Christening is an important family and spiritual event. And despite the fact that a person undergoes this ritual only once in his life, over the centuries the process has acquired many traditions and signs. They did not ignore the attire of guests and relatives.

Baptism is primarily a church event. Therefore, the clothing of those present at the sacrament of baptism must comply with the requirements of the church. This rule should not be neglected if the baptism itself takes place at home. After all, your appearance should correspond to the holiness and magic of the moment. But at the same time, this is a celebration, and you need to dress festively and elegantly; black and gray tones are completely inappropriate here. Women can wear a dress or blouse with a skirt to church, but trousers, and especially jeans, are completely inappropriate in church. It is advisable to choose plain, light-colored clothing. The dress or blouse must have sleeves and no deep neckline. Length – knee-length or longer. If the top of your outfit does not quite meet the requirements of the church, then you can throw on a jacket or sweater. It is standard practice that a woman should come to church in closed shoes without heels. But this rule is not very strict, and such shoes do not always look beautiful with a dress, so you can wear shoes with low heels. Natural makeup is not prohibited and is even encouraged. After all, you should be beautiful during the holiday and look at the photos with love after the event. Girls always enter church with their heads covered. Take care of your headdress in advance so that a hastily chosen item does not spoil the whole image. You can classically use a headscarf or scarf, or you can wear a hat, as royals do during christenings. The requirements for men's attire are somewhat less. But this does not mean that you can come to the holiday in casual clothes. A suit or trousers with a shirt is what you need for such an event. When choosing colors, you need to follow the same rules as when composing a woman’s outfit. A pattern in clothing may be present, but not flashy or flashy. But it’s better to choose a tie that matches the holiday - more fun, but still without bears or ducks. If the classic style is not to your liking, then for further celebration after the official part, you can take a change of more comfortable clothes. The clothing of little guests should also be appropriate for the occasion. A dress will suit a girl, and pants with a shirt or golf for a boy. When choosing an outfit, special attention should be paid to the comfort of the child, because there is absolutely no need for him to distract you or the other guests from the ceremony. Girls' heads are not covered. And shoes for kids can be open. Recently, it has become fashionable to use folk motifs. Baptism is an ancient Russian custom. Therefore, to add a special flavor to the holiday, relatives and guests can dress up in clothes with folk patterns. This outfit is beautiful, original and meets all the requirements of the church. And finally, a few general recommendations:

1. All visitors to the temple must wear a consecrated cross.
2. Godparents should think about a change of clothes: a naked godson may give you an unexpected “gift.”
3. Turn off your phone completely. Thanks to the special acoustics in churches, even vibration alerts can be clearly heard.
4. Don't be too fragrant. You will be around a newborn and small children who may have allergic reactions to perfume.

Christening is an important stage in the life of a little man and his parents. Share this joyful event with them and become part of a spiritual birth.

The baptism of a child is an important moment in the life of parents and their child. Every family wants this day to be perfect and to remain in their memory for a long time.

One of the important points in organizing this ritual is the choice of clothes for the baby. In our short review, we will talk about what things you need to take with you to church and why, which baptismal sets are best to choose, and what clothing requirements for your baby you need to know.

Rite of Baptism and choice of clothing

The rite of Baptism itself is a difficult event, as it is connected with religion and church laws, so you should remember certain traditions and rules that must be followed.

In order to understand how to dress a baby for Baptism, it is worth knowing.

The godparents bring the baby into the church and approach the font. The father takes the baby in his arms and dips him into the font three times. After bathing, the priest applies church oil to certain places - forehead, ears, nose, mouth, eyes, legs, arms, chest.

After the rite of anointing, the priest hands the child over to the godparents, and they dry him special towel for baptism(in the old days it was called kryzhma).

There are usually various shops near the church where you can buy kryzhma (with embroidery in the form of a cross, angels or other attributes). You can also buy kryzhma in advance in online stores or in children's departments, or order from craftswomen (with hand embroidery, lace).

In addition, you can use a regular towel, but it should be light or better white. Traditionally, the godmother must purchase the kryzhma.

After wiping, the priest puts a cross on the child.

From the above it is clear that the baby should be dressed in such clothes that will make it easy to perform the ritual of bathing and anointing.

Regular children's clothes for the baptism ceremony

If you wish, you can do without regular children's clothing- a light sundress or dress for a girl and a simple T-shirt for a boy. A bodysuit or slip with no legs would also work well. The main thing is that the clothes can be easily removed or unbuttoned in the right places.

Often very young children are left naked, covered only with a sheet - this is also very convenient.

It is advisable to choose a light color of clothing with minimal patterns.

Christening outfits for children

Nowadays, more and more often, special clothes or baptismal sets are bought for the Baptism ceremony, which contain everything necessary. You can sew the outfits yourself, order them or buy them in a store.

Christening shirt, both for infant boys and girls, a long one is sewn - up to the toes.

For boys the robe can be decorated with embroidered church symbols, for girls additionally decorated with lace (but in moderation so that it does not bother the child or prick), satin braid and also embroidery.

Very often, lace and satin can be seen on a baptismal shirt for a boy, this is a tribute to old fashion. It was in these shirts that children were baptized in the past.

The baptismal dress or baptismal shirt must be white (light cream, beige, milky shades are also allowed) and new.

The modern market offers and already ready-made baptism kits. Typically, such a set includes: a baptismal dress or shirt, decorated with lace, interesting braid, embroidery; the set may also include elegant socks or booties, a cap with lace, panties or panties for a diaper, a baptismal towel (kryzhma). Quite often, a set for a girl can be complemented with a headband or scarf with embroidery and lace.

When choosing ready-made baptismal clothing You should definitely pay attention to the quality of the material, seams and additional accessories (lace, braid) - all this should be made only from natural fabrics (linen, cotton) so that the baby is comfortable and not hot. The quality of the clothing is also important, since, according to tradition, the baptismal attire must be kept for life.

Let's summarize what clothes you will need for your baby during the Baptism ceremony:
1. Clothes for the ritual of anointing (should be easy to remove, preferably light colors, without patterns): regular or special.
2. Kryzhma (light towel).
3. Booties, socks.
4. Cap, scarf (optional).

Simple tips on choosing baptismal clothes for a child will help you make your choice. Let the rite of Baptism be held in a special and very festive way.

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Father buys. This attribute can be purchased in advance, but then the cross must be given to the priest so that he can consecrate it. You can also make a purchase at the church store.

In turn, the godmother purchases a kryzhma and a baptismal shirt or dress for the boy. You can also buy a ready-made baptismal set. In addition to the diaper and clothes, it will also include a cap. You should pay special attention to the material from which the kryzhma is made. It should absorb moisture well enough to prevent hypothermia in the child.

Baptismal dress for a girl: traditions and signs

The clothes in which the child was baptized cannot be lent or sold to anyone. His family keeps these clothes as a keepsake. According to Christian tradition, the dress the girl wore that day can then be worn by her sister for baptism. People believe that this will have a beneficial effect on strengthening relations between them.

There are other signs. According to popular beliefs, baptismal clothing has two unique properties - to protect its owner (or its owner) throughout life and to cure serious illnesses. Therefore, the baptismal set should be kept as a family heirloom and hidden away from prying eyes.

What should a girl's christening dress be like?

The Church does not have any special requirements for baptismal clothing. However, there are some generally accepted criteria. Firstly, the clothes should be quite long - a few centimeters below the legs. Secondly, it should be a light shade, or better yet snow-white, symbolizing cleansing from sin.

Give preference to natural and soft fabrics with even seams and a comfortable neckline. In addition, a girl's christening dress should be comfortable and have a minimum number of strings so that it can be easily removed for immersion in the font. As for the cap, it will need to be removed during the sacrament.

Remember that clothes for baptism should not restrict movement. Choose a loose-fitting dress for girls made from natural soft fabrics. Let it be decorated with satin ribbons and lace, but do not overdo it with the decor of the clothes. Although the dress is purchased for a celebration, too much jewelry can give the dress a ridiculous and pretentious look, and this looks out of place in church.

Clothing for baptism can be and/or decorated. Sewing will take a small amount of time, but it is better to prepare for the special event in advance. It’s good if the godmother does this work.

In addition, a baptismal dress knitted from natural threads will look great. Usually its bottom is decorated with many ruffles and frills. The finished product can be decorated with artificial flowers, embroidery, lace, beads, and openwork. Another great idea is to knit a christening dress for a girl. However, if the sacrament takes place in the summer, it is necessary to approach the choice of material carefully. In hot weather, a girl wearing a dress knitted from thick woolen threads may experience heatstroke.

The very first and most important sacrament in Orthodoxy most often occurs in infancy - baptism. Loving parents with all their hearts wish to enlist the protection of higher luminous forces. Full of special meaning, the ritual becomes a significant event in the life of the family, a real holiday. They begin to prepare for it in advance, trying to take into account the smallest details.

I want everything to match the formal atmosphere, including clothes. With understanding, a baptismal set purchased will emphasize the significance of the moment, will comply with Orthodox canons and will provide the baby with complete comfort and peace of mind during the entire stay in the temple. The Church does not indicate a specific age for baptism, but it is believed that the ceremony should be performed as early as possible, because the baby really needs the help of his guardian angel. Ideally, this should happen within 7-40 days from the moment. For such babies, the baptism kit is chosen by godparents or parents; older children can decide for themselves what exactly they will be baptized with.

What does the baptism kit include?

Typically, a baptism kit will include the following:

1. pectoral cross;
2. baptismal shirt;
3. a towel (or a special diaper) called kryzhma;
4. booties, textile boots;
5. scarf, cap.

Now let's take a closer look at each element that is included in the baptismal set.

The pectoral cross is bought by the future godfather. He chooses the form and execution himself. Today it is customary to buy precious metal crosses of fine artistic work. But supporters of the traditional wooden cross remain. Crosses made of amber and semi-precious minerals are less common. The main requirement is the absence of sharp corners that could scratch the baby. Attach the cross to a chain or special cord. If the cross was bought in a shop at the temple, it was already consecrated. Otherwise, the cross must be consecrated before the ceremony begins.

Baptismal attire is traditionally purchased by the godmother. She should make sure that the fabric of the shirt is soft, preferably natural. After all, these will be the first clothes that the baby wears after ablution. The shirt is chosen to be loose so that it can be easily put on the baby’s wet body. At the same time, the baptismal shirt can be elegant; lace, ruffles, and thematic embroidery are acceptable. It’s great when a mother, sister, grandmother or aunt can sew or knit a christening shirt themselves. But those who are not keen on handicrafts today can easily find a baptism kit in many children's stores or order it from special workshops. Traditionally, the shirt is made snow-white, as a symbol of sinlessness; cream, soft pink, peach or other pastel shades are acceptable; individual elements such as embroidery can have more saturated shades. The main rule is to avoid pretentiousness; in the baptismal ceremony one should give preference to elegant restraint. It is better to baptize a baby wearing a shirt made of the finest linen or cotton.

Kryzhma is usually sold as a set with a baptismal shirt, booties and a cap. It is in Kryzhma that the godparents receive the baby after the font. If baptism is carried out in cool weather, you can opt for a hooded roof and take an extra blanket.

Booties or fabric boots should keep little feet warm after a dip and be a nice addition to an outfit. They should be easy to put on and not chafe your skin. But a cap or scarf will be included in an elegant set - it depends on the gender of the baby.

How are they different?

The composition of the fabric for sewing baptismal clothes and girls' clothes is exactly the same, the only difference is in the finishing. Some manufacturers produce separate lines. A christening set for a girl will be easily recognizable by the pink tones in the decoration, the abundance of lace details and satin inserts with ribbons. In addition, the “girlish” set will definitely include a headscarf or cap with frills. They are put on immediately after ablution. After all, according to the ritual, women are required to cover their heads in the temple.

Boys are offered sets in light blue with blue or silver trim. A bonnet or cap is worn only by the youngest; older boys can remain bareheaded. The baptismal set for a boy is sewn with less lavish decoration; often the matter is limited to discreet embroidery or decorative braid.

Some parents, wanting to throw a magnificent celebration, buy or order luxurious dresses for their daughters or real tuxedos for their sons. But such secular outfits are unlikely to be appropriate in church; they are best left for family celebrations. Moreover, it is quite difficult to take them off and put them on, which is very inconvenient during the ceremony.

What to consider when choosing

Be sure to pay attention to the material. The baptismal shirt and kryzhma are selected from natural fabrics - thin cotton, linen fiber, knitwear, light flannel or terry cloth. This outfit will not cause irritation, providing the baby with comfort and peace of mind during the ceremony.

The baptism kit must take into account the age of the person being baptized. What is suitable for babies under one year old is completely inappropriate for preschool or school-age children.

They purchase baptismal attire in children's stores, online sites, and church supply stores. If you are not completely satisfied with the ready-made set, you can always create your own set by purchasing individual items. For those who attach special importance to the sacrament of baptism, we can even recommend ordering an individual set in special workshops at the temple. Usually they offer models for every taste: extremely simple and luxuriously elegant.

Special clothes, special attitude

After the ceremony, the baptismal attire is not washed. It is carefully kept, sometimes for the rest of one’s life, as it is considered a real amulet. It is not for nothing that the mother’s kryzhma is subsequently covered with a very ill baby. This beautiful towel with embroidered symbols of baptism is kept along with baptismal candles from the church and a certificate of the sacrament performed. In some families, baptismal clothing is passed down through generations. This strengthens the spiritual protection of each subsequent generation.

Baptismal set for the first sacrament was last modified: April 29th, 2016 by Gulya

Christening is an important stage in the life of a baby, because from this day he renounces a sinful life, and is subsequently reborn in spiritual life. Baptism involves the cleansing of the baby from original sin, which is caused by his birth. The sacrament of baptism is performed only once in a person’s life. Surely the baby's parents and his godparents are concerned about the question of how to dress for a christening. This is what we will talk about.

The church dress code is very different from the styles we use in everyday life.. If you have never attended a christening before or rarely enter a church, the following recommendations and rules will help you dress appropriately.

Despite the fact that christening is a holiday celebrated in the Orthodox and Christian churches, clothing at this event becomes of great importance, since it should correspond to that very bright day when the baby joins the spiritual life. You can’t stand out with your appearance, but your attitude should be positive. You should avoid blouses with short sleeves, short skirts, tops and jeans. Such clothes do not in any way correspond to church canons. Trousers of any kind are not acceptable.

• A discreet dress. The godmother and natural mother of the child should not differ in their appearance. Simple fabrics and neutral colors are welcome. Since we are talking about the festive atmosphere that will fill the christening, you need to wear a dress in light colors - white, blue, soft pink, peach, cream, apricot shades. The dress may have patterns, but they should be simple and discreet. The length of the dress should be below the knee. Floor length is welcome.
• Sleeves of a dress or blouse. As an alternative to a dress, you can wear a blouse and a skirt. The sleeves of a blouse or dress should be long. The blouse should have a simple cut. Necklines and deep cutouts, tight-fitting styles that fit tightly to the figure are not acceptable. The blouse matches the color of the skirt or can be a couple of shades lighter. When choosing a blouse, it should not hinder movements, especially for the godmother’s blouse - after all, the difficult task of calming the baby during the ceremony and holding him in her arms falls on her shoulders.
• Shoes. Must be closed, at low speed. It can be dark or matched to the main color scheme of the outfit. No heels or platforms. Shoes that are not very high are, of course, acceptable, but it is still better to avoid them. It is better to wear simple closed shoes.
• Makeup. Naturally, on such a day any woman will want to look her best, but the church does not accept bright makeup and frilly outfits. Natural makeup is preferable - a little powder and a little blush, neat, even eyebrows, not flashy eyelashes. You can apply gloss to your lips, but avoid lipstick. When tinting your lips, keep in mind that the priest will ask you to kiss the cross, which means that if you apply lip gloss, it should be barely noticeable and long-lasting.
• Handkerchief. The head should be covered with a scarf. Naturally, you should not do voluminous hairstyles - just gather your hair into a bun or ponytail and braid it. You can have your own scarf in the color scheme of the chosen outfit, or take a scarf from the church.
• Cross. Godmothers and birthmothers, and in principle everyone who enters the church, must wear a pectoral cross, consecrated in the church. You can take your own cross or purchase one at the church.

How should a godfather dress for a christening?

The godfather's outfit is quite simple. It is enough to wear light trousers and a shirt a couple of shades lighter, and light closed shoes. Also wear a cross consecrated in the church.

During the baptism ceremony, the baby’s limbs are exposed, and therefore the outfit should be loose. A girl can wear a loose dress, and a boy can wear an equally loose shirt and trousers or shorts. Then the newborn baby is dressed in a white diaper donated by the godmother or in a baptismal shirt - depending on the traditions of the church in which the baptism ceremony takes place.

If it is necessary to baptize a child who is over a year old, he can be dressed for christening as follows.

• Handkerchief. Girls do not have to wear it until their period arrives, or until they are seven years old. According to church canons, a child under seven years of age is considered an infant. However, in order not to embarrass church grandmothers and other guardians of church order, you can wear a scarf. Thus, you will once again be on the safe side, since each church has its own rules, which they may not always tell you about.
• Dress. It should have long sleeves, be discreet, and made of simple material. In the cold season, you should wear warm tights or panties. If the baptism takes place in the summer, a long dress is still more convenient. If the child spins in his arms, such a dress will not confuse anyone or cause discomfort. Thin straps, slits and cutouts are not appropriate even for a child.
• White clothes. Gets dressed after the bath. White color symbolizes purity, so clothes of this color should be worn after the ceremony. Don't forget about the baptismal set - towel, cap, shirt.

What should godparents buy for a christening?

To prepare for the christening of a child, it is not enough just to dress correctly. Godparents are required to purchase certain things that they give to the baby as a gift.

• White shirt or dress for christening. In the store you can purchase a simple version or a model with embroidery. Also, such goods are sold directly at the church. If you buy a shirt in a store, do not forget to wash and iron it before baptism, so that you can put it on your baby already clean. A baptismal shirt or chemise is worn after the baptism ceremony as a symbol that the child appears pure before God. According to tradition, this shirt should be worn for eight days. After this period, the shirt is removed and stored for life. If the child begins to get sick, the baptismal shirt can be placed under the pillow. You cannot baptize another baby using the same shirt.
• Pectoral cross. There should be a crucifix on it. This baptism should be purchased in advance or directly on the day of baptism. The cross must be consecrated. According to tradition, it is believed that the cross cannot be removed after baptism. Therefore, it is better to choose a small cross and a rope that would be difficult for the baby to remove from himself.
• Towel. Some churches wrap the baby in it after baptism, while other churches use a white swaddle. Whether it is a diaper or a towel, this item should be stored together with the baby’s baptismal shirt and not washed after the baptism ceremony.
• Scarf or cap. It can be purchased separately or purchased as a set with a baptismal set, which will include a cap or scarf.

The cost of a baptismal set, which includes a towel, cap, diaper and shirt, can range from 700-1500 rubles.

To be absolutely prepared for your christening, take the following items with you:

• Flannelette blanket. After the child is undressed and dipped into the bath, he may feel cold. The blanket will keep your baby warm and calm.
• Small package. It will be possible to place a lock of the baby’s hair in it, which will be cut by the priest. A lock of hair should be stored together with the baptismal shirt, diaper or towel.

How should godparents prepare for the baptismal ceremony?

In addition to clothes and gifts for the baby, godparents need to prepare for the baptism ceremony. What exactly should you do or not do?

• Take communion and repent of mortal sins a couple of days before the christening ceremony.
• Do not eat or have sexual intercourse on the day of baptism.
• If godparents baptize a boy, then the godfather will have to read the “Creed” prayer. If parents participate in the baptism of a girl, this prayer will need to be read to the godfather.

What are the responsibilities of a godmother?

Before you agree to become a godmother, you need to understand whether you can fulfill these obligations, which are presented below.

• Vouch for your child before the Lord
• Be responsible for the spiritual upbringing of the child
• Take part in the upbringing and life of the child on an equal basis with his biological parents
• To take care of the child in the event that the biological parents can no longer fulfill their obligations to the child. The godmother can become the baby's full guardian.
• Pray for the godchild, be a caring and loving godmother
• Come to church with your child if the parents cannot do this
• Be an example for a child.

What is required of the godmother at a christening?

• Please note that the godmother, just like the godfather, must be baptized and observe Christian laws. If the godmother is not baptized, then she is baptized first, and only then the baby. By the way, biological parents may not be baptized at all or may be supporters of a different faith.
• The godmother must be present at the child's christening, unlike the godfather, who can attend the christening in absentia.
• Godparents must remember the day of the child’s baptism and every year on this day - the day of the Guardian Angel of the godchild - visit the temple every year, thank the Lord and light a candle.

When agreeing to become godparents of a child, you should remember not only the dress code, but also the obligations that you must fulfill before the child and before God. Christening is an important rite for the child, his relatives and godparents, and therefore you need to prepare for it thoroughly.