Christening Ceremony: What it is all about.

By: Elizabeth Ellis

How do the Christians celebrate their faith? They celebrate it by going to church, read the Bible and marking main events of the Christian calendar by taking part in festivals and fasts. Jesus was baptized by John The Baptist when he began his ministry, so virtually all Christians will be baptized at the start of their own Christian journey. That is why Christian parents bring their babies to the baptism ceremony. Traditional churches use a font and pour water over the baby's head. Prayers are offered for the well being of the baby and blessings given by the priest.

Whether you are hosting the party or being a guest, you must know a thing or two about gifts-giving. As a host, you may wish to prepare thank-you gifts for all your guests. The gift does not necessarily have to be big and expensive; a small thoughtful present is equally appreciated too. As a guest, you may pick gift items that have religious connotations, in line with the baptism theme. Like baby showers, the host and guests must know the importance of gift giving as a sign of gratitude and well-wishes. Once you have decided on the type of ceremony you like to organize, you can proceed to do the necessary matters such as fixing the date, contacting the church and booking the venue for the reception.

Choosing and selecting godparents for your baby should not be difficult as you can pick any of your close or most trusted friends. You can pick two godmothers and one godfather for your child, or vice versa. It is entirely up to you, there is no wrong or right about it. Some parents choose one godmother and one godfather for their child. Ceremonies can be held outdoors, example by the park nearby a lovely stream, or indoors at the community hall pre-booked by the host. Wherever the location is, you must discuss thoroughly with all the people involved such as the clergy, godparents, friends and relatives who help you out with the event. This is to make sure that the location chosen is convenient for them.

Once the date for the baptism has been set and determined. You will need to relay this information to your guests; it is time to send out invitations. You should send out invitations early. It is best to begin preparing them about 1 month before the ceremony. You will need time to get the invitations ready and to get send them out to your invitees. You should make sure guests also receive them at least a week prior to the event this is to give them ample time to accept or decline going to the ceremony.

For the christening ritual, the baby wears white colored gown usually made of luxurious material such as satin, silk and lace. If the host is on a tight budget, he may use the gown that is inherited and passed down from previous generation.

Some baptism rituals can last up to half an hour while others may take up to 45 minutes. Usually they are conducted in less than an hour. After the ceremony, normally the host would hold a simple reception to gracefully end the occasion. Smart host would plan early and make bookings weeks earlier to avoid rushing at the last minute. He may choose a community hall or restaurant to hold the reception.

The food you serve need not be extravagant, it can consist of simple fare such as sandwiches, fried chicken, fruit trays, and packet drinks, or you can also choose to have a catered meal prepared. If you’re going to do cook yourself, prepare as much as you can the night before and store it at your chosen venue liaise with family members about helping you to set everything up. If you are cash strapped, consider holding a potluck. Guests will be more then happy to bring along some food and you can be sure that there will be plenty of dishes to eat, without the financial headache.

Any party or celebration is not complete without gift-giving. Guests who are invited to the baptism ceremony would bring small gifts for the baby. Popular gifts include the Holy Bible, rosaries, mini statues of Mother Mary, Jesus and other religious items. Like baby shower, the baby's parents would invite their family members and close friends to celebrate the special occasion with them. The parents must also remember to thank their guests and show their appreciation with thoughtful gifts. The parents may attach thank-you cards to the gifts and give them to their guests after the ceremony ends. This is a good way to make the guests feel appreciated and loved.

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Elizabeth Ellis is a leading expert in all personalized gifts and has written a number of articles related to baptism gifts, personalized photo mugs, baby shower favors and so on. Please visit peculiarstuffs.com to read her other highly regarded work on such details as baptism favors, baby gifts, photo mugs and so on.

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