Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

for thinking christenings are

90 replies

Samcro · 26/08/2019 16:52

out of fashion now? was just randomly thinking about them and realised how long ago I last went to one.

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 26/08/2019 18:50

I have to say that if I got an invitation to a Christening I wouldn't be eagerly anticipating going.

Yaflamingalah · 26/08/2019 18:52

Depends if you are Catholic and in a Catholic community. We are and Baptisms and Communions are a big deal.

Littlemeadow123 · 26/08/2019 18:56

I'm a Christian, and my church normally does dedications, which are a bit different. We choose not to do christenings as they dont mean much to the people who are being christened. If they make the decision to follow God in their teens/adulthood then they get baptised instead.

Maryann1975 · 26/08/2019 18:59

All the babies in dhs family have been christened, my 3 were christened as babies and two cousins have had children in the past year and we’ve been to both, but they are quite a traditional family and the christenings are also used as a good way to get the family together as much as anything else. (Although I do have Christian beliefs- I’m not practising though).
My dbro, is just starting a family and I very much doubt there will be a christening there, they have no interest in religion so why would they bother.

cjpark · 26/08/2019 19:01

Certainly where I live, the Church has an ageing population which isn't being replaced by young families. There are basically less bums on seats so it stands to reason there are less christenings.

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 26/08/2019 19:08

I am the opposite, I'm surprised by the amount of people who arent or dont seem religious at all but christen their children.

Out of my NCT class of 8 I was the only one that didn't christen my children.

I think the difference is that its only been mentioned in a 'what did you do this weekend' type conversation where people christen their children have said they've done it - it's only been immediate family and godparents. I only found out that my best friend had her kids christened recently and no friends were invited

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 26/08/2019 19:09

I wonder if a lot of people do it on the quiet to keep their options open for schools

riotlady · 26/08/2019 19:11

Our local churches seem really busy with them- we tried to book ours in June last year when DD was 3 months and there was only one spot left for the whole year!

CookPassBabtridge · 26/08/2019 19:52

I've never been to one!

soundsystem · 26/08/2019 20:40

I agree. I've been to a couple as an adult and they were all for children of active church-goers. Which sounds obvious, but when I was a child pretty much everyone was christened, unless they were of a different faith (obviously!).

So not in itself a bad thing if people are giving it more thought.

I go to church semi-regularly (more than just Christmas and Easter but not every week) and my children haven't been christened yet as am planning to let them decide for themselves. Eldest DD is quite keen, DS is too young to have an opinion as yet

SudowoodoVoodoo · 26/08/2019 20:51

My DCs were Christened. We're fairly regular at the church, turning up for some regular services.

It's a shame that "naming ceremony" type ceremonies don't seem to be filling the slot for a post-birth rite of passage and big get-together. They make much more sense to me than a baby shower. I've been to one from my group of NCT friends. A couple of friends did Christenings too.

StCharlotte · 26/08/2019 21:00

Indeed. Let them be baptised once they are are old enough to choose for themselves.

That's what Confirmation is for.

I must be going to all the Christenings then because I have eight Godchildren. I'm like Prince Charles

Jenu294 · 26/08/2019 21:11

Christenings seem to be popular if you want your child to get into a Christian school which has a good reputation.

It's sad because the families have no intent on living or pursuing a Christian lifestyle.

TheSmallClangerWhistlesAgain · 26/08/2019 21:21

I haven't been to a christening for ages. Among my family and friends, the first birthday party seems to have taken over the "family get-together" role.

I hear about naming ceremonies but I've never been to one.

misspiggy19 · 26/08/2019 21:26

I have been to 3 already this year

WaitrosePigeon · 26/08/2019 21:32

That's what Confirmation is for

Isn’t that only in the Catholic Church though?

IfIWasTheMan · 26/08/2019 21:36

We’re having DD christened because it means a lot to DH - I won the battle of not getting married in a church. I don’t believe in god but DH has some faith.

DD’s christening will be the 5th one I’ve been too this year, so seem the ‘done thing’ around here.

beingmum39 · 26/08/2019 21:51

I am having my son christened in a few weeks time. Never thought of it as an opportunity to get presents as someone mentioned on here, In recent years I have only stepped into church for a number of family funerals. I thought that it was time to celebrate life, get everyone who is still in my life and means so much together to share this celebration. Whether they believe in God, what their religious views are is not something I have questioned..

cakesandphotos · 26/08/2019 21:57

We had our DS dedicated. Our church does adult baptism. However I know a lot of people who have christened their children's and very few have any connection to the church

StCharlotte · 26/08/2019 21:57

That's what Confirmation is for

Isn’t that only in the Catholic Church though?

No. I was confirmed in my early teens (my choice) and I'm C of E.

inwood · 26/08/2019 22:03

My children are baptised, we are practicing RC. Most of my friends aren't and have had naming ceremonies or some kind of dedication. All lovely.

janj2301 · 26/08/2019 22:13

We didn't get our girls christened (now 37 and 33) as we aren't religious. One of the schools they went to had a chapel on site and the eldest chose to be christened there. We did attend. Both married in registry offices and grandson has not been christened

gedsxppl · 26/08/2019 22:16

... not for Christians. They're not "fashionable", they're religious ceremonies.

LBOCS2 · 26/08/2019 22:17

I'm in my mid-30s and my social group are all in the throes of babyhood, and of the many, many children born over the last couple of years, I can only think of two families who have christened theirs - we were at one yesterday.

TrendyNorthLondonTeen · 26/08/2019 22:17

Christenings around here are just an excuse for a piss up and a fight.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Swipe left for the next trending thread