Hardly a family is created, the question of the birth of a child arises. After all, a new life is the main thing for the sake of which people unite their destinies in marriage bonds. And when a child is born, a holiday comes to the house, of course, along with troubles and worries. A very special day in the life of a little person and his parents is baptism.
They prepare for it in advance, carefully choose those who will be entrusted with the right to become godparents of the baby, and try to follow Christian traditions so that baptism is fully consistent with the canons of the Orthodox Church. First of all, you have to agree with the priest and decide on the date of the upcoming sacrament. By this day, you need to stock up on everything you need. In addition to the cross, you will also need a cross for baptism. Many modern parents find themselves puzzled because they do not know what it is, why it is needed and where to get it.
What is this?
Kryzhma for christening is a simple piece of fabric, a new diaper, towel or even clothes, preferably white. It is known that it symbolizes the purity and sinlessness of man. That's what a child is like, for the first timewho visited an Orthodox church after his birth. Now there is an opportunity to buy ready-made kryzhma, made of high-quality natural materials and with the appropriate symbols, or you can sew it yourself or order it in an atelier. The main symbol of Orthodoxy is the cross, therefore it is desirable that it be present on the roof. This will become a distinctive element that will testify to the spirituality of this piece of fabric or robe.
For many parents, it is very important that everything is not only correct, but also beautiful. Photo and video recording of the sacrament of baptism is not prohibited now, therefore everyone strives to save the treasured shots in order to show them to the child in the future. After all, baptism is a holiday that happens only once in a lifetime. But the choice is not only related to visual aesthetics, in fact, the baptismal cover is of great importance.
Who brings?
The duty to bring kryzhma to the church lies with the godmother. It is she who will have to buy or sew it. An unbaptized child is brought to the temple, a ceremony is held and dipped into the holy font, from where they are taken out already baptized. Before putting the child in the roof, the priest will consecrate it. It is the godmother who takes the godson from the font, wrapping it in cloth. The child will have to stay in the roof until the end of the traditional baptism process. Then the baby is dressed in clothes, and the parents take the sacred cloth with them to keep it safe.
Size and material
The size of the cap depends on the age of the child. If this is an infant under three months old, you can choose the option 75 cm long on all sides. Older children buy fabric measuring meter by meter. It is very convenient to use a model with a hood on one of the corners. Such a kryzhma for the baptism of a child is most suitable for the smallest. It is important to consider the time of the year for which the christening is scheduled. In winter or autumn, of course, it is better to give preference to a terry towel, fluffy or not.
In any case, the material should be soft, pleasant for children's skin, have the ability to absorb moisture well. These requirements are best suited mahr. Also often used linen, chintz and cotton fabric. Satin and silk look very impressive and beautiful, but they can't handle moisture so well. They can be used provided that the baptismal roof will consist of two layers. The upper can be made of noble material, and the lower can be made of cotton or terry.
Kryzhma for baptism with your own hands
Of course, you can not buy a ready-made flap, towel or diaper. It is not difficult to find kryzhma in shops and markets, just as it will not be difficult to order individual tailoring, taking into account all wishes. In this case, the child may receive a personalized christening - not only beautiful and pleasant to the body, but also with a name in the form of openwork embroidery or embossing. The most responsible and skillful godmothers are tempted to make their own kryzhma. In fact, such needlework is quite within the power of everyone, and there are much more souls in a self-sewn thing than in a standard factory one.
So, what do you need to make kryzhma yourself? First of all, it's fabric. About what it should be, it is already known - soft, natural and hygroscopic. The main task is to decorate. Kryzhma for baptism, made with your own hands, will resemble a work of art if you treat its decoration with imagination and inspiration. To do this, you can use lace, braid, embroidery, decorative flowers, beads and ribbons.
For girls and boys
The material is optionally simply hemmed or satin headbands are made. If a girl is to be baptized, give preference to pink or yellow. All sorts of bows, flowers, ruffles will serve as decorative elements. Kryzhma for the baptism of a boy can be made of pale blue fabric or decorated with elements of this shade. It is also not forbidden to use pale green, blue or lilac colors. From such a fabric, it is necessary to make geometric inserts or decorate the roof with ribbons. Merezhka and embroidery also look very original and not ordinary. The most skilled craftswomen can try to portray angels, doves, decorate the kryzhma with a name inscription.
After the christening
What to do with kryzhma after baptism? According to folk beliefs, she is a talisman for a child throughout his life. Therefore, parents need to keep it. There is a widespread belief that kryzhma can help a baby during an illness. Mom needs to get it out and wrap the baby when he feels unwell so that relief comes. Also, parents sometimes find the use of kryzhma as a towel for the face of the child, cover it with her during sleep.
Since ancient times, there is an opinion that if a person keeps his kryzhma all his life, he will be happy. Therefore, some believe that this fabric should simply be protected, not used in everyday life, and even more so not washed. Therefore, after bathing, it is better to wipe the child with an ordinary towel, and put the roof in a secluded place, but not among everyday clothes or linen. To protect it from stains, odors, dust and damage, it is recommended to purchase or sew a special cover made of cotton fabric. In any case, whether the kryzhma is used or not, it is advisable to take care that it is not lost or damaged.
