Mother and child in long robe, then probably not seen as a christening gown, late 19th or early 20th century, Wales

A Christening gown or christening robe is a very long, white infants' garment now made especially for the ceremony of christening and usually only worn then. Clothing (also called clothes, accoutrements, accouterments, or habiliments) protects the Human body from extreme Weather A ceremony is an activity infused with Ritual significance performed on a special occasion Infant baptism is the Christian religious practice of baptizing infants or young children They are in fact the normal, or at least "best", outer clothing of Western babies until about the 19th century. The moment of progression to shorter dresses (for both boys and girls) was known as "shortcoating", which presumably coincided with the beginning of walking, which was impossible in a long robe. Breeching was the occasion when a small boy was first dressed in Breeches or trousers

Christening gowns are usually made of fine white linen or cotton fabric, and may be trimmed with tucks, lace, whitework embroidery, and other handwork. Linen is a Textile made from the Fibers of the Flax plant Linum usitatissimum. Cotton is a soft staple Fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant ( Gossypium sp Trim or trimming in Clothing and Home decorating is applied ornament such as gimp, passementerie, Ribbon, Ruffles In Sewing, a tuck is a fold or Pleat in fabric that is sewn in place Whitework embroidery refers to any Embroidery technique in which the Stitching is the same color as the foundation fabric (traditionally white Linen)

Christening gowns often have matching bonnets, and may become family heirlooms, used generation after generation. A bonnet is a kind of Headgear which is usually brimless Only a few kinds of bonnets are still worn today most commonly by babies

See also

• Baptismal clothing
• Ceremonial clothing in Western cultures
• Heirloom sewing. Baptismal clothing is apparel worn by Christian proselytes (and in some cases by Clergy members also during the ceremony of Baptism. Ceremonial clothing in Western cultures, Life cycle celebrations associated with particular occasions are manifested by certain types of ceremonial Heirloom sewing is a collection of Needlework techniques that arose in the last quarter of the 20th century that imitates fine French hand Sewing of the

References

• Bath, Virginia Churchill: Needlework in America, Viking Press, 1979 ISBN 0-670-50575-7

• Oxford English Dictionary

• Picken, Mary Brooks: The Fashion Dictionary, Funk and Wagnalls, 1957. The Oxford English Dictionary ( OED) published by the Oxford University Press (OUP is a comprehensive Dictionary of the English Mary Brooks Picken was an influential American author of numerous books on Needlework, Sewing, and Textile arts. (1973 edition ISBN 0-308-10052-2)