Has anyone determined how long after a birth of a child that the christening formally took place? Does one month seem about what one would expect?
Ray
My Grandfather was born near Rosenberg,West Prussia on January 6,1878 and
was christened January 13,1878. The family attended the lutheran church in
Gross Bellschwitz. Jeff
I think that depends on the family, customs, etc. I have some where christening and birth wehre on the same day, or a few days later or a lot later. I have a friend who is Baptist and in her church christening does not take place until the child/young adult/adult is ready for it.
Ines
From past research, I have found that if they lived in a rural area,
and the child was born in the fall with the onset of winter and
associated weather, then often the baptism was delayed until the
spring when better weather and travel conditions arrived..........
provided the child was not in any danger of being visited by the
Angel of Death.
Regards, Robert Lipprandt
(South Florida)
Usually this took place within one week.
Hubert
> Has anyone determined how long after a birth of a child that the
christening formally took place? Does one month seem about what one would
expect?
>
> Ray
Ray,
I have seen church records where the child was christened the very day it
was born. In general, the christening happened two to three days after
birth. The reason is that so many children at that time died shortly after
being born and one had to make sure that they were baptized. If you go back
in time I venture to say that waiting one month after the birth of the child
for the baptism to take place was unusual.
Best regards,
Elke Hedstrom, Garland, TX/USA