For godmothers
Godmother gift for a baptism: 12 ideas that last a lifetime
Clothes get outgrown and toys get forgotten. Here are gifts your godchild will still treasure at 30.
The 12 ideas
At a glance
Tap an idea to jump straight to it.
- 1Letter for their 18th
- 2A book every year
- 3A little tree
- 4Album in your words
- 5Memory box
- 6Jewellery with the date
- 7Song with their name
- 8Account in their name
- 9Icon of their saint
- 10Frame of their birth
- 11Godmother photo shoot
- 12Your own tradition
The basics
What a godmother traditionally buys
At a Greek Orthodox baptism, the godmother or godfather usually takes care of:
- the baptism candle (lambada)
- the oil sheet and towels (ladopana)
- the baptism outfit
- the cross
- the favours for the guests (martyrika)
Customs vary from place to place, so ask the parents what they have already arranged. And then? Many godmothers also want to give something more personal, something that won’t end up in a drawer.
The personal gift
12 ideas that last a lifetime
- 1Costs nothing
A letter for their 18th birthday
Write down how you felt on the baptism day, what you wish for them and who you are to them. Seal it in an envelope and write on the front when they should open it.
- 2Every year
A book with a dedication, every year
Give them a book on every name day, always with a few words on the first page. By 18 they’ll have a whole library from you.
- 3Grows with them
A little tree that grows with them
An olive or a lemon tree in the parents’ garden. Every year, a photo of the child next to the tree.
- 4For memories
An album in your own words
Under each photo from the baptism, write what you remember. Everyone will have photos. Only this album will have your words.
- 5For memories
A memory box
Their first photo, a ribbon from the baptism candle, their first little shoe, the card you wrote them. All in a wooden box with their name on the lid.
- 6For when they grow up
Jewellery with the date
A small bracelet or pendant engraved with the baptism date. Choose something they can still wear when they grow up.
- 7With their name
A song with their name
A song made for them, with their name and your story. It can play at the baptism table, and they can listen to it on every name day.
Hear an example ↓ - 8For when they grow up
A savings account in their name
A small amount in a savings account, and a little more on every name day. At 18 it will be a start in life from you.
- 9Traditional
An icon of their patron saint
A handmade icon of their saint, to keep in their room. Many people keep it all their life.
- 10For their room
A frame of the day they were born
Date, time, weight, and the map of the stars that night. A beautiful frame for their wall.
- 11Just the two of you
A godmother and godchild photo shoot
One hour, just the two of you, with a photographer, shortly before or after the baptism. And again every few years, to see how they grow.
- 12Costs nothing
A tradition of your own
A walk together every year on their name day, a cake you bake together, a cinema trip at Christmas. The most precious gift costs nothing: it’s your time.
Idea #7 up close
A song with their name
Tell me about the child and about you: their name, a moment you remember, what you wish for them.
- 1I send you the lyrics first, within 24 hours.
- 2We change anything you like, until you say “yes”.
- 3You pay only if you love them, and the song is ready in 24 hours.
€29 · 2 free changes or your money back. Songs in Greek or English. Best to start 2 weeks before the baptism.
So you don’t miss a thing
The godmother’s timeline
What to do and when, so you arrive at the baptism day calm. Tick off what you’ve done.
2–3 months before
1 month before
2 weeks before
On the day of the baptism
Save it
Is the baptism a few months away? Save this page on Pinterest and find it again when you need it.
Questions
Godmother questions
How much does a godmother usually spend?
There is no rule. It depends on the region, on what you have agreed with the parents and on what you can afford. The personal gift can be something small, as long as it means something.
When does the godmother give her gift?
Usually on the day of the baptism. A gift like the letter or the song can be given at the table, in front of everyone, or later, at a quieter moment.
Baptism or christening?
They mean the same. In the Greek Orthodox Church it is called a baptism (βάπτιση, or βάφτιση in everyday Greek). Many English speakers say christening.