Traditional gifts for goddaughter and godson
Often, godparents, remembering their important spiritual role in the life of a godson or goddaughter who is about to get married, wonder what gifts are customary to accept. According to a long-standing tradition, the godmother was entrusted with an important mission - to bake a wedding loaf and then decorate it.
Almost all wedding traditions are transformed over time, but their spiritual meaning remains. The godmother can order a loaf from professionals and give it as a gift.
Today, many young couples arrange a themed wedding or celebration in a European style. At these caravans they are replaced with a large wedding cake. In this case, the godparents of the bride and groom can order a wedding cake together.
Since ancient times in Russia, godparents had to prepare the bed for the newlyweds. This tradition has survived to this day. Godparents give the newlyweds sets of bed linen, a beautiful bedspread for a double bed, warm rugs, blankets and pillows with modern ecological fillings.
You always want your goddaughter's wedding gift from your godmother to be something he will love and love, not collect dust in the closet. Since everyone has different preferences and tastes, it is better not to buy the listed items yourself, but to certify their purchase. Newlyweds will be able to choose bed linen that they like and goes well with the interior of the bedroom.
The important role of the godfather and godmother
As you know, the most important thing in every marriage is to receive blessings from your parents. And we’re not just talking about blood mom and dad, but also about second parents appointed by the Church. If your family honors the traditions of their ancestors, and preparations for the celebration take place according to Orthodox customs, it is important that all close people of your family take part. Often these parents take an active part in the lives of their children. The godmother has prepared no fewer “tests” than the goddaughter - organizing a banquet, choosing a wedding dress, moral support for the bride.
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If the godson is a boy, it is from his “second mother” that he should learn about the importance of family, as well as how to wisely value and protect his wife. At some celebrations, it is even customary to continue the ritual of blessing by parents with the blessing of godparents.
Often such a custom as the transfer of a family hearth is carried out with the participation of these people. First, the mothers of the newlyweds transfer the fire of their candles to the common candle of the newly baked couple, after which the godparents add the warmth and comfort of their fire to the flame. Very touching and family-like, especially if family means a lot to you.
In some Orthodox countries, the issue of gifts from godparents is resolved literally from the moment the rite of the Sacrament of Baptism itself is performed - the only possible and desired gift is the organization of a wedding celebration. Isn't this help and gift in one bottle?
The traditions of other nations say that a man should ask for the hand of his beloved not from the chosen one’s father; the blessing should be given by the godfather of the bride.
What can we say about the times when the godfather was entrusted with the role of assistant on the first wedding night if the groom had any troubles. Of course, these “prejudices” have long been changed by time and moral values, but godparents are still important people in the life of every Orthodox person.
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Spiritual Gift
Previously, godparents played the main role in matchmaking their godchildren. The godparents blessed the marriage to create a family. According to tradition, godparents often give icons to newlyweds at a wedding. But here it is important to make the right choice. Usually the bride and groom receive an icon of Christ and the Virgin Mary from their parents. Therefore, another such wedding gift from the godmother is inappropriate.
The spiritual parents of both newlyweds can buy a beautiful icon of the Guardian Angel, protecting the family from all adversity, in a specialized store or shop at the temple.
If everyone plans to make personal gifts, it is customary to give icons of saints who patronize a happy married life and the birth of children. Among them are icons depicting pairs of saints: Zechariah and Elizabeth; Joachim and Anna; Cyril and Maria of Radonezh; Adrian and Natalya. You need to select and give icons only from the brightest thoughts.
What to give to godparents?
In many Russian villages, traditions have remained on the wedding day of not only receiving, but also giving gifts to godparents. So the bride always gives her second parents items of her lower wardrobe. Previously, such gifts were presented on the second day of the wedding, when it was customary to organize mummer performances. Then the godmother and father were given exorbitantly huge nightgowns or family panties. Today this tradition is almost forgotten.
There was also a custom at a wedding to trust the godparents of the newlyweds to collect the gifts brought by the guests. And at the end of the ceremony, it was customary to give the workers good gifts in return. But the range of reciprocal gifts still did not go beyond linen: the godmother received a high-quality nightgown, and the godfather received a beautiful outer shirt. And although these days it has become fashionable not to give gifts, but to put them immediately in a special place - this tradition came from the West - it is never too late to return to your roots.
Giving a wedding gift for a goddaughter is an important task.
A wedding is one of the most important events for a girl. Godparents are just as concerned as relatives that the event will be held in a dignified manner and that the goddaughter will remember it as the best day of her life. The godparents are responsible for the religious education of their goddaughter and the gift should ideally correspond to this direction. Therefore, the moment of what to give to your goddaughter for a wedding is very serious and responsible.
What could be better as a gift from godparents if not the Bible. Especially when the book is bound in exclusive leather with beautiful artistic inserts. It will become a family heirloom and will be passed on from the hands of the goddaughter to future generations. Such a Bible will certainly attract the attention of the owners and encourage them to read it.
Gifts souvenirs
From year to year, the tradition of giving newlyweds an envelope with money for the wedding, and in addition to it a small souvenir for the most important day in their lives, is becoming increasingly popular. Money is an unlimited certificate to any store. The young family will be able to spend the money raised at the wedding on everything they need.
A beautiful photo frame can be given as a souvenir. Engrave it with congratulations and the wedding date. After all, after the wedding there will be so many touching shots. The bride and groom will want them not only to be in the album with photos and gadgets, but also in a prominent place.
A magnetic board for the refrigerator is a good choice. On many websites specializing in gifts, you can actually order a useful item for a rather original and romantic performance. Order it, for example, in the form of two connected hearts. At the top of the product there is a photo of the bride and groom, the wedding date, as well as congratulations and farewells for a happy, long marriage.
The young couple will definitely appreciate your gift. First, you can attach cute notes with your next declaration of love and pages with economic activities that boil down to the phrase: don't forget to rent an apartment and buy the items on your list. Secondly, remembering the cheat sheet, the spouse will never forget the next wedding anniversary and will have time to prepare for it in time.
Required element
When giving a gift, you can’t do without congratulations. The text must be thought out in advance, because it should not be a set of empty, meaningless words. The godparents' congratulations should sound like parting words for the newlyweds; it should be sincere and memorable.
Godparents with poetic talent can compose a cool verse that will help create a cheerful mood not only for the newlyweds, but also for the rest of the guests. An excellent option for congratulations is a song performed by one of the godparents, or even better - a duet.
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To make your congratulations original, you can include quotes from works of art and statements by famous people about family and marriage.
It is necessary to ensure that the congratulation is not too long, as in this case it will be poorly received by the audience.
DIY gifts
Gifts that loved ones made with their own hands, putting a piece of their soul into them, have always been highly valued. If you know how to embroider, you can prepare a Newlyweds need a useful and original gift.
Buy beautiful terry robes and large wedding towels, and then decorate them with embroidery with the initials of the newlyweds.
You can even come up with a coat of arms for a young family and embroider it using the technique you have. Having enough experience and time, embroider a drawing or photo.
For home
When choosing a wedding gift, you should always consider where the bride and groom will live after the wedding. If a couple lives with their parents, they will focus on personal things. When young people plan to live separately and have not previously been married, they will have to recreate the household. You can give them everything related to creating a homely atmosphere and tidying up the house.
Perhaps the most necessary gifts are large and small household appliances. After all, the couple will have to immediately buy all the necessary equipment: a refrigerator, washing machine, vacuum cleaner, microwave oven, etc. In addition, many devices save a lot of time and effort. These include a dishwasher, steam iron, multicooker, etc. Spouses cannot do without an electric kettle, juicer, blender and other equipment.
But before purchasing, be sure to consult with your godson or goddaughter. It is important that the gifts do not match. Why do they need two air fryers or three food processors? Many sites recommend that you certify your equipment purchase. We analyzed reviews of young spouses on forums about such gifts. They belonged to anti-evaluation.
The rationale was as follows: certificates are issued to different stores, and the amount written on them is often not enough to purchase the desired equipment. Due to the limited validity period of the certificate, couples had to buy items they did not need.
If they received not a certificate for a certain amount, but the same amount in cash, they could buy all the necessary equipment in one store and thereby receive a serious discount.
Bottom line
Modern wedding traditions do not limit the parents of the bride and groom in choosing gifts for the hero of the occasion. Wanting to adhere to old traditions, godparents give icons, bed linen and a wedding cake. If they want to help the newlyweds with furniture for their home, they can make a monetary donation to purchase household appliances.
Knowing how to do something with their own hands, they can prepare an original gift for the newlyweds. Regardless of which option the spiritual parents of the young couple choose, an important part of the gift will be their congratulatory speech wishing them a happy marriage. We wish you a successful wedding!
Wedding gifts from the godmother are an important attribute at any wedding. To choose such a gift, you need to be careful and save money to please your godson or goddaughter on this special day.
Traditions and gifts
In some countries of the former Soviet Union, traditions are very different. So, in Moldova, the question does not even arise of what to give godparents as a wedding gift to their spiritual children, they simply organize a wedding celebration - this is their gift. In the rituals of other nationalities, the groom asked the hand of his chosen one not from his own family, but from his godfather. There was also a custom when godparents prepared the marriage bed for the young, and in some villages the godfather was even given the responsible duty of helping the groom if he failed on his first wedding night.
Nowadays, many traditions have undergone changes, but, as before, the contribution of second parents to the wedding celebration remains quite sensitive. Thus, gifts from godparents should be the richest after gifts from immediate relatives.
