Choosing the Appropriate Irish Christening Gown
The most significant thing to remember on this special day of christening is that your baby is celebrating the most important day of her life. She is about to be part of a covenant with God, and be a part of the whole Christian community as well. Being part of the Irish tradition and customs is also something to remember, so your child needs to look her best.
Choosing the appropriate Irish christening gown is a matter of balancing the many different demands that the clothing has to meet and also making it appropriate and attractive. This is the clothing that will mark a childs first tentative steps with their faith. What must an Irish christening gown contain?
Christening gowns are traditionally pure white to symbolize innocence and purity. An Irish christening gown tends to have common symbols of Ireland embroidered into the gown. There can be shamrocks which are aid to represent the Holy Trinity, not to be confused with the four-leaf clover thought to bring good luck, love, faith and hope. There is also the Celtic knot which looks like a circular braid. Not so common is the claddaugh, which is a pair of hands holding a heart between them usually with a crown sitting atop the heart. The heart stands for love, the crown loyalty and the heart friendship.
The material used to create an Irish christening gown is often cotton but can also be made of pure Irish linen. Often these gowns are embellished with Cluney lace and trimmed in gold. The gowns may also be coordinated with a robe, bow or bonnet for the infant to wear before, during or after the ceremony. A bonnet or robe isnt used solely for fashion purposes but for practical as well. They will help keep cooler weather at bay and not distract anyone from admiring the beautiful gown underneath. Any chosen gown regardless of design or material should be comfortable to wear and soft on the skin or you could have a fussy, crying child on your hands during the ceremony.
If your baby is a boy, opt for an uncomplicated Irish christening dress with a clean cut. Traditional styles usually consist of a simple neckline and a bit of lace at the sleeves and at the hem. Simple embroidery at the bottom is best, with Irish Celtic knots and shamrocks. Other common designs are the Irish Celtic cross embroidered across the chest, which will surely make your child look elegant.
Traditional Irish gown are pure white in color. However if you want a splash of color in your childs gown there are some subtle ways to achieve this. The simplest way to add some color is in the embellishment and embroidery by outlining a shamrock or clover in a light green or use a light blue, pink or off white on an Irish Celtic cross. No matter what you decide your child will have given their family some lasting memories and photo ops galore.