Just what is a "Christening" dress...vs. baptism dress...and why do we use two different terms?
I learned something about that recently because I've been low-key obsessed with Charlotte's baptism coming up on October 1st. We've had to move the date several times to accommodate family, which is understandable. I had a moment of desperation back soon after she was born, thinking I wasn't going to have a dress to baptize her in. I'd been told there was a family one that Hunter wore at his baptism, but all the sudden no one knew who had it, and I panicked. I bought a really beautiful Victorian gown on Etsy for about $30. It is unique but not quite what I had in mind, plus I'm not sure if it will fit her anymore.
So that's an option, but the problem there is that with the age/style of the lace, I don't have 1. a slip and 2. a bonnet to match it, which might be difficult to do. Either way, I'm going to have to make something.
Which started me thinking that if I'm going to have to make someone, I might as well make her dress and ensemble. It would at least be handmade and special in that regard, even if not a family heirloom (yet?). I don't want to have to share her dress with distant cousins and maybe never see it again. I thought about cutting up my wedding veil for part of the lace, but now I'm not sure.
I was going to go to our garment district here in Dallas to see what kind of satin/silk they have, in view of making a dress. I discovered the biggest and most famous fabric store is closed!! I am so shocked. The place got hit by a tornado back before Covid, and I am sure all these little warehouse stores struggled to survive. I'm scared to go there with a baby because it's kind of a sketchy part of town. I had my mom here yesterday to watch her, but I got sick and crashed hard and slept most of the afternoon. I'm feeling slightly better today, but I'm staying home anyway.
Sometimes I feel trapped by my own willpower and having a baby to take with me...it's hard to leave the house because of the massive effort it takes to go places. I guess that's okay, but there are things I want to do. I'm so glad that I have help!
Back to the original question and title of the post:
Baptism is the sacrament that takes place in the dress...the main point of the ceremony. As Catholics, we believe that it resolves and wipes away Original Sin.
Christening is an Anglican-ish thing...which is the actual naming of the child. The priest ask the father to "Name this child", and the child is officially named. That is why you might hear someone refer to their "Christian name" which is their first name, as opposed to their surname. Pretty cool and very English.
