Naming ceremonies, Christenings and Chester Zoo

[Rachy91]

hey guys!

its planning ahead i know cus im not due til March but Im bored and need to save up!

Firstly, whats the difference between a christening and a naming ceremony?

Secondly, has anyone ever had one (or any kind of celebration) at oakfield manor at chester zoo? and is it an actual christening there or a naming ceremony?

its a bit wierd i know but..so am i! :p
love the idea of having loads of kiddies running round with monkeys at DDs christening!

A christening (or baptism) is a christian religious ceremony welcoming your child into the church. It involves the parents and godparents saying stuff about believing in God and Jesus and planning to raise the child in their faith and hoping that they will grow up and later decide to be confirmed (ie become a believing and active Christian themselves)

A naming ceremony is a non-religious celebration about the birth of your baby, and publicly giving tem their name, and a chance to have a celebration with your family and friends welcoming your baby into the family.

So, unless you are active Christians, I think you'd be better to have a naming ceremony - it gives you just as much "family" involvement without any religous stuff.

I don't know anything about Chester Zoo, but christenings are pretty much always in church (except when they are in hospital in emergencies) so it's almost certain it would be a naming ceremony there.

HTH

thanks :)

although im not overly religious and neither is OH my family is and id like to have a proper christening for them really, esspecialy because me getting pregnant (young and out of wedlock-shock horror!) caused a bit of (well contained, thankfully) disaproval.

do you know if its possible to have both? my family live very spread out so having a proper christening for the people itll really matter to and then a naming ceremony for others who cant make it because of the distance etc would be nice

really apreciate the advice im a bit lost!

Do you actually intend to raise your child as a Christian? Because that's what you are standing up and promising to do at a christening.

I don't really see the point of having both. If you are going to have a christening plus something else, make it a christening plus a "welcome" party or similar.

the point of having both would be so the whole family could join in because i know theyd all want to come but a lot of them wouldnt be able to so if i had just one

isnt a naming ceremony like a welcome party really?

name changed btw lol

Well, a naming ceremony is where you "officially" name them if you aren't having a christening -- yes, you'd normally have a party tagged onto it, but then you would for a christening too. If you've already had a christening and done the making promises and officially giving the child his/her name then it seems a bit pointless doing it again rather than just calling it a party and leaving it at that.

I'm trying to understand why your extended family wouldn't be able to come to a christening but would be able to come to a naming ceremony. Would they both be in the same town, or are you thinking of having one in one town and one somewhere else to make it easier for family members?

ok so could i have a christening and then some sort of blessing?

yea sorry, they all live really spread out and the older members struggle with traveling so ive i could have something here where i live for friends and people who can travel and then something else for the people who cant in a place closer to them.

because i live so far away we hardly get to see eachother and i know theyll really feel like theyre missing out esspecaily if they miss the christening

Ahem. I had a naming ceremony for Dd3 at the zoo just last weekend! PM me if you like.

did you really?! fab! wait there ill pm you :)