Baptismal shirt for girls

The baptism of a baby is a very important stage not only in the life of the child himself, but also of his parents. Mom and Dad choose the godparents, the temple in which the sacrament will be performed, as well as the baptismal attire. By tradition, the choice of clothing for this event can entrust the godmother or father.

The baptismal set for the girl must include a long shirt, an openwork cap or scarf and a towel, in which the child is wrapped after the font.

In today's article we will tell you about the features and types of baptismal shirts for girls. You will learn how to choose the right shirt, depending on the age of the baby, as well as how and when to wear it.

In children's clothing stores and church benches, you will come across different variants of baby baptismal shirts. They differ mainly in style, decor and "gender".

Here are the most popular baptismal shirts for girls.

The simplest and most popular option - this is exactly how the shirts in which children were baptized looked in Russia.

The model with the gathered bottom part, resembling a magnificent skirt, looks very cute and gentle and is suitable even for the smallest princesses.

Models that can be easily put on and off without disturbing the baby are ideal for newborns, because they do not like clothes over their heads.

This model should be chosen if you are afraid to catch a cold baby after the font. The hood will protect your child from the cool air and drafts.

It has long been clothing for special occasions decorated with embroidery, as it was the most affordable way to decor. Today, shirts are most often embroidered with a cross, floral designs or the name of a child and the date of baptism.

Models decorated with laces and ruffles are often purchased not only for girls, but also for boys. Girls 'shirts are usually lavishly decorated, and boys' models are more concise.

If the mother or future girl godfather is an experienced needlewoman, then the baby has the opportunity to receive as a gift a truly unique thing that no one else in the world has. The baptismal shirt tied with your own hands will keep in itself the warmth and love of the one who made it.

For knitting openwork shirts it is better to choose a hook, not knitting needles, since with its help you can create more complex shapes and thin patterns. You can think up a shirt style yourself, or you can find a suitable pattern in knitting magazines.

Which pattern to choose depends only on the imagination and experience of the needlewoman herself. For example, the baptismal knit shirts (mesh) with thematic drawings are quite popular; these may be angels, crosses, and other Christian motifs.

Strict requirements for the appearance of a baptismal shirt for girls, as such, does not exist. Today it is not even an obligatory element of christening.But, as a tribute to tradition, most parents prefer to baptize the youngest children in special shirts.

Traditionally, the baptismal shirt should be:

1. Condition: Necessarily new - it is customary to keep a baptismal shirt for a lifetime; she is even credited with healing powers.
2. Color: White, milky, ivory and other light shades. White color is associated with spiritual purity and purification from sins.
3. Length: Like any other clothing in which a woman (regardless of her age) comes to the temple, the baptismal shirt should be long enough - not necessarily on the floor, but such that she covers her knees.
4. In addition, the baptismal shirt should have sleeves, but the presence of embroidery and other decor is left to your discretion.

In the Orthodox tradition, it is customary to baptize a child on the 40th day after birth, but today this rule is not observed by very few people. Many parents postpone the sacrament at a later time so that the baby can have memories of him.

At the age of 2 to 4 years, the girl is unlikely to realize the meaning of what is happening, but this is not a reason to endure baptism for a few more years.

The small sizes of baptismal shirts are most in demand, since older girls are often baptized in elegant white dresses.

If a newborn child is not baptized, a lace scarf is chosen for a shirt instead of a cap.

Older girls can choose their own attire for baptism, if parents correctly explain to them the meaning and significance of the sacrament. Sometimes it is difficult to find a baptismal shirt of the right size, as shops buy more kits for newborns and very young children.

However, companies that are engaged in the production of baptismal supplies often provide tailoring services - you can order a shirt of any size not only for a child, but also for an adult.

For girls of primary school age produce baptismal dresses. They differ from shirts in a more complex cut, fitted silhouette and rich trim. But all the traditional elements of the baptismal shirt — color, length, sleeves — are preserved in such a dress.

Baptismal shirts for boys and girls differ mainly in decor. As a rule, more attention is paid to the decoration of girl models. It can be not only traditional embroidery and lace trim.

Common ways to decorate baptismal shirts for girls also include:

• embroidery with metallic threads;
• embroidery satin ribbons;
• openwork trim of the edges of the thread;
• braid and ruffle trim.

Decorating a baptismal shirt, you need to comply with the measure. Decorative items should not catch the eye, so try to stick to a discreet color scheme. White, golden, silver, soft pink - these colors are usually preferred when decorating a girl's baptismal shirt.

By preparing the baby for baptism, you can get by buying only shirts, and you can buy a ready-made baptismal set that includes everything that is useful during the sacrament, as well as memorable souvenirs.

A set for baptism may include:

• Kryzhma - the so-called diaper, in which the child is wrapped after being dipped into a font;
• a headdress - for absolutely small children it is a cap, and for older girls - a kerchief or an openwork cape on the head;
• booties are optional, they can be replaced with simple socks, but things from one set will look much prettier;
• bib - needed in order to preserve the original whiteness of the baptismal dress, preventing the appearance of various stains on it;
• panties under the diaper - you can wear nothing on top of the diaper, however, for the sake of aesthetics, many parents prefer to cover it with white panties;
• hair bag - it will be stored strands, cut during the sacrament.

According to Orthodox tradition, the baptismal shirt is put on immediately after three times the child is immersed in a font (if the sacrament is performed with full immersion). In this case, the shirt must be new and clean - because it is a symbol of renewal and purification of the soul.

When they baptize very small children serving the temples, they are advised to keep them simply wrapped in a diaper from the beginning of the ceremony. Then the child is dipped in a font and wrapped in a kryzhma. After that, the godmother passes the baptismal shirt to the priest performing the rite. The father puts the baby in his shirt and the sacrament usually ends there.

In the baptismal shirt, the child is after immersion in the font and until the end of the sacrament. After that, the shirt can be removed and take the baby home in ordinary clothes. But some parents organize a photo session after the rite or a family celebration where the newcomer is present in his baptismal costume.