photo credit: timsnell

I think one of the most nerve wracking things about any celebrations is making sure you haven’t forgotten something. Did you remember to invite Aunt Agnes, do you have backup undergarments (for the smaller child), are there places set aside for your family at the church, or what is on your food menu? These are all the tiny things that can so easily be forgotten. So to help you organize your Christening Day we have created a short checklist. Print if off and keep it handy while organizing that Special Day!

1. Ceremony Location:______________________________________________________________

2. Date:_______________________________ Time:_______________________________________

3. Contact Officiator________________________________________________________________

4. Select Godparents and/or Guardian.

_____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

5. Select Location for Celebration after the ceremony.

Facility___________________________________________________ Time_____________________________

6. Create Guest List________________________________________# of Guests__________________

7. Send Invitations______________________________________

8. Decorations and Favors______________________________

9. Menu_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. Arrange for Video and/or Photographs______________________________________________

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Irish tradition, like any other, comes with its own variations. The good thing about tradition of any form, is that it can be adapted to suit your own needs.

Irish symbols

Symbolism on the christening gown is a personal choice. There are many Irish symbols that can be applied to a gown. From ancient Celtic spirals to the exquisite claddaugh. Research the symbols and you’ll find that they have hidden depths and meanings, but for now, here’s some basic Celtic symbol descriptions.

• Celtic Knots, believed to protect against evil. The more complex the knotting, the greater the protection.
• Celtic spirals, believed to be the balance between the inner and the outer consciousness.
• Celtic tree of life delivers wisdom, and is also believed to deliver messages from the gods.
• Celtic cross, believed to signify the four directions of the wind, and the four seasons.
• Shamrock, one of the favorite Irish symbols. The symbol of trinity.
• Claddaugh, the symbol of love and friendship.

The tradition behind the Irish christening gown

The Irish believe that for daughters, the christening gown should be one of the three white dresses that she will wear in her lifetime. Her christening/baptism gown, communion/confirmation gown, and of course her wedding gown. All should be white as this symbolizes, purity, joy and new life.

An old Irish custom is to make the christening gown from the mothers bridal gown.
Using lace or fabric from the veil, or other parts of the wedding gown. This is normally made by the mother.

A mothers first-born child is said to wear part of the bridal gown for her christening, and then when the child marries, part of the christening gown will be re sewn back into the bridal gown!

All of this represents the threads binding together the different generations.

This tradition of course comes with its variations, one of which is that the mother makes her child’s christening gown from her own bridal dress, and this then gets handed down through the generations as a family heirloom, rather than being recast into the wedding dress.

Many Irish christening gowns are hand embroidered with symbols. They could have panels made from the old Cluney lace (lace that is so delicate and airy, it resembles crochet stitches) Or it could be made from fine Irish silk or old Irish linen. The beauty of the Irish gown is partly the tradition that lies behind it.

What if you don’t have your own gown to hand down through the generations? What if you don’t fancy chopping up your wedding dress to make a christening gown! Don’t worry, there are plenty of places out there that are perfecting the art of making Irish christening gowns, and then you could start handing that down through your own family, and make your own tradition

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Buying gifts for babies and children can sometimes prove to be a rather difficult task for parents.  It is even more tricky choosing gifts for a baby who is being christened and doubly so if you are not the baby’s parents.

The internet is a great place to search for baby christening gifts.  Convenience allows a much more thorough search of what is out there.  It is possible to find top gift ideas that can make shopping for christening gifts a whole lot simpler and much less stressful.

Most people prefer to give a gift that holds some sort of significance to the baby or the christening.  Personalizing a gift can be a fun and special way of commemorating the special occasion while also making the gift more unique.  Having the little one’s name monogrammed or engraved on the gift will always add a personal touch.

A great idea when giving a christening gift is to give one that can actually be used on the day of the event.  For example, a christening gown, which come in a wide variety of different styles, designs, colors and fabrics is a special and thoughtful gift, provided, of course, that the parents have not already obtained one!  Another idea is to give a baby bonnet for the child to wear either before or after the christening.  That it matches the gown obviously goes without saying.

Sometimes giving a gift that can be appreciated long after the christening is the perfect way to go.  For example, a Bible that you have had personalized for the little one can become quite a sentimental and timeless gift, however it can also be a rather popular gift idea so you might find that your personalized Bible is not the only one that the baby is given on the day.

You might choose to give an item of jewelry as a christening gift.  This, too, can be personalized and whether it is a ring, bracelet, or some other item of jewelry, it can still be kept and used long after the christening is done.

The assortment of gifts for a baby’s christening is varied indeed.  The trick is to choose something that will commemorate the special occasion, whatever your gift choice may be.  Another great idea with commemoration in mind is a picture frame for the certificate, or a photograph of the baby before, during, or after the christening.  The frame you choose should be solid and they come in an endless array of styles and designs for you to choose from.  Some can be engraved as well, so they can be made truly unique to the situation.

Of course, you may choose to go with something simpler such as a stuffed toy for cuddling.  But even these can be personalized.  All it takes is a little bit of imagination and a willing heart.  A babies christening is a special time in the lives of the child, the parents, and the family.  It is understandable that most would want their gift to be unique and personal.

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A child’s christening is a very important event for many families. It can be made all the more special when a christening dress or outfit is passed down from generation to generation. There’s something very significant about dedicating your child to God in the very same outfit that you yourself (or a beloved family member) wore many years ago. However, preserving a christening outfit can be a little tricky. If you want your child to be able to pass on this tradition to his/her own children, then read on to learn more about making that possible.

Before we learn what to do, sometimes it’s helpful to learn what NOT to do. Here are some common mistakes that people often make when they are trying to preserve clothing. First of all, clothing should be stored in a cool, dry place such as a cedar chest or closet. Hot places like the attic or damp places like the basement should be avoided.

Never use storage bags with metal zippers or clasps. These can corrode over time. Wire hangers should not be used as they can leave marks on the fabric. Vinyl or plastic bags do not allow the fabric to breathe and cause yellowing or fading to occur. They can also contain harmful chemicals that can damage the fabric permanently. Paper boxes and tissue paper should only be used if they are acid-free.

Now, here is what you should do in order to fully preserve your christening dress or outfit for future generations. First, make sure the gown is washed according to the instructions on the tag and fully dried. If it is to be hand-washed, be sure to use an enzymatic cleaner and fully rinse the outfit. Hang the outfit on a padded, cloth hanger with a vinyl-covered hook.

The best kind of storage bag to use is 100% unbleached muslin. This allows the fabric to breathe while still protecting it from dirt, dust, chemicals, and light. Instead of having zippers or snaps, this bag should have an overlapped closure using buttons so there is no chance of any corrosion.

There’s also the cost-effective aspect to carrying on this tradition. Christening outfits can be expensive and they are usually only worn once. They deserve to be passed on for future generations to enjoy. By ensuring that your child’s christening gown or outfit will be preserved for years to come, you could be starting a wonderful family tradition that will continue for generations.

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A child’s baptism, or christening is one that should be filled with moving memories. Planning for the special day is relative easy, though it does take some effort.

Your first task will be to call the church to see if they have special days set aside for christenings.  Once you’ve received that information, you can then choose the all-important date and time to call back the church to confirm the date with them.  At this time you’ll be told what preparations you’ll need to make, and what particular procedures you will need to follow.

Next, it is customary that the happy parents choose a Godmother and a Godfather. Being Godparents is quite an honor, but the choice you make needs to be a careful one as they not only will raise your child within the religious teachings of your church, but they will also have all responsibilities for raising your child should something happen to you, the parents. Thus, it is typical to choose from the family or to choose very close friends.

It is common for the Godparents to gift the child with a keepsake.  Such keepsakes run from religious articles to golden spoons with the important date being engraved thereupon.

Occasionally, depending on your particular faith, there are baptism classes that must be held.  Different religions have their own singular requirements, so again speak to someone representing the church about this matter.

Most people send written invitations to the christening, thus you should make plans to visit your local card shop or printer.  Make sure that the invitation you choose matches the particular religion involved, including the specific words used.

Next, if there is to be a gathering of the participants following the formal religious ceremony, you will need to make arrangements with a caterer, choosing the menu, the theme and all related information. You then need to make arrangements with the site where the gathering will be held.

Sometime in between all this, you will choose the child’s clothing.  This is something that all parents love doing as they undoubtedly have a specific view in their minds as to what the child will look like in the pictures that will be taken throughout the ceremony and afterwards at the celebration of this joyous event.  Christening clothing runs from heirloom christening gowns and bonnets, to brand new clothing, shoes, bonnets, and christening blankets for the child.  Shop around if your family has no heirloom clothing and find something that strikes you as perfect for such a wonderful happy day!

Some families begin by celebrating with a brand new bible for the child into which notes are made outlining who the parents and Godparents were, the date and location of the baptism.  Notes are also made for the attendants and where the celebratory gathering was held.  The bible then becomes a keepsake for the child and further notes will be made of religious moments as the child grows up.  These bibles are also excellent for preserving family history for following generations.

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Do you have a family tradition that has been carried on for years? 

My family has one that has been going on for over 110 years.  Everyone in our family at the time of Christening or Baptism, uses the same handpainted china bowl to hold the christening water.  It’s quite a surprise that this delicate bowl has lasted over the years with no cracks or chips.  It is still wrapped in an old dishtowel (the same one for years) and contained in a rickety cardboard box.

Do you have a family tradition for your child’s Christening Day?  If not maybe now is the time to start.  After all, someone did in my family.  How about starting with the child’s outfit, gown or suit? An heirloom Christening gown worn by your child can be a treasured piece passed down for your grandchildren and great-grandchildren to wear.

Here are a few tips on how to pick out the Christening outfit.
..If you want this outfit to become “your” tradtion, pick one of Classic design.  You want your relatives years from now to love it just as much as you do.
..Christening, Baptismal or Bris gowns should always be beautiful and of the finest quality with lace, embroidery, ribbon and/or other embellishments. They should be made of delicate, soft fabrics suitable for a baby. Whether intricate or unadorned, your heirloom Christening gown should be made to the most exacting standards.
..The season of the year will definitely be a consideration when deciding on the style of the  christening or baptism dress. Fabric thickness and sleeve length should be appropriate for the temperatures during that time of the year, if possible.

Whatevery style and  fabric content you choose I’m sure if handled correctly the outfit will last for years and generations to come.  Choose a suitable container for storage but more important, start a diary within.  This will keep the story of the use alive and passed on with each generation.

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