Penny_P Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 New Baby will be baptised next week. DD1 was baptised in a Lutheran church- she wore a white dress that had been mine as a baby. I even made a handkerchief bonnet in a rare moment of craftiness, thinking it could be "something old" when she gets married. I do not forseeing myself getting it together enough to make another one. I was not raised Christian. Is it traditional that each baby have his/her own garment, or is recycling common, or does it not really matter? Silly question, perhaps, but I really want to establish traditions within our little family since I don't have any to pass down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 A dress from an older sibling is just fine for a Catholic baptism. I think it's sweet that it's passed down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Is it traditional that each baby have his/her own garment, or is recycling common, or does it not really matter? I think it is quite traditional, as well as quite sensible, to use a "family heirloom" christening gown. But in the end, it doesn't really matter - do what feels right to YOU and your family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Traditionally (since Victoria times) across most Christian faiths often the mom's wedding dress when to make the baptismal gown for all babies of the family. That is if there was not already a baptismal gown already circulating within the larger clan. Sometimes though mom kept her dress to pass on to her daughters. So short answer to your question, one baptismal gown per immediate family to be used within said immediate family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfeusse Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 my 3 children (we are Lutheran) all wore the same Baptismal gown. We were going to use one that was in my husband's family for generations, but it was just too fragile to do such, so my MIL made a new gown that will be the start of a new tradition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carriede Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 The church will likely provide a "white garmet" in the form of a felt, keepsake bib. I'd call the church office and ask. They just have the baby wear anything white/light if you'd like. Doesn't have to be anything special. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMamaBird Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Traditionally (since Victoria times) across most Christian faiths often the mom's wedding dress when to make the baptismal gown for all babies of the family. That is if there was not already a baptismal gown already circulating within the larger clan. Sometimes though mom kept her dress to pass on to her daughters. So short answer to your question, one baptismal gown per immediate family to be used within said immediate family. Oh! I L.O.V.E. the wedding gown idea! How precious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penny_P Posted September 18, 2012 Author Share Posted September 18, 2012 OK- the wedding gown idea is just not going to happen in a week. It's a fantastic idea, since it's just sitting in storage at MIL house anyway. I did call the church- they did not offer a white bib. I'll see if I can find anything else. Really, it's just a white dress that dd1 wore, not so much a baptismal gown, per se. She was about 3 months old, so I don't know if dd2 would be swimming in it or not. I guess I could actually pull it out. Thanks for the responses. I guess I'm a little paranoid- there was a baptism after mass on Sunday, and the baby girl had a gorgeous, long gown with big bow-thing on her head. She was beautiful. It's not about being a show though, I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMA Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 OK- the wedding gown idea is just not going to happen in a week. It's a fantastic idea, since it's just sitting in storage at MIL house anyway. I did call the church- they did not offer a white bib. I'll see if I can find anything else. Really, it's just a white dress that dd1 wore, not so much a baptismal gown, per se. She was about 3 months old, so I don't know if dd2 would be swimming in it or not. I guess I could actually pull it out. Thanks for the responses. I guess I'm a little paranoid- there was a baptism after mass on Sunday, and the baby girl had a gorgeous, long gown with big bow-thing on her head. She was beautiful. It's not about being a show though, I know. Why don't you have her wear what your daughter wore and leave it at that? Even if there is a "bib," they put it on top of the gown. It used to be that the baby would be brought in without the baptismal gown and then the gown was placed on the baby when the "white garment" is supposed to be put on. But they changed the rite. If the baby is swimming in it, you can take it in with handsewn tucks. It will be beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I loved that both of my dc wore the same gown. If the dress is big take a tuck or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyco Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Traditionally (since Victoria times) across most Christian faiths often the mom's wedding dress when to make the baptismal gown for all babies of the family. That is if there was not already a baptismal gown already circulating within the larger clan. Sometimes though mom kept her dress to pass on to her daughters. So short answer to your question, one baptismal gown per immediate family to be used within said immediate family. That's excellent to know, because it's exactly what I did!! My mom made my wedding gown but passed away before my children were born...my MIL used the train of the gown and some of the antique lace to make a gown that both children wore for baptism. And here I thought it was one of my better original ideas...lol In any case, I consider it an instant heirloom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 That's excellent to know, because it's exactly what I did!! My mom made my wedding gown but passed away before my children were born...my MIL used the train of the gown and some of the antique lace to make a gown that both children wore for baptism. And here I thought it was one of my better original ideas...lol In any case, I consider it an instant heirloom. Exactly. This is why I'll never understand the "trash the dress" mentality. I suppose people are getting away from it in this day of blended families and such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Traditionally (since Victoria times) across most Christian faiths often the mom's wedding dress when to make the baptismal gown for all babies of the family. I've never heard this before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busymotherof4 Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 My babies used either my Mom or Dad's gown. #1 and 2 used my dad's #3,4,5 used my Mom's. I was baptized in my Mom's. My sister's kids used my Dad's gown. The way we chose which to use was by size. If the were baptized with in the first month they fit in my Mom's gown if it was after that we had to use my Dad's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I'll bet you could find a handsewn bonnet/wedding handkerchief on Etsy. Here's one, for example. That way, you would have one for each girl, but they could wear the same dress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammi K Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 All of my girls were baptized in the Catholic Church wearing the same dress. My oldest son was baptized without a lot of preparation and wasn't even wearing white. In part of the ceremony the baby is covered in a white bib that symbolizes the 'clean white garment' so white - although traditional - isn't even essential. Of course, this was all before we left the Catholic Church and the kids were all re-baptised (as believers) in their swimming suits in the pacific ocean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penny_P Posted September 18, 2012 Author Share Posted September 18, 2012 I'll bet you could find a handsewn bonnet/wedding handkerchief on Etsy. Here's one, for example.That way, you would have one for each girl, but they could wear the same dress. This is brilliant!! Thanks for the idea. I pulled out the dress and it seems a bit.... billowy, but this is a small affair and I think I can make it work without spending oodles on a new one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amey311 Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 My grandmother made a baptismal gown for my mom out of silk my grandfather brought back from Japan. I wore the same gown (and it's possible my brother did). My older son was baptized in that gown, too. I've heard the tradition about the wedding dresses, but it was easier to just keep using the same gown for us. So, yes - in lots of families there is a "recycling" of the gown/dress and it's perfectly lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 My boys were baptized (Methodist) in the same gown my grandmother had sent from England. I also had my dh's blanket and Catholic hmm, "bib". It looks like a bib with the symbol for Christ on it. It's very sweet and all my BILs and SIL were christened in it as well. I'm all for using one gown for all the children in the family. I'm holding on to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 In DH's family the firstborn of each family gets to wear the family heirloom gown. Oldest DD, DH, FIL, and FIL's uncle all wore it, as did the girl of my SIL's twins. My MIL was antiquing while I was pregnant with #2 and bought an antique christening gown for the subsequent children in her line. That is was DS and younger DD wore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.