, the child develops logic, thinking, memory, attention, perseverance, and fine motor skills.

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.

What is important to consider when choosing gifts

Before choosing a gift, you should ask young parents what exactly they need. Perhaps they already have a specific device or item. Conversation will help you avoid unpleasant situations.

When purchasing care products, you should pay attention to the composition of cosmetics. Products should not contain minerals, essential oils or other additives that can cause allergies.

When buying toys, it is important to consider the girl's age. If she is only a couple of months old, then she definitely won’t need a big car or bicycle anytime soon. Older children will not play with rattles.

The toy must be age appropriate

To make a beautiful gift, use a wicker basket and place all the items in it. You can also use ribbons or lace for decoration.

The gift should be complemented by a flower arrangement for the girl’s mother.

And when is it the other way around?! Check out gift ideas for your godmother's birthday.

Options for christening gifts for girls from guests

A gift given on christening day should not only carry spiritual content, but also be useful. If you don’t know what guests give to a girl at her christening, then pay attention to the following options.

7 original DIY gift ideas for your goddaughter

You can also give a girl a christening gift with handmade gifts. Such gifts are considered the most beloved and memorable:

Headband or wreath. Such accessories are always in fashion and practical to use. If the godmother loves and knows how to do needlework, she will easily create such a headband or headband for her goddaughter.
Photo frame using scrapbooking technique.
Disney princess outfit.
Knitted socks, hat or mittens.
Diaper cake.
Carved box for jewelry and other small items.
Pillows in the form of letters - with the initials or full name of the girl.

15 useful little things for a little princess

The best gifts for a goddaughter from godparents are those that can be useful for her and her parents:

a set of baby cosmetics (diaper cream, baby shampoo, bathing foam, etc.);
a pack of diapers;
rattles, tumbler, matryoshka, pyramid, spinning top and other practical educational toys are usually given as gifts from friends;
bath ducks;
educational shoes with laces;
sorter for developing attention and perseverance
recruitment of a young hairdresser, doctor, etc.;
set of children's dishes;
sippy cup or sippy cup;
a book with bright pictures or a talking book;
developmental mat;
multi-colored cubes;
set for drawing or modeling;
lamp in the shape of an animal for a children's room;
knitted mittens, socks, hat, scarf.

Top ten christening decorations

Jewelry with or without an inscription is a traditional christening present for a girl:

You definitely need to purchase a pectoral cross and a chain;
a pendant in the form of an angel or a set (icon and spoon) for a goddaughter;
children's icon “Mother of Kazan” or children’s icon “Holy Family”;
an evil eye pin or silver rattle;
bracelets made of precious metals;
silver mugs, drinking cups made of silver or gilded;
silver cutlery set (mug or sippy cup, spoon, fork);
bell “Godmother” or silver bell “Vera” with gilding.
baptismal set in a box (includes silver spoon, cross, bracelet);
a silver spoon “Baptismal” with the image of a saint or a silver fork “Bear with a heart”.

These gifts are also good for a girl’s birthday.

Items made of precious metals - 5 good gift options

The list of things godparents give at christenings includes jewelry. They stay with the girl for many years and become not only signs of commitment to the faith, but also strong amulets for the child:

gold pendant “Heel with a flower” or pendant-carriage with silver and gold plated;
silver spoon (tea or dessert);
gold cross with diamonds;
gold bracelet with prayer;
icon in silver or gilded.

What not to give at christenings

There are things that definitely should not be presented to your baby for a holiday:

Soft toys - they take up a lot of space, collect dust and are very rarely used for their intended purpose.
A large and massive cross - it symbolizes the heavy cross that the girl must bear all her life.
Alcoholic drinks. The exception to the rule is Cahors.
Toys made in China. Often such products emit an unpleasant odor and can also pose a threat to the health and life of the child.
Used items.
Vitamins or baby food. Each child has his own diet, which is selected individually.
Toys that can make sharp and loud sounds.

More about christening gifts for girls in the video:

Without your dearest ones - nothing ! Christening gift ideas from grandparents.

TOP worst gifts for a girl's christening

The christening of a child is not a birthday or New Year. Therefore, there are some things that should not be given as a gift on this bright holiday:

watches, knives and other sharp objects;
shoes;
boring books without pictures;
Chinese toys that will break the next day;
stationery - notebooks, markers, etc.;
large soft toys;
handkerchiefs or wet wipes;
mirrors There are many bad beliefs associated with this subject;
DIY crafts - collages, origami figures and other creative products;
gifts for growth - clothes, cosmetics and more;
walkers, jumpers, playpens and the like are given only by agreement with the child’s parents;
a high chair, a wheelchair, a crib, a stroller - for the same reason as the previous gifts.

The choice of a christening gift should be taken responsibly and thoroughly.
They can be different - practical, original, memorable, hand-made or store-bought. It is important that christening gifts are given from the heart and with good wishes. For children 2019-01-18 admin