Prior to the seventeenth century, newborn babies were carried to the font in a "bearing cloth" and wrapped tightly in swaddling clothes. The bearing cloth was a large square piece of silk with gold lace and braid trimmings.
What we now call the "Christening Robe", evolved in the mid-eighteenth century when babies were freed of swaddling from an earlier age. The earliest surviving samples were made of white silk and had a front opening which was either left open to show a petticoat underneath or fastened with ribbon ties. Similar to the women's gowns of that period, the robe had similar decorative curving lines of braid.
The early Christening robes were made in the same style as worn by every day eighteenth century boys and girls. Both boy and girl babies wore "slip" dresses combined with a long flowing skirt that fell from a short tucked bodice with a low neck and short sleeves. Additional items of clothing were added to go with the robe, items such as bonnets and bootees. A small number of delicate Christening sets from the seventeenth and eighteenth century managed to survive, amongst the sets included mittens, bibs, head bands, pincushion covers or handkerchiefs in embroidered linen.
Victorian babies were dressed in gowns decorated with Ayrshire work, a delicate form of white-on-white embroidery that originated in the Scottish Lowlands.
An old Scottish custom involved pinning a piece of shortbread to the Christening robe, to be worn throughout the ceremony. An unmarried girl who ate the shortbread after wards was sure to dream of her future husband that night. It was also thought essential for the baby to sleep in its Christening robe for the first night after baptism, to bring luck and good health in the future.
A timeless tradition
Over the years, the same fashion for Christenings has remained popular. This is partly due to the fact that Christening robes are traditionally handed down from one generation to the next, so Christening robes may be worn by dozens of babies over many years.
If there's no antique gown in your family, you can create an heirloom for future generations with a gown from our range which has been made in the traditional method in fine natural pure silk, embellished with delicate embroidery and tucking.
What we now call the "Christening Robe", evolved in the mid-eighteenth century when babies were freed of swaddling from an earlier age. The earliest surviving samples were made of white silk and had a front opening which was either left open to show a petticoat underneath or fastened with ribbon ties. Similar to the women's gowns of that period, the robe had similar decorative curving lines of braid.
The early Christening robes were made in the same style as worn by every day eighteenth century boys and girls. Both boy and girl babies wore "slip" dresses combined with a long flowing skirt that fell from a short tucked bodice with a low neck and short sleeves. Additional items of clothing were added to go with the robe, items such as bonnets and bootees. A small number of delicate Christening sets from the seventeenth and eighteenth century managed to survive, amongst the sets included mittens, bibs, head bands, pincushion covers or handkerchiefs in embroidered linen.
Victorian babies were dressed in gowns decorated with Ayrshire work, a delicate form of white-on-white embroidery that originated in the Scottish Lowlands.
An old Scottish custom involved pinning a piece of shortbread to the Christening robe, to be worn throughout the ceremony. An unmarried girl who ate the shortbread after wards was sure to dream of her future husband that night. It was also thought essential for the baby to sleep in its Christening robe for the first night after baptism, to bring luck and good health in the future.
A timeless tradition
Over the years, the same fashion for Christenings has remained popular. This is partly due to the fact that Christening robes are traditionally handed down from one generation to the next, so Christening robes may be worn by dozens of babies over many years.
If there's no antique gown in your family, you can create an heirloom for future generations with a gown from our range which has been made in the traditional method in fine natural pure silk, embellished with delicate embroidery and tucking.
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Interested in buying or learning more about Christening Gowns? Visit the Poppet Baby Wear website for more.
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