As one of the most joyful celebrations in the life of a young family, a child’s christening should be greeted with great excitement. The christening ceremony is generally the first milestone event in a child’s life. This special occasion usually takes place when the baby is only a few weeks to a few months old, and quite rarely is held after the child’s first birthday.
While the level of pomp and circumstance at a christening ceremony varies greatly from church to church and denomination to denomination, there are two components that are standard throughout all forms of christening: God’s love for the child and the significance of Christening gowns.
Weeks or months of anticipation and planning were necessary to prepare for a child’s christening in past centuries. One of the most major tasks to prepare for the ceremony was the mother’s duty to sew a white christening gown for her child. These gowns were made for both boys and girls, and were an important part of the christening.
Christening gowns, most commonly made of cotton, satin, or silk, have conventionally been long-sleeved and have covered the child from neck to foot. They also typically have matching accessories, such as a bonnet or stockings. The christening gown itself was occasionally rather plain, but typically contained elaborate embroidery, lacework, or other embellishment lovingly sewed by the child’s mother. Generally, handmade christening gowns were of heirloom quality and were passed down through many generations of a family.
A child’s christening is considered to be the parents’ thanks and dedication of their child to the Lord. It also functions as a covenant that the parents will raise their new son or daughter in a Godly home. A christening ceremony serves as a public acknowledgement of the parents’ intention to raise their child in a Christian home and church family, and the ceremony can often provide a foundation for the child’s own faith to develop. It is important to remember, however, that having a christening ceremony does not actually make a child a Christian. To become a Christian, the child must personally choose to accept Christ once they are old enough to comprehend that concept.
If the conventional style of christening outfits does not fit parents’ modern sensibilities, there are a variety of more contemporary options available. Christening gowns today come in a wide variety of styles and designs, some very different from the traditional form of attire. Furthermore, gowns are no longer intended for both boys and girls. Nowadays, christening attire comes in an incredible variation of designs, including many styles intended exclusively for either girls or boys. Parents’ options are further increased as colored christening gowns have hit the market. This style of gown often features unexpected details like brightly hued buttons and sequin embellishment. If a child was incredibly premature, there are also customized lines of preemie christening gowns that parents can look into.
Christening Gowns 
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