The rite of baptism is one of the most important events in the life of an Orthodox person. Believers believe that at this moment the child receives his guardian angel, who will subsequently protect him from all evil. When preparing for the sacrament, it is important not to miss anything. It is necessary to choose the right christening dress for the girl, as it must comply with church canons. In the future, the garment used for the sacrament is kept throughout life. It is generally accepted that it plays the role of a talisman.
Features of the christening outfit
A christening dress for a girl must be new. It has a sacred meaning - after the ceremony, the outfit cannot be thrown away, sold or given to anyone to use. It must be kept for life and kept in a place hidden from prying eyes. The christening dress is considered a real amulet against evil.
To perform the sacrament, you need a cross, a shirt or dress, and a diaper. According to tradition, some of the items are given by the godfather. The cross can be purchased in advance, but it is necessary for the priest to bless it before the ceremony. The sacrament itself does not require any special preparation. You only need to talk to the priest in advance, agree on the time and date. It is also worth considering what dress to wear for the child's christening.
Christening dresses for girls are traditionally given by godmothers. Clothes can also be purchased at church. As a rule, cathedrals always have sets available: a bonnet, a robe and a diaper. If desired, the godmother can sew the outfit herself and purchase a sheet separately. A crocheted christening dress looks very interesting and unusual. In such an outfit, the baby will be charming - the lace pattern will emphasize the tenderness, purity, and innocence of the baby.
After the christening, the diaper must also be kept. It is believed that if the baby gets sick, the product should be put in the baby's bed or wiped with it after bathing. Beliefs say that then she will definitely recover faster.
Suitable styles and models
The church does not welcome overly pretentious and pompous outfits. For this reason, girls usually choose a christening dress of a simple cut with a little delicate decor. Such an outfit will create a cute, charming image. There are several traditional sets used for the ceremony:
- Christening gown. This simple cotton item is the most suitable option, according to most. The gown is put on over the head. As a rule, the model has ties in the chest area, used to facilitate the process of putting on clothes and anointing. Natural fabric and a loose cut do not cause discomfort to the baby, but many people do not think this option is elegant enough.
- Elongated outfit. White floor-length shirts create a truly festive and cute look. Such a dress has long sleeves and a hem. The edges are usually decorated with ribbons and lace. Shirts of this type look weightless and airy. For a child who is already walking independently, the clothes may not be suitable due to the length.
- With a cape. A christening gown with a hood is very practical. Such an outfit does not require a separate headdress. Another advantage is that parents do not need to worry that the cap will be lost during dressing or performing the sacrament. The hood is made in the same style as the entire outfit, so the image looks harmonious.
Dresses for girls for christening can be decorated with lace details, small bows, openwork edging, laconic embroidery. The theme of decorative elements is usually associated with the sacrament. These can be crosses, doves, angels and, of course, flowers. A dress for a mother for a child's christening can also be selected with similar decor. Usually, all elements are made in white, but it is allowed to use threads of other shades: yellow, beige, light green, blue and pink. Gold elements in embroidery look very elegant.
Colors and lengths
Church traditions state that christening dresses for girls under 1 year old must be white. This color symbolizes the purity and innocence of the child's soul. Of course, such an outfit looks as solemn and appropriate for such an important event.
Only minor deviations from this condition are allowed. Bright, dark, colorful outfits are excluded, but you can choose pastel shades: pale pink, soft blue, cream, beige, lilac. In this case, the presence of white embroidery is allowed on a colored christening dress.
There are no strict guidelines for the length of a child's christening dress, but when choosing a garment, you need to rely on common sense. An excessively short child's dress for christening is inappropriate, so it is better to refuse it. The ideal option for the church is a model below the knee. It is only important that the legs are not completely hidden - during the sacrament they are anointed with myrrh.
Materials of manufacture
Christening clothes are mostly made from natural fabrics. The material should be suitable for the event and comfortable for the child. It is better to choose a christening dress for a girl under one year old made of cotton. The baby will be calmer in a soft, pleasant to the body and hypoallergenic outfit. The most common fabrics are cotton, softened linen, muslin, complemented by lace details. There are also more refined and elegant models made of satin, which has a light unobtrusive shine. There are dresses made of cambric or noble silk fabric. Such sets are decorated with lace inserts or embroidery.
For the ceremony in the cool season, mothers may prefer a warm christening dress made of flannel fabric, or a knitted dress, which looks very touching and extremely original. The latter are made of natural threads, usually cotton or wool. It is allowed to knit a christening dress with a crochet hook - such an outfit looks very gentle on the baby.
A christening dress knitted with needles will be thicker and warmer. It will suit a baby of any age.
Hand-made outfits attract attention with complex openwork patterns, and are usually complemented with original flowers or elegant satin ribbons. Any style of dress is allowed. The most popular for baptizing a girl are trapeze or flared skirt models. Before knitting a christening dress for a girl, you should study the requirements for clothing for the sacrament.
Additional accessories
The christening ceremony does not imply the use of a large number of accessories. For an important day in the life of the baby, a bonnet and a cross will be needed. If the girl is very small, then booties may also be useful.
The godmother's dress should also be appropriate and chosen in accordance with church canons. It will look very interesting if the woman's and baby's outfits overlap.
The cross is put on the child during the ceremony. It is better to choose a small decoration suspended on a thin, soft, strong cord. It is important that it does not rub or irritate the delicate baby skin. It is necessary to ensure that the decoration does not have sharp corners or other parts that can hurt the baby. The metal the cross is made of does not matter. Silver, gold, etc. are acceptable.
You can buy the attribute in a church shop or in a regular jewelry department. However, it is important to remember that in the first case the items are already consecrated, and in the second case they still need to be sprinkled with holy water in the church.
To create a harmonious image, it is necessary that the decorative elements on the cap echo the decorations on the dress. A headdress with lace, embroidery, appliques, ruffles, bows and ribbons will look elegant and charming. The cap is often replaced with delicate braided or openwork headbands. They can have beautiful textile flowers. If the girl is an adult, then a neat scarf should be tied on her head. It can be made of airy, light fabric, decorated with braid or embroidery.
Booties are put on the babies' feet. It is better if they are made of natural cotton fabrics. You can choose models made of satin or knitted, made of delicate, soft threads. It is important that they do not cause discomfort to the baby, otherwise she will behave very restlessly.
For a white formal christening dress, it is better to choose shoes in the same color; if the dress is made in pastel shades, then preference should be given to booties with decor in a similar color.
Selection criteria
When choosing an outfit for a girl's christening, you should initially think not about the beautiful appearance of the dress, but about practicality and the degree of compliance with church requirements. The christening dress should be light, preferably white. Pastel, soft shades are acceptable.
The Church does not encourage excessive luxury, pretentiousness and excessive inappropriate decor. Baptism is the very case when moderation is preferable not only in decor, but also in the cost of the outfit. When creating an image for such an event, you should first of all think about the spiritual.
Delicate, unobtrusive decorations are not prohibited. The set for the sacrament can be decorated with lace, appliques, embroidered details, small bows, ribbons. The main thing is not everything at once, but one thing. When there are flowers or bows on the dress, then a beaded composition or pearl embroidery will be superfluous.
When choosing an outfit for a baby, you need to make sure that all kinds of decorative elements (beads, bows, ribbons, etc.) are securely fastened. Otherwise, there is a risk that the child can tear off the decorations and taste them. But if you need a christening dress for a 7-year-old girl, for example, then such a check is certainly no longer necessary.
As for the material, you should focus on the time of year when the celebration is planned. In summer, a shirt made of thin cotton, cambric, silk, or linen will be appropriate. In cool weather, when it is important to warm up the baby faster after immersion in water, it is better to prefer warmer materials: flannel, thick knitwear, wool.
Tight, tight-fitting styles are not suitable for the ceremony. They are not only inappropriate, but will also cause discomfort to the child. Such clothing interferes with movement, injures and irritates delicate baby skin. In addition, during the ceremony, the baby must be undressed and dressed. In order not to delay this process, it is advisable to choose an outfit with a minimum of buttons, snaps, fasteners, and various fasteners. It is better if the christening dress can be simply taken off and put on over the head.
When choosing and purchasing a christening dress for a girl, it is important to take into account various subtleties, features of the upcoming ceremony and be sure to focus on Orthodox canons. The set should be white or in pastel colors. The length of the outfit is preferably below the knee, you can even buy a floor-length shirt. You should not demonstrate your financial situation to others, using such an important event for Orthodox people. This rule is also relevant in the case when a guest chooses a dress for christening in a church.
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