The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE GOD-FATHER AND GOD-MOTHER IN THOSE DAYS WAS ALWAYS THE
GRANDPARENTS. IF YOU HAD EVER DARED TO HAVE A
CHRISTENING AND IT WASN'T THE GRANDPARENTS, YOU WOULD
HAVE BEEN AN OUTCAST.
IN BELGIUM THE BABIES ON THEIR CHRISTENING DAY ALWAYS WORE
WHITE. IF THE PARENTS WERE NOT WELL OFF, AND DID NOT HAVE
A DRESS FOR THE BABY SOMEONE WOULD ALWAYS GO TO THEIR HOUSE
AND PRESENT THEM WITH A CHRISTENING GOWN FOR THE BABY.
WHEN A BABY WAS BORN IT WAS USUALLY CHRISTENED THE SAME DAY.
THEY GOT THE GOD-FATHER AND GOD-MOTHER TOGETHER WITH THE
FATHER AND THEN THEY WOULD HIRE A WOMAN TO CARRY THE BABY.
AFTER THE CHRISTENING THEY STARTED GOING TO THE SALOONS
WITH THE BABY AND WERE TREATED FREE BY ALL THE SALOON KEEPERS.

Submitter comment: MR. VALKEN SAID THE PEOPLE IN HIS TOWN WERE VERY FRIENDLY
AND ALWAYS TRIED TO HELP EACH OTHER AS MUCH AS THEY COULD.
HIS IS THE CUSTOM THAT MR. VALKEN REMEMBERED TAKING
PLACE IN BELGIUM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 10-20-1971