About Godparents: Baby's Baptism and Hair Cutting
What to know and do for a super fun day?
A great occasion for family celebration is the birth of a baby and all the crazy and intense emotions that come with this joyful occasion. And here we are not just referring to the new parents, but to the extended family, from grandparents to the chosen spiritual parents - aka godparents.
In this sense, the baby's godparents will be the ones who guide and direct him, they will ensure that the child walks on the right path and will find his faith and spirituality with them.
That's why, as godparents, you will have a very special role in the first 2 events in your little one's life, namely the baptism and the cutting of the mane, and sometimes these can be overwhelming, which is why we have prepared an article to help you in the future on these occasions.
First and foremost, at what age is a newborn child baptized?
It is advisable to have the baptism after the child turns 40 days old, avoiding fasting days and religious holidays. This recommendation is related to the mother's period of mourning when her entry into church is not possible, and therefore the godmother symbolically takes over most of her duties.
What day of the week will you baptize the baby?
We can follow the rituals of the Orthodox Church and then the baptism is recommended to be performed on Sunday, immediately after the Holy Liturgy, avoiding fasting days and religious holidays. As godparents, you can consult with the parents for another day, but you can choose any day of the week taking into account the exceptions mentioned above, usually Fridays or Saturdays to spend more time with the guests.
What are your obligations at baptism and what do you need to buy for your little one's christening?
Usually, the godparents are the ones who choose the church where the child will be baptized, so you will establish with the priest the final details such as the date, time, whether the Baptism will take place after or during the Holy Mass, the church fee, etc. So, we can say that as godparents, you will have an important task that requires attention to detail for the proximity of the location and the details that you will discuss with the priest.
On the day of Baptism, you must bring everything necessary for the celebration of the 3 Holy Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, and Communion.
Here's what you'll need:
- Baptism candle;
- New baby clothes what the little one will be dressed in after being taken out of the water;
- Myrrh cloth (myrrh bar);
- Baby wrap;
- Towel for wiping the baby;
- Perfume bottle;
- Towel and soap for the priest;
- Oil and wine (for communion);
- Box to store the hair strand.
- Crosses for guests (to be worn on the chest).
We know it seems like a long list, but the necessary items can be purchased in one complete and personalized package, lovingly and beautifully, with a special theme from Le Cose Animate. It will be a heartfelt gift for your in-laws and their little one, which will always carry them with a smile on their faces towards this emotional day.
We offer high-quality baptism outfits and you can choose the most beautiful one here: Baptism kits
What gift do you give as godparents at a baby's baptism?
At the baptism party, your godparents will receive gifts for the little one, mostly gifts and money. You, as godparents, must give a unique and memorable gift; traditionally, you can give a sum of money, earrings for girls and a necklace for boys. However, we suggest you choose a unique gift to make the baby feel special and loved, such as the first aquatic education sessions in a magical Aquatic Universe.
Because swimming is the only motor activity allowed for babies from the very first months of life, at our clubs little ones can start this activity from the age of 2 months, with individual sessions with their individual instructor.
Why is it an inspired decision to start aquatic education as a gift for your baby?
In addition to the fun benefit that stimulates the desire for knowledge, aquatic education contributes to healthy development, both physically and mentally. The independence that he will gain from swimming sessions with ABC specialists will improve his motor and cognitive skills, and the experience and joy of the little one will certainly not be forgotten.
Therefore, for a super unforgettable aquatic experience, as godparents you can give the customizable value voucher from Acvatic Bebe Club, and godchildren can customize it for the baby with aquatic education services. Find out the details HERE.
The Baptism Day went smoothly and beautifully, the little one was well behaved and happy throughout the day and everyone was happy and welcomed the baby into the world. But what is there for the godparents to do next? What happens at the baptism the next day?
So, what should the godmother do at the next bath?
This symbolic bath will be attended by only women and symbolizes the “washing with myrrh.” As a godmother, you can prepare the tub with:
- Rose petals > for delicacy
- Milk > for fine skin
- Rice > for prosperity
- Basil sprig > for beauty
- Gold or silver coins > for financial stability
- Mac > for a restful sleep
- Sanctified wedding ring > for a beautiful marriage.
During the bath, the baptism candle should be left lit and the baptismal veil should also be placed in the tub.
After the bath, you will need to anoint the child's wrists with myrrh and cast a spell on his eyes, mouth, ears, head, and feet to keep him safe from trouble, and you will throw the used water at the roots of a tree such as an apple tree or a tree, so that it grows beautiful and healthy.
For the next day's bath, you will need:
- Baby clothes;
- Soap and towel;
- Blanket;
- Diapers.
What should you do as godparents when cutting the scythe?
After about a year, the child you baptized has grown so fast and is ready for cutting the scythe, a symbolic event for the family. According to tradition, in the first year of life, the little one's hair will not be cut at all, and after a year, maximum 2, a strand of his hair is tied with a red ribbon and will be cut by you, the godparents, to symbolize the little one's first haircut.
Once the strand of hair is cut, you will need to glue it with wax from the baptism candle on a silver coin and kept. After that, you need to pass the child through the cake, which you then break into 4 pieces and distribute to the guests.
The tray and the items on the tray will be selected by you, and may contain items such as:
- Money;
- Pen;
- A small book;
- Jewelry;
- Lipstick;
- Musical objects or what is considered that the little one could choose, relevant to his future.
The child will choose 3 objects from those offered, each choice is believed to represent the path they will follow in life: if they choose the pen, the little one will be studious, if they choose lipstick or a cosmetic item, it may foretell the choice of a career in this field or a passion that they can develop later.
In this regard, we have prepared for your inspiration a selection of special sets for the first birthday, handmade by the artists of Le Cose Animate. See all the sets for celebrating the little ones' 1st birthday HERE.
After all this journey full of emotions and love, both the baptism and the cutting of the baby's mane are an occasion for celebration and blessing with gifts, love and affection. These events happen only once in a child's life, and early planning and establishing the details would be ideal for the event to be as enjoyable as possible, both for you, the parents and guests, but also for your little one.
