Baptismal dress for girls

Baptism is considered to be one of the main events in the life of Orthodox people. Christians believe that it is on this day that the child acquires his guardian, who will protect him from harm throughout his life.

Baptism is the rite of initiation of the child to the church. Although a person can undergo this ceremony at any age, it is customary to baptize a child in Orthodox society from the eighth to the fortieth day of his life. The process of baptism itself does not require any special preparation. It is enough to agree in advance with the priest about the date of the ceremony and come at the appointed time to the church with the necessary set of things and the future godparents of your child.

For a church ceremony, you need a cross, a baptismal shirt or dress, and a diaper. The cross, according to custom, should be bought by the godfather. It can be purchased both in advance and directly in the church, as long as the priest has time to consecrate the cross before the ceremony.

Many traditions will be associated with the rite of baptism. First, throughout the entire rite, the baby should be held not by the parents, but by the godparents. If it is a boy, then the godmother should keep her dad in the font, and then the father, and vice versa.

The baptism of a girl is also the first “appearance” of your child. All views during this ceremony will be turned to your baby, so you should choose a baptismal dress in which she will look charming.

The easiest option is a cotton baptismal free-cut shirt. These can be bought at the church shop. The classic dress for baptism has a free cut and is worn right over the head. These items facilitate the process of dressing the baby after being adopted by her godmother after the bath.

To replace the traditional shirt, barely covering the knees of the baby, you can choose a shirt to toe. This elegant dress is distinguished by the presence of elegant lace trim, embroidery with white thread, or small artificial flowers. These decorative elements add refinement alongside.

An additional element of the baptismal dress can be a hood.In a dress with a hood, your child will be warm, and he will not need a cap. The hood, like the dress itself, can be decorated with lace, embroidery, satin ribbons and other small details.

The traditional color of the baptismal dress is white. That white shirt symbolizes purity, which differ only in the souls of babies. But if you wish, you can step back a little from this custom and choose a dress of other pastel shades for your baby. It can be beige, light shades of pink or blue. You can also choose a gold-colored dress, which is also a symbol of the bright soul of a child.

Traditionally, the baptismal shirt is different in length just below the knees. But you can follow the Western fashion and pick up a child's long dress to the heels. The baptismal outfit should not cover the child’s legs completely, because after the font, the priest anoints them with Peace. The rest of the church does not regulate the length of the baptismal dress, and you select the option that you think is more suitable for the child themselves.

Materials for sewing baptismal dress should be natural and pleasant to the touch. Plain shirts can be sewn from soft linen or cotton. More refined - from thin cambric, decorated with silk or viscose embroidery. Popular option and such as a knitted dress. To create it, either thin cotton yarn or thicker wool is used.

There are no special criteria for choosing a baptismal dress for a child, but we can give you some tips to help you choose the right outfit for your baby. First, the color of the dress should be light. As already mentioned, it is not necessary to dwell on the classic white shirt, but outfits of dark colors for baptism are not suitable.

Decorative elements on the dress should not be too much. Often baptismal attire is decorated with embroidery, appliqués, ribbons or bows. It all looks nice separately, but if the outfit is excessively richly decorated, then it is too much. Moreover, the Orthodox Church does not encourage excessive pretentiousness.

Of the accessories for the baptismal shirt, you only need a cap and a cross, which is worn on the neck of the child during the ceremony. A cap can be made in the same style as the dress, or it can be a harmonious addition from a different material and with other decorations. For more adult girls the cap can be replaced with a kerchief, which is also decorated with embroidery or lace.

Dress for the newborn baby should be as free and pleasant to the body as possible. In such a dress with a dense base and a translucent top, decorated with a print of white flowers, the baby will feel good, and the guests will be fascinated by her cute outfit. It will complement his cap in tone, decorated with printed flowers.

For the baptism of a child who is only a few months old, a gentle flared shirt will do. A simple cut makes it easy to dress the baby and undress her, and the elegant lace trim at the bottom, at the collar and along the edges of the sleeves makes the dress elegant.The shirt is unbuttoned on the breast, and the legs remain slightly ajar, which is very convenient for the process of Chrismation. A lace bonnet is also included with the dress.

For older babies, a set of baptismal dress and headscarf that fits the style is suitable. The most delicate linen dress, decorated with wicker inserts, reaches to the middle of the leg. The collar, decorated with elegant lace patterns, can be easily undone if necessary. The kerchief looks nice, complemented by the same patterned fringe as the dress itself.

A baptismal dress for your little girl can be a very cute and elegant outfit. Choose a dress of quality material, skillfully decorated with embroidery or lace, and everyone will be fascinated not only by the sacred rite, but also by the beauty of your baby.