The rite of man’s involvement in God is in almost every religion of the world. In Christianity, it is called baptism. It has long been customary to baptize a newborn baby so that from the very first months of his life, the child will be under the protection and patronage of the holy forces, the guardian angel. In order to conduct the rite, the baby's relatives invited the godfathers. There is this tradition to this day.
What does it mean to be godfathers
So godfather is who?
The godparent of the child in relation to his blood parents. To clarify: for the infant himself, he is the spiritual father. The role of the godfather in the sacrament is to take responsibility for the godson before God. For his spiritual development, for educating him in the spirit of Christian truths and values. But for mom and dad of a newborn, he is just
godfather. This, who does not know, can be clarified in the church by the priest, so as not to get confused in terminology. Once, at the dawn of tradition, it was enough to invite for the ceremony one person - a man, if a
boy was baptized, and a woman - if a girl. Accordingly, the fairer sex was considered godmother for the child and godfather for her family. Later they began to invite the couple so that the child had two second parents. Often, they really really replaced the real ones in many ways, helping first the child, and then the adult as well: with advice, financially, etc. By the way, another answer to the question: “Who is godfather?” Sounds like this: is this a man in relation to the woman with whom he baptized the baby. In rural areas, most often the couple are called the godfathers - their friends or good acquaintances. Sometimes godmothers are chosen from blood relatives. Naturally, these are adults, accomplished people, necessarily baptized themselves. Kumovia can be older and younger - in the event that several people are invited for this. Then another lexical meaning is revealed in the word. Kum - this (who doubts, we address to the explanatory dictionary) each of the men who participated in the
baptismal rite, in relation not only to the parents of the baby, but also to each other. Women are kumas, or kumki.
Bosom friends
Explanatory Dictionary - a wonderful book, a true storehouse of wisdom. Scrolling through it, we can find out additional useful information regarding the word of interest. It turns out that a crony is also called a bosom friend, with whom they combine spiritual and business relations. And for the female, there is a similar designation. Naturally, Kuma!
At the festive table
But back to the rite. After the baptism, the whole honest company celebrates the holiday at a richly laid table. Sound toasts, toasts. It is even customary to hold competitions for christening for the godfathers. Most often they are humorous in nature. For example, if couples are young, they can be given the task of swaddling a large doll first, and then a godson, putting a diaper on it or rocking it if it has shouted too much.
If they are still childless themselves, you can bring a head of cabbage and offer to “strip” it - supposedly there, inside, is hidden a prediction of whether they will be born first - a boy or a girl. When the godfathers begin to separate the leaves, the leader will joke that, they say, what naive children are looking for in a cabbage! And, of course, gifts. If you do not know
what gifts are given to godmothers for christening , act traditionally. Typically, this is a tablecloth, towel sets or other home textiles. Sometimes for men - warm scarves, for women - scarves or shawls. In ancient times, of course, all things were sewn, knitted, embroidered by ourselves. Now they are content with factory production. And, of course, dishes - commemorative cups, saucers and the like.
However, the main thing is not gifts. It is important that the little man regains his newly emerged godparents as truly second parents and that when he grows up he would become his support in his old age.