What should be a christening gown for a girl?
Baptism is certainly one of the most important events in the life of a believer. Many associate it with the second birthday, because it personifies spiritual rebirth. The sacrament of baptism is a rite of connecting a person with God, accepting him into the ranks of the Christian church. We believe that on this day he acquires his own guardian angel, who will protect him throughout his life.
Naturally, this event should be taken seriously, having thoroughly studied the details. One of the key provisions of the christening is the choice of outfit. It has a sacred meaning. After baptism, clothing will become a personal amulet for its wearer.
According to the tradition that has developed in Orthodox Christianity, the clothes are chosen by the future godmother, however, the mother herself can fully take part in this.
When choosing an outfit, it is necessary to take into account the canons established by the Orthodox Church. The item must be new. By tradition, the length of the shirt is strictly below the knee. Preferably to toe.
The color scheme of the outfit must be light, pastel colors. No bright colors. The preferred color is white. It symbolizes innocence, purity and rebirth. Give preference to materials that will not injure delicate skin and will absorb moisture.
The main thing is not to overdo it in the pretentiousness of the outfit, it looks out of place in the process of performing the spiritual sacrament.
2 years
For a two-year-old child, a loose baptismal shirt is suitable. The main requirement that must be followed is the length of the outfit. The outfit should provide that the arms, as well as the legs of the baby, will need to be bare for spreading.
For the greatest effect, you can wear several fluffy skirts. It is important to pay attention that the clothes are comfortable, easy to put on and take off to save time, otherwise there is a possibility of a protracted ceremony and a spoiled solemn moment. A shirt that needs to be worn over the head is also extremely uncomfortable. Things should not contain protruding seams, pressing elastic bands, extra fasteners.
The choice of fabric plays an important role. A fabric made from natural, hypoallergenic materials is suitable. Pay attention to the details of clothing. They must be well sewn, for example, if they are beads or any other beads, then for the sake of certainty you need to check their strength so that if they fall off, they do not fall into the hands of a child who can eat them.
3 years
At the age of three, it is important to pay attention to the mobility of the child. The dress should not fit too tightly to the body and hamper its movements. Once again, it is worth checking the strength of the sewn decor on baptismal dresses. It is necessary that the outfit does not put pressure on the baby's skin and does not rub it when moving.
A baptismal dress for a girl is usually decorated with Orthodox embroidery and openwork lace, which give the girl's christening dress a special tenderness and beauty.
Soft and delicate fabric will make the baby feel comfortable.
Common baptismal gown materials are satin, satin, and silk, but modern synthetics can also work.
4 years
At the age of four, the child's consciousness becomes more receptive. And therefore, he will remember such an event as christening more or less deeply than at the age of two or three. Again, due to the mobility of age, it is important to choose materials that do not irritate the skin, without rough seams that can create discomfort for the child.
8 years
Eight years is already a fairly conscious age for a child. Here, the opinion of the girl herself can be considered an important factor in the choice. It would be reasonable to ask her wishes regarding the baptismal dress that she will wear for participation in the first great sacrament. After all, she will definitely remember this moment in her life.
For originality and beauty, the edges of the hem, sleeves or neckline can be trimmed with lace, matching satin ribbons. The outfit can be embellished with various ribbons, beaded patterns or openwork embroideries.
Everything you need for baptism can be easily found and bought in a church shop or ordered from companies specializing in this.
How to choose?
When choosing an outfit for christening, remember that you are purchasing things for the Orthodox rite. You should not get too pompous, frilly and expensive outfit that shows your financial superiority. Whatever the dress, it should be spacious and pleasant to the child himself. Comfort must be prioritized.
Baptismal clothing must comply with Orthodox canons. The girl's clothes should be light muted colors, white is the most preferable.
Clothing for girls is a shirt dress with a simple cut. It is also a symbol of purity and harmony. It is important to pay attention to the fabric from which the baptismal outfit is made. It must be natural so that the body can breathe easily. Suitable fabrics such as silk or satin, linen or satin (cotton).
Obviously, the size of the outfit should correspond to the parameters of the child. When choosing things, you should refer to the size table.
Details play an important role. They emphasize the solemnity of the moment and decorate the overall look. Details must be tightly sewn and match the outfit.
It is also important to consider the time of year. When choosing a baptismal dress in the warm season, you need to pay attention to the condition of the child, he should not be hot. Therefore, knitwear can cause heat stroke. It is worth choosing things that are spacious and with short sleeves. For a colder period, accordingly, it is worth choosing clothes that are tighter to the body, in which the child should not freeze.Among other things, the outfit should just be pleasing to the eye, and maintain the mood of an important day.
There are many models of christening shirts for girls. The whole style can be based only on the whim of the customer (of course, taking into account all Orthodox canons). The look of the dress largely depends on the material.
Orthodox shops and online stores present a huge number of models of baptismal clothing.
Models
Dresses can be made in a strict style, without pretentiousness. And they can be very airy, due to the fabric and model of the dress itself. The choice of style is a matter of taste.
Models of dresses multiply in various embroideries. It can be any children's pattern or embroidery in the Russian style. Orthodox symbolism may be present.
Dresses crocheted from natural threads or knitting needles look great. Usually they are decorated with ruffles.
The outfit can be made with both short and long sleeves. Sleeves can be made from various fabrics. Patterned fabrics, such as lace, will be especially beautiful. Ribbons or beads give a special elegance to things.
Hooded
Shirts with a hood look especially unusual. The hooded christening gown combines symbolic clothing and a headdress.
It remains to add that the baptismal shirt for a child is kept throughout his life. It does not need to be washed after baptism, nor should it be given away to anyone. This is a person's personal amulet.
