Christening Gifts from Godparents

Brief History of Christening Gifts from Godparent
 
Parents always make a special place for christening gifts from godparent.  During a christening, a godparent or several godparents are requested by the parents to stand beside them in the presentation of the child to the Christian world.  Godparents stand as the second parents, partly responsible for the rearing of the child.  In most cultures, the godparents take over the responsibility of the parents should something happen to the latter that makes them incapacitated to take care of the child. 
 
The tradition of getting godparents started in the fourth century when Christians were afraid of being persecuted by non-Christians.  New members were required to be sponsored by the current members of the church.  Parents asked their closest friends and relatives to sponsor their children that they intend to christen.  These sponsors were soon called “patrinus”, meaning godfather.  Christening gifts from godparent symbolise the presents given by the three Magi to Jesus Christ upon his birth.  This started the tradition of giving gifts for a christening.
 
Because of the unique status of godparents in a christening, a gift has to become symbolic of the godfather or godmother’s commitment to help in raising the child the Christian way.  The most traditional gifts are those made in silver.  This started in the Tudor and expanded into the Victorian era where gifts of intrinsic values were given to the child.  Silver was thought to be a good investment for the child, a sort of start-up account for the child’s independence in later years.  Because of this, items made of silver such as egg cups, napkin rings, cutlery and spoons were given as christening gifts from godparent.  This is believed to be the basis of the saying “born with a silver spoon in the mouth,” symbolising the wealth to which the child was born into.
 
As the years went by, gifts that are more practical gave way to traditional gifts with intrinsic or monetary values.  Silver items now include gifts like necklaces, bracelets and piggy banks.  Silver photo frames engraved with the child’s name are also favorite baptism gifts.  Other ideas that are on offer are plates, cutlery, keepsake boxes, teddy bears and photo frames, most of which can be personalised to the child.  You can also give gifts that the child can use later in his life.  There are several gifts available in the gifts for him or her sections, such as a bottle of wine with a glass set that he can open upon reaching legal age, jewellery boxes or cuff links.  Parents will surely take care of any christening gifts from godparent that a child receives.