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Christenings and BlessingsTo see the fabulous range of Christening and Naming Ceremony Gifts that we offer - PLEASE CLICK HERE A few decades ago, most babies were christened, or baptised. As well as being an important religious ritual, it was also an opportunity for the wider family to get together to welcome the new arrival, and for this reason it's a tradition that has endured, even although not all parents who choose to have their children christened are practising Christians or regular church-goers. For those who don't believe in God, however, there can still be a wish to hold some kind of ceremony to mark the arrival of their new child in the world. Clearly a religious ceremony would be inappropriate, so other forms of blessings have started to become common, too. BLESSINGS One of these is the blessing. Normally held in a church, a blessing is a religious ceremony which is different from a Christening in that the baby is not baptised. Instead, he or she is welcomed into the church (normally during a service), and "blessed" by the church leader. This type of ceremony is a good choice for those who'd like to hold some form of religious ceremony for their child, but don't want the formality of a full Christening. They're often held by families in which one parent is religious while the other isn't, or by families who come from different faiths. NAMING CEREMONIES Naming ceremonies are secular ceremonies, which make no reference to God or religion. Instead of Godparents, the family may choose to appoint "mentors" or "supporting adults", who promise to help support and guide the child through life, and the ceremony is either conducted by the parents themselves, or by someone such as a celebrant from the British Humanist Association. Various venues are used for naming ceremonies, from private homes to venues hired out by the family. No matter what kind of ceremony you choose for your child, however, the chances are that it will be an opportunity for family and friends to get together - and it'll probably be followed up with some kind of party! It's traditional for those attending a christening, blessing or naming ceremony to buy the baby a gift, and, given the choice available, it can be hard to know what to get! To see the fabulous range of Christening and Naming Ceremony Gifts that we offer - PLEASE CLICK HERE |
