Baptismal shirt: history and traditions. What to look for when choosing clothes for a child's baptism When to wear a christening shirt during baptism

The sacrament of baptism can take place at different ages. It depends on the wishes of the parents, if they have decided, or on the adult personality. Ideally, a person should choose faith himself, however, according to Christian tradition, parents should already on the 40th day of his life, since this is exactly what happened with Jesus Christ.

In the old days, this rule was strictly followed. In addition, the child was given a name by the priest in the church during the baptismal ceremony. Today everything has changed a little, now every family has the right to decide whether to baptize or not. Moreover, this is not done strictly on the 40th day, but when it is convenient for the parents.

What is needed for a child's baptism

To carry out the baptism ceremony, much is not required. We need a couple - a woman and a man, a baptismal towel (kryzhma), a pectoral cross.

You should also take care of clothes for your baby. You can purchase either a suit or a christening shirt for your child.

Baby christening clothes

According to Orthodox tradition, the godfather must buy a cross for a child. But the godmother usually buys a towel and baptismal shirt for a boy.

What should clothes be for? This can be either a regular nice suit of any color (preferably snow-white or just a light shade), or a special shirt. You can buy it at a church store or even a regular children's store.

What does a boy's christening shirt look like?

A baptismal shirt for a boy is no different from a similar shirt for a girl. If this clothing is not white, it may have a subtle blue tint. The shirt has a loose fit. It can be long, to the floor, or a little shorter, but not higher than knee level.

Clothes for a boy's baptism can be decorated with gold or silver ornaments, and there may also be an embroidered Orthodox cross on it. As for the material from which such an outfit is made, it should be natural, soft, and pleasant to the child’s body.

You can also create a baptismal shirt with your own hands; for this you will need to select patterns, sew and decorate the clothes yourself. In this case, it will become not only the most comfortable and soft, but also decorated the way the child’s godmother or birth mother would like.

Using a christening shirt for a boy

According to Orthodox custom, baptismal clothing needs to be worn only once in a lifetime, to be baptized. After this, it should simply be stored in a dry place. A baptismal towel can be used when a child is sick. People believe that if a child is wrapped in kryzhma, ailments and ailments will recede. But for the baptism of a child, you no longer need to take out a shirt from a secluded place.

However, this does not mean that you should skimp on baptismal clothing. After all, it is much more pleasant and comfortable for a child when natural soft fabrics touch his body, rather than artificial synthetics.

Clothing for baptism: what is it for?

Christenings are considered one of the most important moments in the life of any person. At christenings, a white shirt is usually worn, symbolizing the purity and innocence of thoughts before God. Before the start of the sacrament, old clothes are removed as a symbol of sin, and a new clean person comes out of the water and puts on a clean shirt, like a new soul received from God.

Anavolius, this is exactly what the baptismal shirt sounds like in Greek, has a straight, loose cut and is decorated with very symbolic embroidery.

Model overview

For adults

Women's baptismal shirt Traditionally, it has a loose fit, maximum length and is sewn from white fabric. The cut of the shirt includes sewn or one-piece sleeves and maximum coverage of the chest and shoulders. Women's anavolis are decorated with embroidery in the spirit of Christianity and thin lace.

A christening shirt is also necessary for men, since in it the immersion into the font takes place and the Sacrament of Baptism is performed. Men's models may be shorter than women's. Usually their length reaches the knee. In addition, men's models are more laconic than women's, less often decorated with lace inserts and resemble the clothes of a priest. A cross is traditionally embroidered on the back and chest of the shirt.

For teenagers

Teenage models are not much different from adults. They are usually smaller and shorter than adults.

Models for girls are more delicate, sometimes the style resembles a dress. Boys' shirts have a more formal design. Universal shirts for boys and girls are also made; they usually have a simple cut, embroidery and modest lace decoration.

For newborns

The baptismal shirt is the first thing the baby is dressed in after the ceremony. Incredibly beautiful and delicate clothes are made for little princes and princesses. They are usually decorated with a lot of lace and embroidery.

A christening outfit for newborns is a whole set of clothes, consisting of a shirt, a cap (for girls) and booties.

How to choose and what it should be

When choosing a baptismal shirt, you need to think, first of all, about comfort. The design of a shirt or dress should not restrict movement; it should be spacious and light. This is especially true for children's clothing.

An uncomfortable christening shirt can cause your baby or toddler to become cranky and in a bad mood. Shirts for newborns should be lined or with perfectly finished seams, or with seams facing out.

The material from which the shirt is made should be pleasant to the body. Anavolia made from natural fabrics that do not irritate the skin and are well breathable are preferred. For sewing baptismal shirts, cotton, linen, viscose, and silk are used, which undergo a special softening treatment. All these fabrics are environmentally friendly and harmless to the health of adults and children.

Previously, decorating baptismal shirts was highly welcomed. Luxurious embroidery and luxurious lace adorning the hem of a long shirt meant a long and rich life. Over time, shirts became shorter and jewelry became more modest.

Nowadays christening shirts are decorated in a cute and tasteful way. Lace and satin ribbons are used as decoration.

Varieties

Despite the general features, lines and rules for sewing baptismal shirts, their range is quite wide and has many design features and design differences.

Hooded

This model is mainly used when sewing anavolia for children. These hooded shirts are not only beautiful, but also very comfortable. They are very quickly put on the body, and the hood goes over the head. This point is especially important when baptizing boys, for whom it is not customary to wear caps after the ceremony.

With a cross

The cross symbolizes the suffering of the Savior and his victory over death. The cross is made using various embroidery techniques, mainly with gold, silver or white threads.

The technique of appliquing a cross from Swarovski crystals is also known. As a rule, the cross is located in the center of the shirt on the front and/or back.

With smell

The christening shirt with a wrap has a special cut - its edges overlap each other. The halves are tied together with braid or ribbon. The cut lines of such a shirt are usually straight. The wrap style allows you to adjust the width of the shirt and usually fits several sizes.

What to do with her next

Orthodox tradition requires further storage of the baptismal shirt. It is believed that a shirt that retains traces of the world on itself has a beneficial effect during illness and illness.

Is it washable?

Taking care of baptismal clothing helps preserve it in its original form for the rest of your life. It is not customary to wash a baptismal shirt, since during anointing, droplets of the world fall on it. You can only wash the towel that was used at baptism and this must be done separately from other things.

Is it possible to wear

In everyday life, a baptismal shirt is not usually worn. It is taken out in case of illness and applied to the sore spot.

Brand overview

My pea

When sewing baptismal shirts, My Pea, as for its other products, uses only natural fabrics and, basically, the brand gives preference to 100% cotton fabrics. The seams of the baptismal shirts are very carefully processed and will not damage the baby’s delicate skin.

Seraphim and Seraphim

The brand produces baptismal shirts for true connoisseurs of tradition, style and beauty. The production uses high-quality natural fabrics and rich Italian lace. Satin ribbons are used as additional decoration.

The collection includes models with a hidden zipper at the back, which allows you to quickly put on and take off the shirt.

Tron plus

The brand offers baptismal shirts of various cuts for newborns. All products are made from 100% cotton and decorated with satin ribbons: white, pink or blue. The cut of the shirts is spacious and does not restrict the movements of children. The fabric is soft and pleasant to the touch, giving the child only a comfortable feeling.

My angel

Almost all models have elements of the old Russian style and are made of natural fabric - percale, which is the thinnest and thickest cotton fabric. The fabric is made from long-staple cotton fibers, which makes it strong, dense, but smooth and soft. The design of shirts often uses embroidery with gold and silver threads and Swarovski crystals.

The role of baptism in the life of every person is undeniable. For a child, this is the most important day in his life. Already today, all children are brought in without much persuasion, as if a second birth occurs during the sacrament of baptism. Choosing baptismal clothes can sometimes be so difficult. Some people prefer simple homemade ones, others prefer those bought in a specialized store. However, solemnity in clothing should still be present. What to give preference to is up to you. Let's look at: what kind of clothes are there for the baptism of children, and what to look for when choosing them?

Choosing baptismal clothes

Before purchasing clothes for your child’s baptism, you must understand that you are buying not just clothes, but robes for the Great Sacrament. That is why all clothing, especially if it is bought for a baby, should be made strictly from natural and soft materials that absorb moisture. Pay attention to the cut of the finished product: it should be loose, not restrictive or constrict the baby’s movements, the sleeves should not squeeze the arms. It is also important that the clothes are soft and do not injure your baby's delicate skin.

Infants undergo baptism between 7 and 40 days from birth. For such babies, special baptismal clothes are sewn. Please note that traditionally the usual rompers and vests are not used for the sacrament of baptism. Properly tailored clothing should be easy to put on and easy to take off. That is why a loose cut is used.

So, let's look at the baptismal sets:

1. Christening sets for girls, first of all, you need to choose a dress with lace or other types of trim. This is what symbolizes the purity of the little man’s soul. The canons of the church do not establish the length of clothing for girls. That is why they choose a length to the toes or slightly below the knees. However, the child’s legs should not be completely covered, as the priest anoints them with Myrrh.
2. Baptism kits for boys are chosen embroidered baptismal shirts, in no way inferior to any other clothing. Please note that all shirts and dresses for children are worn over the head only. According to tradition, the priest himself puts on baptismal shirts.

The decoration of shirts and dresses can be embroidered with rhinestones, ribbons, elegant lace and other elements. All embroidery or ornament must strictly comply with the canons of the Orthodox Church, since any design carries a certain meaning. All clothes have delicate colors; white is traditionally used, since it is considered a symbol of purity and sinlessness. But peach, pink, light green or blue, as well as any pastel colors, can be used. All baptismal clothing carries a special purity and beauty.

For sewing baptismal sets, cambric fabric, satin, cotton, linen, lace fabric and lace or the finest silk are offered. Viscose thread is used for embroidery. Clothing made from these fabrics fits nicely to the child’s body and does not cause any irritation. In any case, clothing that does not cause embarrassment is recommended. It is better to buy separate baptismal sets, which can be quickly changed after they get wet. You should not choose one-piece overalls; they are very difficult to change. There should definitely be warm clothes. It is put on after the bathing ceremony.

For the sacrament of baptism, not only shirts or dresses are used, but also elegant caps for boys and bonnets for girls. Booties should be worn on the feet; they are selected in such a way that the child is comfortable. You will also need two interesting sheets and a sachet where you put a strand of hair or a cross. Please note that one sheet (the second name is kryzhma) should be warm and with a hood, since wet clothes are completely removed, and the baby must be wrapped up. As a kryzhma, you can use a simple terry baptismal towel or an embroidered diaper trimmed with lace. In such a diaper, your baby will cause sincere tenderness.

Baptismal clothes and kryzhma must be kept in memory of the Great Sacrament. If you want to use these clothes, it is better to consult a priest about this, since according to tradition, baptismal sets are not washed or used in everyday life, but during illness you can cover your child with them.

We offer you different options for baptismal clothing for children!

The online store "Baptism" offers you children's clothing for different ages of the baby. All clothing is sold both individually and as ready-made baptismal sets. The presented assortment can be viewed on the store’s website. From us you can purchase a variety of baptismal shirts for boys and women's dresses at competitive prices this season. We have clothes for children up to 3 years old. If you want to get exclusive outfits for your child, then we offer you custom sewing services.

Your children will look absolutely irresistible in baptismal clothes from our Kreshcheniye.ru Store. Choose the same style and finish. Please note that simple vests, of course, are much cheaper. But your baby only has the sacrament of baptism once in his life. It's worth making sure it looks the part!

You don't have to go shopping and choose the right outfits for your baby or toddler. We have a wide range of children's christening clothes. All the clothes you choose are delivered exactly on time and at the specified time. We are also ready to please you with a flexible system of discounts.

Baptism is in some way a magical rite, as well as the most important sacrament of Christian society. Parents strive to baptize their children, since since ancient times it is believed that this ritual opens the spiritual world and provides the child with protection from higher powers.

Let's get acquainted with the rite of baptism itself and with popular models of baptismal shirts intended for children of different ages, and with the brands that produce them.

Baptism ceremony

Baptism can be performed at any age, when the parents want it or they give the child the opportunity to choose his own faith, postponing baptism until a more conscious age.

In ancient times, it was customary to baptize a child in infancy, as soon as he was forty days old, just as Jesus Christ was baptized, but, unfortunately, few people adhere to this tradition.

To carry out the baptism ceremony, parents need to choose two people, a man and a woman, who will become the godparents of the child, and from that day on will have a subtle, spiritual connection with him. In addition, it is necessary to purchase special clothes for baptism and this is the main task of the godmother, and the godfather usually purchases a pectoral cross for the child.

What do you need?

In addition to the cross and baptismal shirt, you also need to choose a towel. Often, parents use ordinary cute suits of various colors, without resorting to purchasing specialized items that are direct attributes of baptism. But still, we advise you to purchase a snow-white shirt designed specifically for baptism. Previously, such a thing could only be purchased in shops at churches, which were called church shops, but now children's baptismal shirts are also sold in regular stores specializing in goods for children.

What does a christening shirt look like for a boy?

There are no differences in christening shirts for boys and girls, since this item is universal. As a rule, the color of such a shirt ranges from snow-white to light light blue, and the cut is quite loose. As for the length of the shirt, fashion here is very diverse and allows the use of shirts of completely different lengths - from short to the waist, to long to the floor.

The baptismal shirt may have embroidery in the form of an Orthodox cross, which is made with blue, silver or gold threads. Regarding the material from which baptismal shirts for children are sewn, it can be noted that products made from soft fabric that is pleasant to a child’s body are preferable.

1 year

For a one-year-old baby, a short, wrap-around shirt is quite suitable, which definitely makes it easier for the child to put on and take off the item. You can use a thin cotton model, decorated with embroidery, as well as small lace on the sleeves and at the bottom of the shirt.

2 years

Since at two years the child is still quite small, you can use the same option as for baptizing a one-year-old child. But you can choose something a little different, for example, a medium-length, odorless shirt with a solid collar will do just fine.

3 years

At three years old, the child is already a little older and you can use a long shirt, with various kinds of embroidery and decoration, which is worn over the head. This option will be very convenient and practical, and also visually looks beautiful and innocent.

4 years

At four years old, children often consider themselves adults and are aware of many things, so they may begin to feel embarrassed about their open sexual characteristics if they wear a short shirt at baptism. For a child of this age, we recommend choosing a thin, floor-length cotton shirt with ties and a small cutout in the throat area, as well as unobtrusive blue embroidery.

Models

As with any clothing for adults, there is a huge selection and a fairly wide range of models among christening shirts for boys. The shirts are not particularly different in any functional qualities; rather, they have purely visual differences. Let's take a closer look at the most popular models.

Hooded

The christening shirt model with a hood looks like a cute robe, medium or short length. The shirt is quite comfortable and has a functional use, in case the room is cold and the child’s hair is wet, then in this case the use of a hood will be useful.

With smell

As already mentioned, a wrap shirt makes it much easier to put on a child, and then it can be taken off just as easily. This model is most preferable for young children, from one to two years old, for whom it is extremely difficult to sit still. The fact is that due to the high activity of the child, the process of putting a shirt over the head may be somewhat difficult, since the child may begin to be capricious and cry.

Middle length

Mid-length shirts will be appropriate for children of about three years old, since they directly cover the first sexual signs. In terms of any functional qualities, this model does not have any significant differences from the smell model.

Christening suit

Baptism suits perform the same functions as baptism shirts. The differences are only in appearance, and may also relate to ease of use, since the shirt is much easier to put on or take off. In itself, such a suit usually consists of a three-piece suit - a short shirt, pants and a headdress in the form of a cap or beret.

Brands

Since children's christening clothes are very popular and in demand, it is completely natural that many brands are engaged in the manufacture of these items. But many of them have completely different policies and concepts of the company’s work, so we decided to select and compile for you a list of the most popular brands that offer baptismal clothing.

Choupette

Choupette is a brand specializing in the production of children's clothing for children from zero to eight years old. This brand divides its production into collections with corresponding names, and also, by the way, is engaged in tailoring luxury clothing. And it is not surprising that among the wide range of this company there is a line of clothing for baptism, presented in the form of light, airy outfits symbolizing purity and innocence.

Papitto

The Papitto company began its existence back in 2001, specializing in the production of goods for newborn children, as well as children up to four years old. The company positions itself as a manufacturer of high-quality goods at affordable prices, and indeed, this is quite consistent with reality. The line of clothing for baptism consists of items made of soft material that is pleasant to children's skin and does not cause irritation or allergic reactions.

It is probably difficult today to find a person who does not know about the tragedy of the first years and centuries of Christianity, and about the reasons why in those ancient times our churches were built in caves and deep underground - in catacombs.

Persecution by the authorities turned into unimaginably cruel torture and terrible death for Christians, hence the secret places for holding religious services and ceremonies, the first of which is baptism.

The cold of the underground is a constant companion of the first centuries of Christianity. Centuries, when its difficult history was written and the first traditions and rituals took shape, and above all, the rite of baptism, which was initially considered a new and main birth of a person - spiritual.

How responsibly our distant ancestors approached it is evidenced by the fact that in the first years of Christianity only adults were baptized, after making sure that the person was going to all possible trials and torments consciously. The rite of infant baptism appeared only towards the end of the 1st - beginning of the 2nd centuries AD.

By this time, it was already taking place according to the firm rules that had developed in previous decades. The history of the baptismal shirt began at the same time - as a mandatory attribute of the ceremony. For adults, it was necessary for two reasons: to hide the nakedness of the person being baptized even from the gaze of the clergy, and as protection from the cold of the catacombs. The baptismal shirt came into the rite of infant baptism as a tradition. In those distant times, in connection with possible difficult trials that could at any moment befall a Christian, mostly men were baptized, therefore it is the baptismal shirt for boys that is considered, so to speak, the “classical” attribute of baptism, in Greek it sounds like “anavolium” and means outerwear.

What should a baptismal shirt be like?

By tradition, this is a straight white shirt, always below the knees, but not “to the floor”, certainly new and, of course, made of natural fabric. Its whiteness is a symbol of the spiritual purity of the newly baptized.

Royal christening shirts

From these oldest attributes of baptism, we have come down to the baptismal shirt of the daughter of Henry VIII - Elizabeth I, baptized in 1533. The shirt is long, quite simple and loose in style. But already in 1841, Queen Victoria's first-born was baptized in an elegant silk shirt decorated with pearls and guipure: to this day, all crown princes and princesses of England are baptized in it.

It was from this moment that the tradition of decorating baptismal shirts developed - although they were made easier for boys than for girls. For the fairer sex, they are decorated more richly, often lush and multi-layered.

The difference between the Orthodox baptismal attire and the Catholic one

In the West, to this day, baptismal shirts for both sexes are sewn as elegantly and magnificently as possible. This does not interfere with the ritual, primarily because in the most widespread confession of the Western world, Catholicism, it differs from the Orthodox: very rarely, individual clergy immerse the baby in the font three times. Everywhere this moment is replaced either by wetting the head for boys, or by simply sprinkling the baby with holy water. There is no anointing in the ritual, which is replaced by anointing only the baby’s face with oil, and there is no communion. Until now, in almost all Western faiths, infants are baptized infrequently; as a rule, this occurs at the age of 7-12 years and the ceremony is supplemented by a lit candle, which is given to the child. In other words, the original ancient rite of baptism has been shortened and, in fact, modified almost beyond recognition.

Tradition of baptismal clothes for boys and girls

The rite of baptism among the Orthodox is completely different, as close as possible to the ancient one. Our tradition strictly separates baptismal shirts for boys and baptismal dresses for girls. Although for both of them, the sleeves and the shirt itself should not be too long to allow the priest to perform chrismation. In addition, while boys' heads must be open during baptism, for girls a mandatory addition to the baptismal dress is a cap or scarf.

How to sew a baptismal shirt

For male babies, the cut of the shirt itself and its length - just below the knees - in Rus' are as close as possible to the robe in which ancient Christian babies were baptized. The shirt should be loose, with sleeves no higher than the elbow; it can be either an open shirt with soft ties on the back, or one that can be pulled over the head. As long as it is comfortable for the baby. If fasteners are used instead of ties, the product is lined so as not to scratch the delicate skin of the newborn. A christening shirt for girls is usually made a little longer, often with a yoke, and if it has fasteners, they try to make them not only beautiful, but also on the front; the yoke itself is always lined.

If we are talking about the first-born in the family, the shirt must certainly be new, and the fabric from which it is made must be natural. In Christian families, the baptismal shirt of the eldest child is traditionally kept and then the younger children are baptized in it. However, it can only be washed before the next baptism.

Embroidery on a boy's christening shirt

Of course, in Rus', for a long time, baptismal clothes for babies were decorated: shirts for boys were decorated with national ornaments, hand-embroidered, and Christian symbols. The most important of them is, of course, the Orthodox cross, also embroidered, symbolizing the Lord Himself, his torment and the devotion of the baptized to Christ. In rich families, pearls and other precious stones were added to jewelry, and sewing was done with gold or silver threads. At the request of the parents, lace is also added; soft ribbons were used as ties to match the embroidery, which often also included a floral ornament with the obligatory roses: a rose is also a symbol, a symbol of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
A very exquisite baptismal shirt of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, sewn from natural silk and richly decorated, has survived to this day. It is kept in the museum named after him.

Baptismal shirt decorations for girls

Of course, christening shirts for girls were decorated more lavishly and were certainly trimmed with lace, ribbons and rhinestones: if the family was poor - with simple stones, if wealthy - with pearls and other precious and semi-precious stones. The obligatory symbol - just like for boys - was an Orthodox cross, in embroidery - a rose. In this form, the tradition of baptismal shirts for babies has survived to this day.

Being a symbol of the purity and sinlessness of the baby, the baptismal shirt is put on him after the font, as soon as the godmother or godfather takes the newborn from it into the kryzhma.

The healing power of baptismal attire

In Orthodox families, following ancient tradition, baptismal shirts must be kept. Moreover, separately from the rest of the linen, in a special bag or handbag, which are included in the complete baptismal set. You can put it in a box or decorative box. It is believed that if a baby gets sick, for a speedy and complete recovery he needs to be dressed in a baptismal shirt and, in addition to a diaper, covered with a kryzhma.

There is much evidence that the baptismal shirt has healing powers: even adult Christian believers often apply it to a sore spot to relieve painful sensations. This is how our distant ancestors did it - this is how it is done today.

Lyudmila Danilova