Christening clothes: what you need
Christening is considered one of the most important moments in the life of any person. For christenings, a white shirt is usually worn, symbolizing the purity and innocence of thoughts before God. Before the beginning of the sacrament, old clothes are removed as a symbol of sin, and a new clean person comes out of the water and puts on a clean shirt, like a new soul received from God.
Anavolius, this is how the baptismal shirt sounds in Greek, has a straight, loose fit and is decorated with very symbolic embroidery.
Model overview
For adults
Women's baptismal shirt traditionally features a free cut, maximum length and is sewn from white fabric. The cut of the shirt provides for sewn-on or one-piece sleeves and maximum coverage of the chest and shoulders. Women's anavolias are decorated with embroideries in the spirit of Christianity and fine lace.
The baptismal gown is also necessary for men, as it is immersed in the font and the Sacrament of Baptism is performed. Male models can be shorter than female models. Usually their length reaches the knee. In addition, male models are more laconic than female ones, they are less often decorated with lace inserts and resemble the clothes of a priest. A cross is traditionally embroidered on the back and chest of the shirt.
For teenagers
Teenage models are not much different from adults. They are usually smaller and shorter than adults.
Models for girls are more delicate, sometimes they resemble a dress in style. Boys' shirts have a stricter design. Universal shirts for boys and girls are also made, usually they have a simple cut, embroidery and modest lace decoration.
For newborns
The baptismal shirt is the first thing a baby is dressed in after the ceremony. For little princes and princesses, incredibly beautiful and delicate clothes are made. They are usually decorated with lots of lace and embroidery.
The baptismal attire for newborns is a whole set of clothes, consisting of a shirt, a cap (for girls) and booties.
How to choose and what it should be
When choosing a christening gown, you need to think first of all about comfort. The design of a shirt or dress should not hinder movement, it should be spacious and lightweight. This is especially true for children's clothing.
An uncomfortable baptismal shirt can cause whims and bad moods for your toddler or toddler. Shirts for newborns should be lined or with perfectly finished seams or seams out.
The material from which the shirt is sewn should be pleasant to the body. Anavolias made from natural fabrics are preferred, which do not irritate the skin and are breathable. For sewing baptismal shirts, cotton, linen, viscose, silk are used, which undergo a special softening treatment. All these fabrics are environmentally friendly and harmless to the health of adults and children.
In the past, christening gowns were highly welcomed. Luxurious embroidery and chic lace that adorned the hem of a long shirt meant a long and rich life. Over time, the shirts became shorter and the jewelry more modest.
Nowadays christening gowns are decorated with cute and tasteful decorations. Lace and satin ribbons are used as decoration.
Varieties
Despite the common features, lines and rules of sewing christening gowns, their assortment is wide enough and has many design features and differences in design.
Hooded
This model is mainly used when sewing anavoli for children. These hooded shirts are not only beautiful but also very comfortable. They are very quickly put on the body, and the hood is thrown over the head. This moment is especially important when baptizing boys, who are not customary to put on caps after the ceremony.
With a cross
The cross symbolizes the Savior's suffering and his victory over death. The cross is performed in various embroidery techniques, mainly with gold, silver or white threads.
Also known is the technique of applying a cross from Swarovski crystals. Typically, the cross is centered on the front and / or back of the shirt.
With smell
The baptismal shirt with a smell has a special cut - its edges go over each other. The halves are tied together with braid or ribbon. The cut lines of such a shirt are usually straight. The wrap model allows you to adjust the width of the shirt and is usually suitable for several sizes.
What to do with her next
The Orthodox tradition presupposes the further storage of the baptismal shirt. It is believed that a shirt that has preserved traces of the world on itself has a beneficial effect in times of illness and disease.
Is it washable
A careful attitude to baptismal clothes helps to preserve it in its original form until the end of life. It is not customary to wash the baptismal gown, because during the anointing, drops of peace fall on it. You can only wash the towel that was used at the baptism and this must be done separately from other things.
Can i wear
The christening gown is not usually worn in everyday life. It is taken out in case of illness and applied to the sore spot.
Brand overview
My pea
When sewing christening shirts, My pea, as well as for its other products, uses only natural fabrics and, in general, the brand prefers 100% cotton fabrics. The seams of the christening gowns are very carefully processed and will not damage the baby's delicate skin.
Seraphim and Seraphim
The brand makes christening gowns for true connoisseurs of tradition, style and beauty. The production uses high-quality natural fabrics and rich Italian lace. Satin ribbons are used as an additional decoration.
The collection includes models with a hidden zip at the back, which allows you to quickly put on and take off your shirt.
Throne plus
The brand offers christening gowns of various cuts for newborns. All items are made from 100% cotton and are decorated with satin ribbons: white, pink or blue. The cut of the shirts is spacious and does not hinder the movements of babies. The fabric is soft and pleasant to the touch, giving the child only comfortable sensations.
My angel
Almost all models have elements of the old Russian style and are made of natural fabric - percali, which is the thinnest and most dense cotton fabric. The fabric is made from long-staple cotton fibers, thanks to which it becomes strong, dense, but smooth and delicate. In the design of shirts, sewing with gold and silver threads, Swarovski crystals is often used.
The sacrament of baptism can take place at different ages. It depends on the wishes of the parents, if they decide, or on the adult personality. Ideally, a person should choose his own faith, however, according to Christian tradition, parents should already be on the 40th day of his life, since this is exactly what happened with Jesus Christ.
In the old days, this rule was strictly followed. In addition, the child was named by the priest in the church during the baptismal ceremony. Today everything has changed a little, now every family has the right to decide whether to baptize or not. Moreover, this is not done strictly on day 40, but when it is convenient for the parents.
What is needed to baptize a child
To conduct a baptismal ceremony, much is not required. We need a couple - a woman and a man, a baptismal towel (kryzhma), a pectoral cross.
You should also take care of clothes for the baby. You can purchase either a suit or a christening gown for your child.
Baby Baptism Clothes
According to the Orthodox tradition, the godfather should buy a pectoral cross for a child. But a towel and a baptismal shirt for a boy are usually purchased by the godmother.
What should be the clothes for? It can be either an ordinary pretty suit of any color (preferably snow-white or just a light shade), or a special shirt. You can get it at the church store or even your regular baby store.
What a baptismal shirt looks like for a boy
A christening shirt for a boy is no different from a similar shirt for a girl. If these clothes are not white, they may have a subtle blue tint. The shirt has a loose fit. It can be long, to the floor, or slightly shorter, but not above the knee.
Clothes for the baptism of a boy can be decorated with an ornament of gold or silver color, it can also have an embroidered Orthodox cross on it. As for the material from which such an outfit is made, it should be natural, soft, pleasant for the child's body.
You can also create a baptismal shirt with your own hands, for this you need to choose patterns, sew and decorate clothes yourself. In this case, it will become not only the most comfortable and soft, but also decorated the way the godmother or mother of the child wants.
Using a boy's christening gown
According to Orthodox tradition, baptismal clothes need to be worn only once in a lifetime, in order to be baptized. After that, it should simply be stored in a dry place. The baptismal towel can be used when the baby is sick. It is popularly believed that if a child is wrapped in a canny, ailments and ailments recede. But the shirt for the christening of the child no longer needs to be taken out of the secluded place.
However, this does not mean that it is worth saving on baptismal clothes. After all, it is much more pleasant and comfortable for a child when natural soft fabrics touch his body, and not artificial synthetics.
Our dear reader, if, nevertheless, you thought about this question "Why do you need a baptismal shirt", then for sure in your family such a holiday is planned as the sacrament of baptism.
Therefore, one should prepare for this very carefully and approach it with intelligence and common sense. In ancient times, in the Orthodox Church, people were baptized more at a mature age, so the shirt was preserved until the person's death, in which he was later buried.
The baptismal shirt or, as they say, a more solemn baptismal dress is completely different, traditionally it is of course white, as it symbolizes the purity of a person's soul, his sinlessness, the fact that this person whom they are going to baptize could not sin before the Lord God. Nowadays, they mainly baptize little children, it is not for nothing that they say at the birth of a child that a little angel was born, the child's soul is pure and innocent. The christening shirt can be donated by the godmother, but the child's parents can also choose it.
Many people can think about it, and how they can not solve this issue, why do we need a shirt for baptism. The answer is very simple - if baptizing in some kind of clothing is not very convenient, a person should be immersed in a font filled with warm holy water, naturally they are completely dipped head first, and a shirt is put on a person's naked body.
In addition to the shirt, it is advisable to purchase pouch for the first curl, where the Batiushka, who conducts the baptismal ceremony, will neatly place the person's hairs cut crosswise, they should be kept, they will serve as a talisman for a person. It is necessary to keep the kryzhma and shirt without erasing the whole life in which they were baptized, according to legends, it cannot be washed, since there are drops of peace on the shirt and this is considered a shrine if a person is sick, just to relieve and recover, you need to attach it or, as it were, wrap the person with this shirt.
Also, if desired on the Crimeaembroider baptism date and name the person who is going to be baptized, only in the case of his name, it is imperative to check with the Father, who will baptize, since name a person's daily life can do not match with the name baptized in the Church.
What else should be added is that you need to turn your attention to fabric quality from which the shirt and kryzhma are made, it should be natural, fabrics such as linen, cotton are preferred, and in no case synthetics, the human body should feel comfortable, and if it is a small child, necessarily the baby's body must breathe and be in complete comfort, which will clearly have a calm process of the sacrament of baptism.
The role of godparents is not a small important event, on this beautiful day for all family members the godfather carefully selects a pectoral silver cross, which is then worn under the shirt for the whole life of a person, and the godmother chooses an outfit for baptism, if the parents themselves did not have time to choose it by chance or conceived before ...
And yet, so that you do not get confused, I will try to explain to you that the shirt for baptism resembles a nightgown for sleep, its length should cover the knees as the church orders, and the kryzhma resembles the shape of a diaper or sheet, they can dip into the baptismal font in both in fact, this is decided by the Father himself, so you should purchase everything together. In general, they are dipped in a shirt for baptism, after which, instead of a towel, they are wrapped in a dry kryzhma, then Father conducts the sacrament of the rite of baptism. You can also purchase one shirt for christening without a canopy, in this case, you should take a large bath towel with you so that after a person is immersed in a font with water, the person does not freeze. The towel should also be soft, warm and preferably white!
.
The priest conducts the ritual after mass, in the baptismal, in a specially designated place where there is a font with water. They can baptize both individually and several babies at the same time.
Baptism is in some way a magical rite, as well as the most important sacrament of the Christian society. Parents strive to baptize their children, since since ancient times it has been believed that this rite opens the spiritual world and provides the child with protection from higher powers.
Let's get acquainted with the rite of baptism itself and with the popular models of christening gowns designed for children of different ages, and with the brands that produce them.
Baptism rite
Baptism can be performed at any age, when the parents wanted it, or they gave the child the opportunity to choose the faith for himself, postponing baptism until a more conscious age.
In ancient times, it was customary to baptize a child in infancy, as soon as he turns forty days old, just like Jesus Christ was baptized, but, unfortunately, rarely anyone adheres to this tradition.
To carry out the baptismal ceremony, parents need to choose two people, a man and a woman, who will become the godparents of the child, and from that day on they will have a subtle, spiritual connection with him. In addition, it is necessary to purchase special clothes for baptism and this is the main task of the godmother, and the godfather usually acquires a pectoral cross for the child.
What do you need?
In addition to a pectoral cross and a baptismal shirt, you also need to pick up a towel. Often, parents use ordinary pretty suits of various colors, without resorting to buying specialized things that are the direct attributes of baptism. Nevertheless, we advise you to purchase a shirt designed specifically for christening, a snow-white color. Previously, such a little thing could be purchased only in shops at the church, which are called the church shop, but now the children's baptismal shirt is sold in ordinary stores specializing in goods for children.
What does a boy's christening shirt look like?
There is no difference in christening gowns for boys and girls, as this item is universal. As a rule, the color of such a shirt ranges from snow-white to light-light blue, and the cut is quite loose. As for the length of the shirt, the fashion here is very diverse and allows the use of shirts of a completely different length - from short to the waist, to long to the floor.
The baptismal shirt can be embroidered in the form of an Orthodox cross, which is made with blue, silver or gold threads. Regarding the material from which christening shirts for children are sewn, it can be noted that products made of soft fabric, pleasant to the child's body, are preferable.
1 year
For a toddler, one year old, a short wrap-around shirt is fine, which definitely makes it easier to put on and take things off. You can use a thin cotton model, decorated with embroidery, as well as a small lace on the sleeves and at the bottom of the shirt.
2 years
Since the child is still quite young at two years old, you can use the same option as for baptizing a child one year old. But you can pick up a little different, for example, a shirt of medium length, odorless with a solid collar, is perfect.
3 years
At three years old, the child already becomes a little older and you can use a long shirt, with various kinds of embroidery and decor, which is worn over the head. This option will be very convenient and practical, as well as visually looks beautiful and innocent.
4 years
At the age of four, children often consider themselves adults and are aware of many things, so they may begin to be ashamed of open sexual characteristics if they use a short shirt during baptism. For a child of this age, we recommend choosing a thin cotton shirt with a floor length, with ties and a small cut in the throat area, as well as unobtrusive blue embroidery.
Models
As with any clothing for adults, there is a huge selection and a fairly wide range of christening shirts for boys. The shirts do not really differ in any functional qualities, rather they have purely visual differences. Let's take a closer look at the most popular models.
Hooded
The model of a christening shirt with a hood looks like a pretty hoodie, medium or short in length. The shirt is quite comfortable and has a functional application, in case it is cold in the room and the child's hair is wet, then the use of a hood will come in handy.
With smell
As already mentioned, a wrap-around shirt makes putting on a child much easier, and then it can be just as easily removed. This model is most preferable for young children, from one to two years old, for whom it is extremely difficult to sit still. The fact is that, due to the high activity of the child, it can be somewhat difficult to put on the shirt over the head, since the child can start to be capricious and cry.
Middle length
Medium-length shirts will be relevant for children of about three years old, since they directly cover the first sexual characteristics. In terms of any functional qualities, this model has no significant differences from the model for smell.
Baptismal suit
Christening suits serve the same function as christening shirts. The differences are only in appearance, and they can also relate to ease of use, since the shirt is much easier to put on or take off. By itself, such a suit usually represents a three-piece - a short shirt, pants and a hat in the form of a cap or beret.
Brands
Since baby christening clothes are very popular and in demand, it is only natural that many brands are engaged in the manufacture of these items. But many of them have completely different policies and concepts of the company's work, so we decided to select and compile for you a list of the most popular brands representing christening clothes.
Choupette
Shupet is a brand specializing in the production of children's clothing for babies from zero to eight years old. This brand divides its production into collections with corresponding names, as well as, among other things, is engaged in tailoring luxury clothing. And it is not surprising that among the wide assortment of this company there is a line of christening clothes presented in the form of light, airy outfits, symbolizing purity and innocence.
Papitto
The papitto company began its existence back in 2001, specializing in the production of goods for newborns, as well as babies up to four years old. The company positions itself as a manufacturer of high quality goods at affordable prices, and indeed, this is quite consistent with reality. The christening clothing line is made of soft material that is pleasant to baby's skin and does not cause irritation or allergic reactions.
Probably, today it is difficult to find a person who does not know about the tragedy of the first years and centuries of Christianity, and about the reasons why in those ancient times our churches were built in caves and deep underground - in the catacombs.
The persecution of the authorities turned into unimaginably cruel torture and terrible death for Christians, hence the secret places of religious services and rituals, the first of which is baptism.
The coldness of the dungeons is a constant companion of the first centuries of Christianity. The centuries when its difficult history was written and the first traditions and rituals were formed and, above all, the rite of baptism, which was originally considered a new and main birth of man - spiritual.
The fact that in the early years of Christianity only adults were baptized, after making sure that a person goes to all possible trials and torments consciously, speaks of how responsibly our distant ancestors approached him. The rite of baptism of infants occurs only by the end of the 1st - the beginning of the 2nd centuries AD.
By this time, it was already proceeding according to the rigid rules that had developed in previous decades. At the same time, the history of the baptismal shirt begins - as an obligatory attribute of the ceremony. For adults, it was necessary for two reasons: to hide the nakedness of the baptized person even from the gaze of the clergyman, and as protection from the cold of the catacombs. The baptismal shirt has already come to the ceremony of baptism of infants as a tradition. In those distant times, due to the possible difficult trials that could fall to the lot of a Christian at any moment, men were baptized predominantly, therefore it is the baptismal shirt for boys that is considered, so to speak, a "classic" attribute of baptism, in Greek it sounds like "anavoly" and means outerwear.
What should be a baptismal shirt
By tradition, this is a straight white shirt, always below the knees, but not "to the floor", certainly new and, of course, made of natural fabric. Its whiteness is a symbol of the spiritual purity of the newly baptized.
Royal christening shirts
From these ancient attributes of baptism to you and me, the baptismal shirt of the daughter of Henry VIII - Elizabeth I, baptized in 1533, has come down to us. The shirt is long, rather simple and loose in style. But already in 1841, Queen Victoria's firstborn was baptized in an elegant silk shirt, decorated with pearls and guipure: to this day, all the crown princes and princesses of England are baptized in it.
It was from this moment that the tradition of decorating christening gowns develops - however, they are made easier for boys than for girls. For the fairer sex, they are decorated richer, often - lush and multi-layered.
The difference between the Orthodox baptismal dress and the Catholic
In the West, to this day, christening gowns for both sexes are sewn as elegantly and magnificently as possible. This does not interfere with the ceremony, first of all, because in the most massive confession of the Western world - Catholicism, it differs from the Orthodox: very rarely, individual clergymen immerse a baby in a font three times. Everywhere this moment is replaced by either wetting the head for boys, or simply sprinkling the crumbs with holy water. There is no chrismation in the rite, replaced by oiling only the baby's face, there is no communion. Until now, in almost all Western confessions, babies are baptized infrequently, as a rule, this occurs at the age of 7-12 years and the ceremony is complemented by a lighted candle, which is given to the child. In other words, the original ancient rite of baptism has been shortened and, in fact, modified almost beyond recognition.
The tradition of christening clothes for boys and girls
In a completely different way, as close as possible to the ancient, the rite of baptism takes place among the Orthodox. Our tradition strictly distinguishes christening gowns for boys and christening gowns for girls. Although for both of them, the sleeves and the shirt itself should not be too long to enable the priest to perform the anointing. In addition, if the boys' head should be open during baptism, for girls a compulsory addition to the baptismal dress is a cap or kerchief.
How the baptismal gown was sewn
For male babies, the cut of the shirt itself and its length - just below the knees - in Russia is as close as possible to the garment in which ancient Christian babies were baptized. The shirt should be loose, with sleeves no higher than the elbow, it can be either swing-open with soft ties on the back - or worn over the head. If only it was comfortable for the baby. If fasteners are used instead of strings, the product is made lined so as not to scratch the delicate skin of the newborn. A christening shirt for girls is usually sewn a little longer, often on a yoke, and if it is fastened at the same time, they try to make them not only beautiful, but also in the front, the yoke itself must be lined.
If we are talking about the first-born in the family, the shirt must certainly be new, and the fabric from which it is sewn must be natural. The christening gown of an older baby in Christian families is traditionally kept and then younger children are baptized in it. At the same time, you can wash it only before the next baptism.
Embroidery on the boy's christening shirt
Of course, in Russia, for a long time, baptismal clothes for babies were decorated: shirts for boys were finished with national ornaments, embroidered by hand, and Christian symbols. The most important of them is, of course, the Orthodox cross, also embroidered, symbolizing the Lord Himself, his torment and devotion to the baptized Christ. In wealthy families, pearls and other precious stones were added to jewelry, embroidery was done with gold or silver threads. At the request of the parents, lace was also added, as strings were used soft ribbons to match the embroidery, in which there was often also a floral ornament with obligatory roses: a rose is also a symbol, a symbol of the Most Holy Theotokos.
A very exquisite baptismal shirt of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, sewn from natural silk and richly decorated, has survived to this day. It is kept in the museum named after him.
Christening shirt decorations for girls
Of course, christening shirts for girls were decorated more abundantly and were certainly finished with lace, ribbons and rhinestones: if the family was not rich - with simple stones, if wealthy - with pearls and other precious and semiprecious stones. The obligatory symbol - just like the boys - was an Orthodox cross, embroidered with a rose. In this form, the tradition of christening gowns for babies has survived to this day.
As a symbol of the baby's purity and sinlessness, the baptismal shirt is put on him after the font, as soon as the godmother or godfather receives the newborn from it in the kryzhma.
The healing power of the baptismal garment
In Orthodox families, following the ancient tradition, christening gowns must be kept. Moreover, separately from the rest of the linen, in a special bag or purse, which are included in the complete baptismal set. You can put it in a box or decorative box. It is believed that if a baby is sick, for a speedy and complete recovery, he must be dressed in a baptismal shirt and, in addition to a diaper, covered with a canopy.
There is a lot of evidence that the baptismal gown has healing power: even adult Christian believers often apply it to a sore spot to relieve difficult sensations. This is how our distant ancestors did - this is how it is done today.
Lyudmila Danilova
