Among the common superstitions there is this: you can’t baptize the first girl to unmarried girls. Let's try to understand the reasons for this superstition and find out whether it is really possible to baptize the first girl. We also give the opinion of the ROC (Russian Orthodox Church) in this regard.
Why can't the first girl be baptized?
There are two explanations for this: one is really from the realm of superstition, but the second is quite realistic, with which we will begin. It is believed that a young unmarried girl does not yet have enough life experience to be a full-fledged godmother for a baby, to really take care of her if something happens. However, it is worth noting here that, firstly, all people are different: someone is already quite mature by the age of 20 in order to take care of others, and someone at 50 remains a mere child. That is why, if a girl is serious and wants to be a godmother, and the baby’s mother also agrees, there are no obstacles to this desire of her and cannot be. Another thing is that christening is often not taken seriously, they do not realize that this is a responsible matter, because, in fact, we become responsible for the fate of the baby.
The second explanation belongs to the realm of superstition. Allegedly, if a young unmarried woman or girl becomes a godmother for a little girl, this means that she herself will not be able to give birth and will be unhappy in her personal life. We will not argue with people who fanatically defend this point of view. Firstly, they are often deaf to the arguments of reason, and secondly, they will give you a lot of examples to confirm. So, on one of the forums, I literally read the following: “There are many examples from life when godmothers, being unmarried or without children, baptized girls - and they remained either with an unsettled personal life, or later had no children. I will even say: there are too many examples." And on the other hand: "My sister became a godmother to a friend at the age of 18. And it's okay: she got married and gave birth to her daughter!" - and I counted no less such examples. From this, an obvious logical conclusion suggests itself: the happiness or misfortune of a woman who baptized a girl before her marriage does not depend in any way on christening. There are completely different reasons that are not the topic of our conversation. Therefore, the question of whether it is possible for a girl to baptize the first girl should be answered based not on signs, but on her own readiness for such a serious step.
The opinion of the church on this issue
The Church believed, believes and will continue to believe that such conversations are just stupid superstitions that have nothing to do with reality. The priests say that, of course, you can baptize the first girl, nothing bad will happen to you. The only obstacle to this may be if the godfather is a young man whom the girl is going to marry. Because the godmother and the godfather will become related after the christening, relatives will no longer be able to marry. However, this applies only to the wedding, there are no biological or civil prerequisites for this and cannot be, so everything here depends, again, on your superstition.
The rite of baptism contains certain signs and superstitions. To be godparents means to carry a responsible burden. After all, the duty of such parents is to take care of the child and his upbringing. Great responsibility raises many questions. Among the frequently asked questions is: Why can't an unmarried girl baptize her first girl?? We will try to answer it in detail and learn about the features of the rite of baptism.
For some reason, men are never guided by superstitions, but emotionally malleable girls tend to obey popular superstitions, wisdom and signs.
Reasons why a girl should not be baptized by an unmarried girl
Considering the non-Orthodox reasons that girls often believe in, we note the following:
- 1st sign: a nulliparous and unmarried girl who baptizes a girl can take away happiness from her goddaughter;
- 2nd sign: an unmarried girl who has entered into the rite of the church sacrament of baptism can prevent her goddaughter from marrying in the future;
- 3rd sign: the fate of an unmarried godmother may in the future be reflected in the fate of the goddaughter.
There is also an opposite sign. If the first person to be baptized by an unmarried woman is a boy, then the life of the girl will be happy, and future marriage- strong.
It is up to you to decide whether or not to believe the superstitions associated with baptism. Refusing this honorable ceremony, you can offend the parents of the child. The sacrament of baptism is a special rite. Prejudice and superstition have no place here. Sometimes they help justify their own unsuccessful actions and mistakes.
The opinion of the Orthodox Church on the baptism of children by unmarried girls
Today, even the Orthodox Church has reached the question: “ why can't a girl be baptized by an unmarried girl? She considers such superstitions stupid and unfounded. Priests say that such girls during baptism will not harm either the health or the fate of the child. The only caveat that unmarried ladies need to take into account is that the godfather of the child should not be her future husband. The fact is that young people become related in the church, and relatives, based on Orthodox canons, are forbidden to enter into church marriage and get married. So beware of this moment.
What kind of girl can be a godmother?
Becoming a godmother, a girl must be brought up on Orthodox faith and observe the customs of the Church. Age limits are not limited here. The main thing in this case is to understand all the responsibility that lies in guiding and instructing the godchildren on the spiritual path. If you feel ready for this, then boldly baptize the girl even when you are unmarried. Baptism will help not only the child, but also you will get closer to the spiritual world.
It is not worth looking for reasons in superstitions and signs to refuse the holy sacrament. Before baptism, you can consult with the priests and learn more about the features of the rite.
When an unmarried girl is invited to become a godmother, she faces a dilemma: "Baptize a child, or refuse?" The future godmother often asks her relatives: “Can an unmarried girl baptize a girl?” These throwings are associated with fears and superstitions that are not supported.
People believe that it will be difficult for an unmarried girl who has become a godmother to get married in the future. Priests believe that everything is the will of the Lord, and personal life is in no way connected with the sacrament of baptism.
There is also a superstition that a godmother who is not married can give her fate to her goddaughter. They say in the church that each person is unique and cannot exchange their destiny with others.
There is also a myth that a young godmother will take on many of the goddaughter's sins when she enters adulthood. But even this cannot happen, since God perceives each person separately and sees only his sins and good deeds.
Another superstitious fear has to do with the child's parents. Some parents believe that a young and unmarried godmother can unwittingly or intentionally rob their daughter of good luck, youth, or beauty at the time of baptism. In Christianity, witchcraft is denied, so this fear remains at the level of "grandmother's tales."
What are the real reasons for unmarried people not to be godparents?
It would seem that fears are calmed, myths are debunked and you can safely become the godmother of a little girl. But in addition to superstitions, there are real prohibitions when an unmarried woman cannot baptize a child. Let's consider them in more detail:
All of the above are good reasons for refusing the role of a godmother. And the parents themselves should not invite a person who is not suitable for the above reasons to this important role. Now you have learned whether it is possible for an unmarried girl to baptize a girl. What does it really mean to be a godmother?
Godmother is an honorary title and a great responsibility. A real godmother can replace a girl's real mother if something happens to her.
The godmother should actively engage in the spiritual development of the goddaughter. She is obliged to participate in all events important for the girl, to attend her wedding.
The godmother is a spiritual example for the goddaughter. Their close fellowship should enrich the Christian outlook of the child. But worldly participation in the goddaughter's life is not forbidden.
A woman who has become a godmother should earnestly pray for her goddaughter and support her in difficult periods of life. After all, she was a witness to the introduction of the child to the world of Christianity.
Whether to agree to the role of a godmother is a personal matter for every woman. If fears due to signs and superstitions are too strong, you can tell the priest about them in confession. But to refuse relatives because of myths and beliefs is not worth it. It is better to understand your inner readiness for such a significant step. After all, the status of a godmother is for life. And it is impossible to refuse such a role, even if there is a desire.
It is also worth remembering that the fact that the godmother or godmother is being prepared is not welcome. It is better to participate in the sacrament of baptism after your own wedding. But if the desire to become a godmother is sincere and strong, then the church can approve such candidates.
So can an unmarried girl baptize a girl? According to folk omens- No. But the church looks at it positively. The main thing is that the future godmother is not too young and is fully aware of the importance this step. And then everything will go fine, and the girl will have the first named child - her goddaughter. And parents will find in her person an assistant who will not be indifferent to the fate of their daughter. After all, the more close and loving people a child has, the better.
The baptism of a child is an event that happens to every religious family. However, few people know that such an Orthodox ritual can affect the future fate of both parents and their children. To understand how to avoid negative consequences and not inviting trouble, it is necessary to turn to folk wisdom.
Baptize the first daughter of an unmarried girl - to failures in her personal life
In the superstitions that have come down to us, there are indications of how to properly prepare and conduct baptism. So, for example, signs explaining whether a girl can be baptized by an unmarried or separated girl are relevant.
Reasons why a girl should not be baptized by an unmarried girl
According to signs, the baptism of a girl by an unmarried woman is a bad sign, he points to negative events near future.
- Baptizing the first daughter of an unmarried girl is a failure in her personal life. The child will not be able to start a relationship with a member of the opposite sex. Young people will have no interest in the girl, because of which she will be disappointed in her appearance. This will entail low self-esteem and the desire to radically change the data. Attempts to make the body perfect will stop only after the appearance of a young man in the life.
- The baptism of the second child is a harbinger of an unexpected change in behavior. The child will stop listening to his parents, will envy his peers and older brother or sister. This will result in a long confrontation between children, which will end only in adulthood.
- If a child who was baptized by an unmarried girl was born on the 3rd or 4th in a row in the family, then we should expect disappointment in close friends. The girl will have to repeatedly make sure that her friends will not always respond to requests and help in difficult situations.
- To baptize an unmarried girl the only child in the family is a bad omen. Parents will regularly quarrel among themselves. Clarification of relations and ongoing conflicts will lead to a break.
Why it is impossible to baptize a girl to a woman who divorced
Also, signs have come down to us explaining why it is impossible to baptize the first or only girl to a woman who divorced her husband. This can affect the child's relationship with the parents.
- According to superstition, if a woman divorced a man in the first 3 years after the wedding, then the goddaughter will have communication with her peers, which will negatively affect her behavior. Soon there will be quarrels with parents and distance from them, while the role of friends in life will grow. The girl will retain a dismissive attitude towards elders in adulthood, which will cause career failures.
- Baptism of a girl by a single woman who separated from her husband after 4 or more years life together, - a harbinger of melancholy in a child. A sad mood and unwillingness to start any tasks will lead to a backlog compared to peers. In the future, this will also affect professional self-determination and the choice of a life path.
- The girl, whose godmother divorced and remarried, expects minor troubles every christening. She will have to deal with rude attitudes, unpleasant gifts and quarrels with friends on this particular day. A series of small misfortunes will regularly spoil the holiday, which will cause a negative attitude towards the date of baptism.
- If the reason for the divorce was treason, then in no case should a woman become the godmother of a girl. This can lead to a long-term misunderstanding between the child and the surrounding young people. At a more conscious age, the goddaughter will try to find her happiness with one of the men she knows, but this will only lead to broken heart and lowering self-esteem. In the future, the girl will also not be able to build family relationships with members of the opposite sex.
To baptize a boy on Monday means that soon one of the parents will have the opportunity to advance career ladder
The opinion of the Orthodox Church on the baptism of children by unmarried girls
There are several opinions about whether an unmarried woman can baptize a child. According to representatives of the Orthodox Church, it is necessary to answer this question based on the age of the daughter. Depending on how old the girl is, it becomes clear whether she can be baptized by an unmarried woman.
- Up to 1 year - a child at this time can still be baptized by an unmarried woman. The event will not affect the future life of either the girl or the godmother.
- From 2 to 3 years is the period when such an event can affect the health of relatives. They will often get sick until minor ailments develop into serious ailments. You will have to spend a lot of effort and money to get rid of the disease.
- From 4 to 7 years old - it is no longer possible to baptize a child for an unmarried girl. This can affect the girl's hobbies. She will be interested in the unimportant or meaningless, because of which there will be no time for more significant things. This will negatively affect her horizons.
- From 8 to 10 years old - it is also not recommended to choose a godmother among unmarried. The girl will soon realize that she does not share the opinions of others, including her parents. In the future, this will lead to distance from friends and family.
- From 11 to 15 - you can not baptize a girl to an unmarried girl. The position of a lonely and self-sufficient person can scare away a teenager, because of which she will try to quickly enter into a relationship.
- Over 16 - you can already choose an unmarried lady as godparents. The girl's personality has already been formed, so such an event will not affect her life.
Can an unmarried girl baptize a boy?
An unmarried girl can baptize a boy.
This will become good sign fate, which will indicate further positive events. Based on the day on which the Orthodox ceremony was performed, you can look into the future.
- To baptize a boy on Monday means that soon one of the parents will have the opportunity to move up the career ladder. The promotion will be the result of an unexpected generosity of the boss and will entail a deterioration in relations between colleagues. Despite the decrease in the number of friends, the standard of living in general will improve.
- The baptism of the boy by an unmarried woman, which took place on Tuesday, indicates the emergence of an interest in learning. The child will fall under the influence of an adult who will involve him in a more detailed study of one of the sciences. This will affect further professional self-determination and the choice of one's own business.
- If an unmarried woman baptized a boy on Wednesday, then he should expect to meet a good man. One of the new friends will be an interesting conversationalist, and then become a true friend.
- Baptize on Thursday - to get rid of enemies soon. The boy will understand what needs to be done in order not to attract the attention of ill-wishers. This will positively affect his academic performance, self-esteem and mood.
- An unmarried godmother in a Friday Orthodox ceremony is a harbinger of changes in relations with members of the opposite sex. The boy will become more interested in one of his girlfriends, which will lead to the beginning of a romantic relationship.
- An Orthodox rite held on Saturday - to improve relations with parents. The boy will understand that talking with mom and dad helps to sort out life's problems, so that he can trust adults more.
- If the boy was baptized by an unmarried woman on Sunday, then he will have a conversation with one of his friends. After the conversation, the comrades will understand each other better. Thanks to this, their friendship will become a source of support, it will last for long years life.
The baptism of a daughter by an unmarried woman is an act that can only be ventured after becoming familiar with signs and superstitions. Only by comparing all the information, you can make the right decision which will not affect the future life of the child and parents.
In our time, people are trying to approach the choice of godparents responsibly. Therefore, they scrupulously try to find the most suitable candidate. One of the interesting questions in this sense is in what cases an unmarried girl can become godmother.
Is it possible to baptize an unmarried girl
Despite the fact that the church denies the existence of magic, various superstitions, this does not prevent people from trusting legends that were traditional for our ancestors many centuries ago or arose from nowhere in recent times.
There are 2 beliefs that explain this opinion. The first warns that, first of all, such a role can be dangerous for the girl herself. This is explained by the fact that the future goddaughter will take beauty and female happiness from her patroness.
The second belief about the danger to the girl. If the patroness goes adult woman, who has not yet been married and has no children, then, albeit unlikely, this is the crown of celibacy and he can also go to the goddaughter.
Of course, the church treats such superstitions negatively and says that if a girl has already reached the age of majority, is an Orthodox Christian, goes to church, believes in God and really wants to become the godmother of a child, then she can do it.
Signs about the ban on baptizing a boy
Of course, superstitions are also associated with the baptism of a boy. Some of them are worth dispelling. Here are the most common ones:
- if you do not have a godfather, then alas, you cannot baptize a boy, since the patron must be of the same sex as the baby;
- it is desirable that the girl baptized the first boy then her life will turn out well;
- It is not recommended for an unmarried woman to baptize a male baby because she will not marry for a long time.
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As you can see, we have three signs that contradict each other. It is safe to say that these are all superstitions. The Church rejects such conjectures and emphasizes that it is not appropriate for a believer to fill his head with such things.
There are certain rules for choosing godparents and it does not indicate that an unmarried woman cannot be the patron of your child. It doesn't matter what gender the child is. It is worth noting that in some churches they really ask to be found patron of the same sex with the baby(if there is only one godfather).
As you can see, any woman can have a child baptized, regardless of her marital status. If someone tells you that this is forbidden, you can be sure that the person simply does not understand the intricacies of the rite of baptism. And such superstitions are just the fruit of human imagination.
