Christening is a form of baptism practiced by many Christians.
This ceremony is where parents give their child a Christian name.
Baptism is originally from the time of the Old Testament when faithfuls dedicate themselves to Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews.
Many parents bring their newborn child to priests for blessing.
Parents, on the other hand, vow to raise their child in the ways of the Lord.
Churches today practice infant christening because they believe it removes a child from the guilt of the original sin, which is the eating of the forbidden fruit by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Many people are confused with the term baptism and christening.
The two terms, however, are not interchangeable.
Christening is a naming ceremony, while baptism is a sacrament.
The uses of these terms differ from various places and principles.
Christianity involves several groups of religions and organizations that have different views about baptism.
Christian organizations, such as the Catholic Church, baptize babies who are a few months old.
In some religious groups, they wait until a person is ready for baptism.
The ceremonies, in context, are also different.
The most common is pouring water on the head inside a church.
Some ceremonies perform it in a natural body of water.
An example is the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.
At present, many parents celebrate this sacrament as a sign of entering the Christian world.
Most of them buy a christening dress and other accessories for their child to suit the occasion.
This is where most family reunions take place so people usually prepare meals or ask a catering service.
Here are some things you need to prepare for your child's baptism or christening party: Invitations Make a list of people you want to invite as early as possible.
This way, your visitors can prepare their gifts and adjust their schedule.
Invitations do not have to be expensive.
You can even make them yourself for a more personalized feel.
It must be neat and clean since it is for a sacred ceremony.
A white-coloured invitation is ideal.
The contents of the invitation should include the date, place, and time.
Theme The theme should be formal and spiritual.
Angels and cherubs are quite popular because they represent the baby as an angel that came to a couple's life.
Butterflies are acceptable, too, since it symbolizes new life.
Baptism does not necessarily mean you have to put up all your religious items on display.
Accessibility Baptismal celebrations happen after the baptism itself.
Make sure the venue is near to avoid your visitors getting lost.
Make your party venue accessible by booking a church hall or a nearby restaurant.
If you want to do it at home, provide your visitors with directions.
Baptism is an important occasion for the family.