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Baby arrival: how to choose your godfather and godmother?

Did you recently learn that you were expecting a happy event? In a few months, you will be parents! So you prepare to welcome your baby and start announcing it to your loved ones and family. Some parents decide to choose a godfather and a godmother for their unborn child. These people will therefore have a special role in the life of the baby.

What is the role of a godfather and a godmother?

In the eyes of the parents, the godfather and godmother must be trusted people, who will be able to pass on good values ​​to their children while participating in their daily lives. They will also be present at important events such as birthdays, baptisms and communions.

Religious baptism: do you have to be baptized to become a godfather or godmother?

Traditionally, the godfather and godmother were chosen from a spiritual journey, in order to guide the child in his Christian faith. In the Catholic religion, these two people must be Catholic, baptized and over 16 years old. However, a baptized Christian person belonging to a non-Catholic ecclesial community can be a “baptismal witness” instead of being godfather or godmother.

During the religious ceremony, the godfather and the godmother, or the witnesses of baptism sign the religious register of the baptism. They will also have a role in important moments of Christian confession such as first communion, profession of faith and confirmation.

Civil baptism

However, the role of godfather and godmother has evolved over time. From now on, it is possible to carry out a baptism or a civil sponsorship. However, this ceremony is not provided for by any legal text and does not create any legal obligation.

In France, town halls are not in the obligation to celebrate a civil baptism and he will not be registered in the registers of civil status. During the ceremony, the godfather and godmother receive a certificate of civil baptism signed by the mayor, but this document has no legal value. It is only a purely private moral commitment.

In some cases, parents may decide to offer friends or family members to become godparents without going through a civil or religious baptism. The commitment will remain the same towards the child, but there will be no no ceremony.

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Godson: what rights do we have as godfather and godmother?

The godfather and godmother have no rights when the parents of their godson die, unless the latter have named them as guardians by will or by declaration before a notary.

How to choose a godfather or a godmother?

The decision of the parents concerning the godfather or the godmother can sometimes be difficult to make, in particular when several people of the entourage could very well fill this role.

In some homes it is traditional to choose a member of the family for godparents. Parents can then turn to their brother, sister, cousin, uncle or aunt, while others prefer to choose from their circle of friends, so that they become part of their family. Depending on their affinities, they can offer this role to their childhood best friend, a trusted friend or a person with whom they have a special connection.

How do you tell your loved ones that you want them to become a godfather or godmother?

Before the birth, you can invite two relatives who are dear to you to your home or to the restaurant to offer them to become godfather and godmother of the future baby. For this announcement, you can for example offer them a cute personalized mug or t-shirt on which it will be noted “do you want to be my godfather / godmother”! This great classic always has its effect.

Godfather and godmother requests: original activities and gifts

Another idea: you can organize a small party where you invite the two people you are considering as godfather and godmother. You can then prepare a little riddle or a charade, so that they find the role they will have in the child’s life. To spend a moment rich in emotions and bursts of laughter, you can also put noise-cancelling headphones on their ears. They must then try to read your lips in order to know what you want to tell them!

To surprise your loved ones, it is possible to prepare a personalized puzzle to announce to them that they will soon be godfather and godmother. As a photo choice, you can take one of your photos together with the caption “do you want to become my godfather / godmother? “.

However, it happens that a person refuses the role of godfather or godmother, but often it is not to offend you. Someone close to you may not feel ready to have such an important role with a child.

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