Baby Sophie’s christening
Hello, everyone!
I hope you all had a good weekend. The weather here in the UK was glorious, so it was just perfect for the christening of my niece, Sophie. I promised I’d tell you a little bit about the christening and my role as godmother. Yesterday morning, all of Sophie’s friends and relatives met at her local church. There, she was welcomed by the vicar, given her name and blessed. The vicar also poured holy water on her forehead to baptise her. She really didn’t like this very much and started to bawl. But you can’t blame her – I’d probably cry too if a stranger poured cold water all over my head when I was dressed in my best frock!
As godmother, I had to promise to give Sophie encouragement to live a good life, and to try to set an example for her. I assume this means I have to set a good example rather than a bad one! After the ceremony, we all went to the local pub for food, cutting of the christening cake and a chitchat. It was a good chance for friends and family to catch up and to celebrate the arrival of a new member of our clan.
You can see a picture of me holding little Sophie on this page. She’s wearing her special christening gown, and next to me is the font. I’m the first to admit I’m not really very good with babies, but at least Sophie didn’t cry when I held her, and I made sure not to drop her! 
I wonder, what do you all do in your countries to celebrate the arrival of a new baby?
Naheed, many thanks for your kind wishes for Sophie. I’ve been enjoying reading more about mangoes – you really are something of an expert! Now let’s focus on English for a bit. You talk about some of the countries that buy mangoes and say: ‘The main importers are Middle East and European countries’. I just wanted to pick you up on a couple of small language points here.
· European is an adjective
· The Middle East is a noun
First, note that it’s always the Middle East – we always include ‘the’ – not just Middle East. However, you could also use the adjectival form, Middle Eastern. In this case, you would not need to put ‘the’ before it (we only use ‘the’ with the noun form). In terms of style, it’s best to have either all noun forms or all adjective forms in one sentence. So you could rewrite your sentence in two ways:
1) The main importers are Middle Eastern and European countries.
2) The main importers are the Middle East and Europe.
In English, adjectives that describe nationalities commonly end in ‘-an’.
Noun
America
Europe
Kenya
Morocco
Norway
Adjective
American
European
Kenyan
Moroccan
Norwegian
However, this is another area of the English language where there are lots of irregular forms that I’m afraid just have to be learned one by one. For example, I come from England, and I am English. Naheed, you come from Pakistan, and you are Pakistani. I wonder if you can tell me the adjectives that relate to the following nouns:
Noun
Britain
France
Spain
The Philippines
Taiwan
I should also put you out of your misery regarding the meaning of those phrases coined by Shakespeare. You’ll hear these phrases in everyday English, and most people won’t even be aware that they were invented by Shakespeare. Here goes:
· it smells to high heaven means something is really smelly, e.g.
Tom hadn’t changed his socks for a whole week. They smelled to high heaven.
· If something comes full circle, it returns to the starting point, e.g.
Sarah lost three stone on her mango diet, but then she went on holiday and put all the weight back on again. Her weight went full circle.
· one fell swoop means all at once, e.g.
Yesterday I got offered my dream job. It means I can earn more money, move to the capital and further my career, all in one fell swoop.
· strange bedfellows are things that you wouldn’t think would go well together, e.g.
Mangoes and vinegar might seem like strange bedfellows, but the combination of sweet and sour works well in some recipes.
· the world’s my oyster – you mostly got the meaning of this right, Naheed. It means you can do anything and go anywhere, e.g.
After I finish my studies I’m free to go travelling for a whole year. The world will be my oyster.
Naheed, I look forward to hearing more about your life in Pakistan, and thanks for the mouth-watering descriptions of mangoes. Our traditional summer fruit in Britain is probably the strawberry. Strawberries are coming into season right now, and they go really well with cream. Yum! When you bite into a sweet, juicy strawberry, you know that summer has arrived in the UK. Maybe I’ll buy some later for my dinner.
Bye for now,
Jo
Vocabulary
If the weather is glorious, you can expect blue skies, warm temperatures and lots of sunshine.
baptise means to welcome into the church, by sprinkling holy water on the head.
Babies bawl a lot – they scream loudly.
A frock is a slightly old-fashioned word for a dress.
When you have a chitchat, you have a friendly, light-hearted talk.
In this context, if you catch up with someone, you find out about all their news and what has been happening to them.
A clan is a family group.
A gown is a dress for a special occasion. You can also talk about a wedding gown and a ball gown.
A font is a receptacle in a church where the holy water sits. Sophie was held over the font when she was baptised.
to put someone out of their misery means to give someone the information they’ve been waiting for.
something that is coming into season is ripe, plentiful and ready to be harvested.
Comments
I would like to share the celebration of a new baby in Hong Kong. The mother would like to prepare some sweet vinegar ginger to their friends and relatives, it is a way to let people know this happy news. After the baby born for a month, the family would like to invite their relatives to have a happy gathering in a restaurant. At that moment, people would like to give good wishes to the baby or sometimes buy some gifts for the family. One of my friends would cut the baby's hair and then make it as a writing brush, and let the baby to use in her first writing.
Hello Jo. Should I call you Teacher or just simply by your first name? Since we are all working and learning in a relaxed atmosphere, behind our computers not in a rather tense one, like being in a classroom, I will call you simply Jo. When my niece was born, I bought her a present and went to see her at her home, in her cradle. It is such a custom in my country for the relatives to see and give a present to a new born baby and for the baby's family to treat them.This way we all show respect for each other. These presents are kept and saved during the whole person's life as a token of good health, love and all the good stuff which should be a part of a person's life. A baby is baptized a year later. That's about it.
Congratulations Jo! We have the same ceremony here in Spain. In fact, I work in these events as a camerawoman so I'm becoming expert on this! haha I hope you get a good recording :) By the way, nice vocabulary! X
Dear Jo, Sophi is really a lucky child to have wonderful god mother. Your last blog shows the responsibility you have got with your god child. What gift did you present to Sophi yesterday? All the children usually cry when the priest pour holy water in to his or her forehead. In that way these children speak to God for their parents, Grand parents and God parents. When did she born? How much month old she is? In my country the new born child is christened after one month a he or she is born. Sophie looks much older. The god mother or god father should buy a new white clothe for the baby. Like in your country, after the baptism the close relatives and friends of the baby’s parents have dinner. It’s a good occasion for parents. The tiny baby may not aware of all these things. But one day he or she listen all the stories from the parents. Sophi will hear wonder stories from you
Hello there.I would like to answer the adjectives that relate to nouns: Britain <Noun> -->British <Adj > France <Noun>-->French <Adj > Spain <Noun>----->Spanish<Adj > The Philippines <Noun>-->Philippine <Adj > Taiwan <Noun>--->Thaiwanese <Adj > According to celebration the arrival of a new born,for ages in Thailand usually cut baby hair in the whole head except central head . At this point we have grown up his hair and tied his hair until its long. When Girl and boy have ages between four or five months , we normally cut hair off. After in middle school: 13- 14 years, we totally leave this tradition. Nowadays traditions in some regions: Singburi,Angtong etc are preserved as a warm tradition. Not only we cut baby hair in the third month but also as such we do in another ceremony too ,including celebration a new house, making a merit birthday and other important ceremonys. Interestingly , we believe that if their infants cut hair off, they will be good luck in many ways. Thus Thai's culture has still proceeded to preserve a sweet tradition so far. All the best.
Hi again !! I love your pictures very much. And in those picture you take a photo in church , doesn't you ? I will looking forward to sharing new stories very soon . Lot of loves
Hello Jo, I just want to say that your Blog is great¡¡¡¡ I love learn English and your blog seems tobe a good wat to improve it. PD: Congratulations for your niece Sophie¡¡¡ she is just Beautiful¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡
Hi Jo! Your niece is so cute and beautiful. And I´m glad to know that you had a great time, and besides that, thanks God that you didn´t drop the little Sophie( I´m just kidding!). :-) Here in Brazil, we celebrate the arrival of new family member pretty much like you in England. However, we usually don´t go to restaurants to celebrate. A large meal is prepared by the family matriarches who prepare all sort of tradicional dishes. Yummy... I´m feeling hungry just to think about it! Anyway, there are desserts, but none of them are especific for christening.I was wondering if the christening cake that you mentioned has some especial ingredient, or whether it has some meaning, does it? Best wishes, Ana Paula.
Hello,Jo.Sophie is a sweet baby! And you succeed!Congrats!You are now her godmother and she follows your example.So,you have your own godmother,too? Everybody has each his/her godfather/godmother? Now,let me answer your question about celebration the arrival of a new baby.We usually take a newborn baby to a Shinto shrine and pray for the child's healthy growth usually after thirty days or so of the baby arrival.The baby usually dress in kimono,which is a traditional piece of clothing,you know.I like babies. They make me happy and I like their soft skin.I wish I could have one. :-) See ya.
Hi, Jo! How you doing? First of all I want to say I do enjoy reading your blog, it's very interesting. Secondly, I must admmit Sophie is quite a pretty baby, she looks so charming! As for strawberries, I love them! I'm used to eating them with cream too... by the way, that reminds me a beatles' song... strawberry fields forever :) I'm lookingforward to reading your next blog, wish you all the very best!
Hi,Jo.Your niece is sooo cute in her gown. Recently, i have attended a family party to celebrate a new member of our clan.When the bady is a week or two old, all the relatives will have to come from all directions with their presents--usually cash.Then the Host party will entertain people present.We call it Confinement that lasts for a month or more.Anyway, i can imagine every area has its own style to welcome a new-born babe,and it is just a custom.Be honestly, after seen your reply of the phrases, i feel embarrassed.Most of my answers coined by mellisa sounds ludicrous. I hope you didn't laugh to tears.Best wishes.
Hello Jo, In my country a new baby is baptised after one month. As a distinction between the UK and Romanian(othodox) ceremony is that the Priest immerses and raises the baby(now nacked) up again three times for each invocation(you know “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”).And yes, he bawls a lot! After the Baptism, the Priest places the child in a new white sheet held by the Godparent. Then the Priest, together with the Godparent and the child do a religious dance- they walk around the font three times. Also, following the Baptism the Priest will cut four locks of hair from the child’s head in the form of a Cross. few years ago, the parents used to giving the Godparent’s name to their child as an expression of gratitude and respect for the Godparent- in that time Sophie should have been called Jo! nowadays, this custom has dissapeared almost completely. best wishes,
Hai everyone I have been enjoying all jo's blog and all your comments on that. Jo's niece really looks very cute and i love her, and all my best wishes for her.and she is really lucky to hava a godmother like Jo, i wish if i were Sophie. take care
Hello Jo! It's being a pleasure learning and improving my english with your blog. I would like to say that here, in Spain, the ceremony of a new baby is similar that yours. But nowadays, there's a tendency to not christening babies. This is due to growing atheistic culture. So some people do only the second part, the family and friends join together around a table full of tasty and delicious food, and we have a pleasant chinwag. On the other hand, the baby recive a lot of presents from all the members of the family and friends: bibs, shirts, dungarees... all kind of clothes and rattles, a teddy bear... or some jewel for the future. I am the godmother of my niece too!!!:) Nice to meet you.
Hi Jo, We have a goddess( we call her 'the mother of bed') who will take care of all children in Taiwan till they are 14 years old. Best Regards
Hi,Jo It's been glorious here and flowers are waving in the breeze. How is the weaher like there? When a baby is 100 days parents invite to their clan and very closed friend to their house.There woulb be some Korean traditional food and cakes made from rice.The reason we have the celebration is that many children couldn't survive from hunger or terrible disease long time ago so parents tended to wait until the child was 100 days old before they shared their happiness with families and welcomed the new born baby As soon as a child is born the child is one year old so that when the child has a birthday party one year later the child will be two years old in Korea.parents would invite a lot of people in a restaurant or a house for the bithday party called"Doal Ganchi".the child wears the Korean traditional costumes.people bring a small present for her/him.the most popular presents are golden rings or bracelets.there are lots of photos taken and catch up with ralatives and friends. that's all for now. have a nice day!ps: I think your brother is so sweet as your niece,Sophie since he left his comments on your blog.
Hi all, I come from Calcutta, in the eastern part of India. When a new baby arrives in our midst, the friends & relatives generally shower the baby with love and gifts. Some months later, there is "ANNAPRASHAN CEREMONY" which celebrates her first eating of rice. The parents throw a special party and relatives & friends dressed up gorgeously gather at the baby's place and enjoy themselves. The baby wears a lovely silk dress, golden chains & bangles .The priest lights up a sacrificial fire, worships the God & the spirits of the baby's ancestors and asks for their blessing all the while chanting holy mantras. The parents help the priest with the puja. A few suitable names are uttered before a holy oil lamp and the name for which the flame flares up most brightly is chosen & the baby is chistened with that. Later, women play some games with the baby as a ritual. That's all.
hello jo, (teacher) I want to very well come to you as a new teacher blogger however it's late. Really you are so cute and beautiful. you are talent too, as your out looking. yes teacher, I have been learnig English by this site for couple month.I am very poor in this language because mainly there is not good invironment to learn English in my country. But I want to speak in English perfectly. what can I suppose to do, to come out from this problem? please I have seek your good advice. Kailarai, Nepal.
Hi,Jo.your niece is very lovely, there isn't any special ceremony to celebrate a new baby's coming.but it is important for a family when the baby is one month old,we will take photos for the baby and the relatives will come and bring gifts to the baby.
Hello Jo, your blog conveys such a lively atmosphere and for sure as glorious as the weather you described. Your picture with both you and your niece has also been contributed to this pleasant and intense feeling of happiness! Thanks, and for Shakespeare too.
Hello Jo, you are wrting on the subject exectly the same of our daily life. Because of this reason, it is easy to understand your writing. I am from Nepal and I have also two sweet and charming daughters. One is seven years old and another is nearly one year old. Regarding the welcoming process of the new baby, we have to conduct one function after eleven days of the birth of the new baby. I don't know the exact english word for it but it basically for giving her a name. When the baby will be at the age of six month, there will be another ceremony called " rice feeding ceremony". Before this ceremony, the baby will have only milk product. After that we can feed her any food suitable for her stomatch. We are Hindu and we are south asian, normally the rice is compulsory for lunch and dinner. Best wishes and good luck to Sophine.
hi Jo, your essay is so great!I would like to share you all some things in Vietnam about the arrival of babies. one month after the baby was born ( often according to lunar new year), baby's family will held a party there to happy the baby was born,it's the same as a birthday party,but there are not many people (often relatives). In this party,the baby is given a lot of gift from relatives or ( people who is baby parents' friends)! Good luck!
Dear Joe, I read your article about "Baby Sophie's Christening" with much interest. Little Sophie is very cute and will be proud to have you as her godmother. You must be very happy to welcome her to your family and share the love forever. May God Bless little Sophie and the family for she will be the little darling angel forever.
Thanks for all your contributions. This blog has now closed and can no longer accept new comments.
