re. christening party bags

[ShadowFall]

I didn't think that I was doing anything out of the ordinary at the time, but now my friend has got me wondering.

DS2 was christened a few weeks ago. We invited family and some friends, including their kids, and provided refreshments (buffet) afterwards at our house. Kids played in house and garden with our DC and theirs toys and all seemed fine.

We did not give out any party bags because I didn't think christenings celebrations were really a party bag sort of occasion - I don't recall ever being to a christening party where party bags were handed out. Doing party bags simply did not occur to me.

Anyway. Today I was talking to a friend who'd been to the christening. . She said that she had been a bit surprised about her DC not getting a party bag but didn't like to mention it at the time. (Not really sure why she felt the need to mention it now!)

WIBU to not get party bags for the kids who came?

Your friend is a twat. Do we know if it was a party bag for the adults or children?

I realize this is a small thing, but I would take it as a symptom of a much, much larger issue of being generally a twat and I would steer clear.

She's obviously thinking ... invitation + dressing up nicely + present for your DS + refreshment = PARTAY!!!

The moment my children come in the door with a party bag full of crap I bin it. I do not need this crap circulating around my house, I have enough difficulty keeping it in order.

I think any party bag I had made would have included nothing more than some cake and perhaps a small bible story book (what with it being a christening), so friend probably would still have been unimpressed.

There was plenty of cake on the buffet for people to eat anyway.

I just don't think I could bring myself to hand out chocolate crucifixes - still surprised that they exist!

I thought I'd just check on Party Pieces - the Go-To Bible (sorry) of all things celebratory.

They do have favours on the Christening section with lots of different containers - boxes, organza bags, plastic booties (yuck) etc.

So maybe, we are all no longer au fait with correct Christening etiquette...

Mind you, I didn't spot any chocolate crucifixes.

Catholic here with two baptised dcs and about a hundred baptisms under my belt and I have never ever seen any form of party bag, favour etc given out. That way madness lies!

I've never been to a christening that gave out party bags and I've been to loads.

No, she's just being odd and grabby.

Am at the chocolate crucifixes though.

Looking on Google, christening party bags do seem to exist. But I'm perfectly sure that it's nothing more than a marketing thing, and anyone daft enough to fall for it is fairly pathetic, IMO.

pmsl at chocolate crucifixes. On the edge of irreverent I would have thought.

Yanbu op

NannyOgg its on Party Pieces simply because it makes them more cash. I don't think for a minute that Prince George will have given out party bags at his christening.

Strangely enough, I am well aware of their motives...

I remember christenings when I was little, where a "christening piece" (a bag with cake, sweets & pennies) was handed out to the first child of the opposite sex that was spotted after the christening. I used to hang about the church when a christening was on, hoping to get it! It was given to children who attended the christening though.

I think Jesus would have wanted every child attending an event to welcome a person into his church to get a slice of cake in a paper napkin, a couple of packs of haribo and some cheap plastic clackers.

For DS' christening in Italy we gave a silver-plated music box with the obligatory odd number of (blue) almonds tied up in netting with a little note printed with DS' name and christening date. That's tradition in Italy though, basically like the bomboniere we use at weddings but tailored for christenings. It's to thank guests for coming/for their gift (no one would ever not bring a gift - usually cash in envelope - as it's a cultural thing).

Never heard of christening party bags over here. The friend was very rude to have asked.

Oh and the gifts weren't given to children, but to the adults. One per family/couple.

I've been to loads of christenings, and have never, ever heard of christening party bags. Methinks she must be getting mixed up with parties!
Hosted two christenings of our own as well with our two children, no party bags there either and no-one expected one!

My daughter got christened around easter 2012 and we gave out easter eggs to all the kids that were there for 2 reasons- 1. They were buy one get 2 free. 2. We would of gave each child one anyway so made sence to give them when we saw them rather than driving round all the houses to give them out.