Silver Baptism Gifts
A baptism is the beginning of a child's spiritual life in Christianity and is an important ceremony within the Christian community. The Victorians popularized functional baby gifts made of silver. Prior to that point, baptism gifts usually involved small amounts of money designed to serve as a nest egg for the baby boy or girl. The Victorians united form with function, and silver baptismal gifts remain popular today.
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Cups
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Babies commonly receive silver egg cups, tankards or drinking cups as christening gifts. People often engrave these items with the baby's name and birth date, making them cherished family heirlooms often passed from one generation to another.
Spoons
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Apostle spoons, embossed with an image of one of the apostles or Jesus, remain popular traditional baptismal gifts. Godparents gave the spoons to their godchildren during the 17th century. They can be given individually or as a set. In non-Catholic families, people often present a child with an ornate silver feeding spoon or a set of utensils.
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Rattles
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Silver teething rings and rattles come in a variety of different designs, from cute to simply elegant. They embody Victorian gift-giving etiquette, in that they serve a function but also possess a high silver weight and content. These qualities make them fun for the baby, as well as a potentially useful nest egg when the baby grows into a young adult.
Medals or Necklaces
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Giving baby girls cross necklaces or boys medals of favorite saints is a good way to represent the Christian faith in the gift. These medals and necklaces come in a variety of designs; some even contain small gemstones and can be personalized.
Bracelets or Cuff Links
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Engraved cuff links or delicate bracelets make inexpensive yet attractive christening gifts. You can even purchase adjustable bracelets that will fit the lucky baby girl at her christening, as well as when she gets older.
Bookmark
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A simple sterling silver cross bookmark alone or placed within a special Bible will prove a useful gift for a boy or girl, especially as they grow older and bring their own Bibles to church.
Napkin Ring
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Yet another gift dating from Victorian times, when people displayed silver napkin rings at mealtimes to show their status and wealth, a napkin ring remains a traditional christening gift today. While most children do not use them at the dinner table anymore, parents usually keep them safe for their children and pass them on when they leave to start their own households.
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