A newborn baby is joy and happiness. From the first minutes of his life, he is cared for, loved and cherished by his parents. Every event in a child’s life is a real holiday. But naturally, every Christian understands that the main Sacrament for a newborn and his parents is the rite of Baptism. The little man finds his godparents, who will be responsible for his spiritual development. They must present the child with several gifts, among which the obligatory attribute is a silver spoon. The tradition is so ancient that it is impossible to understand where this gift option came from; there are only a few assumptions. But the fact that the significance of the silver spoon is great is evidenced by the spread of such a tradition beyond the borders of Orthodox countries. So, in England, about a person who has escaped troubles, they say that he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. We can also give you this attribute when cutting your first tooth. Let's understand the meaning of such a tradition.
- Tradition
- Why are silver spoons given to newborns?
- What should be the spoon for christening?
- Kinds
- Where can I buy
Why and why do they give a silver spoon for the first tooth?
There is an opinion that this tradition first originated in England, and then migrated to Russia. It is believed that a silver gift attracts favor from fate. Moreover, there are definitely reasons to believe in this.
If, when teething, you lightly tap on it with a silver device and wish the baby to grow up healthy and prosperous, it is believed that this will definitely come true, and the spoon itself will become a real talisman for the baby. In addition, such a valuable gift will remain as a memory for many years. After all, money is spent, clothes will outgrow, toys will become a thing of the past, but such a gift will last for many years.
Why choose a silver spoon for a gift?
Silver is a metal that can disinfect and kill harmful bacteria and germs.
And this is of great importance when teeth are being cut, because the child’s immunity is not strong enough.
Moreover, it has long been believed that silver is capable of absorbing everything bad.
This opinion comes from the fact that silver jewelry worn on the body periodically darkens.
Silver is credited with properties that take away illnesses and all negativity onto itself.
How much does a silver spoon cost, price
Knowing about the healing properties of this metal, it has become popular to give newborns a spoon made of silver. In Tsarist Russia, from the first days of life, children were given a silver present, which accompanied them throughout their entire journey of growing up. Usually it was a coffee spoon so that the child could easily put it in his mouth.
On the first day of school, the gift was already larger - a dessert spoon, and at the end, for graduation - a dining room. Children who received a gift from this noble metal were successful in all their endeavors. Prices for such cutlery vary.
What does the cost depend on:
- from metal sample;
- on the size of the device;
- from exclusive execution (engraving, insertion of precious stones, decoration);
- from the price category on the silver exchange.
The higher the standard, the higher the price, because there is more metal in the alloy. The best option for a tableware is 875 standard. Compared, for example, with 830 sample, alloy 875 oxidizes less in air, that is, the metal darkens less.
Silver spoons can be decorated as desired. You can buy a simple one, then engrave it or order your own design. Also, when doing handmade work, silver is often combined with gold or bright enamel.
In terms of price category, tableware ranges from 1800 rubles and above. All this depends on what and how the product is made.
Where can I buy a silver spoon?
As a rule, the issue of acquisition is not urgent now. There are many jewelry stores where you can buy this. Of course, you should carefully consider the product in order to please the parents of the newborn when giving it. Baptism does not accept frivolity in the image, even on such an everyday object as a spoon, but at the same time it does not particularly control this issue - after all, the main goal of Baptism is not who gave what, but the introduction of a new person to the Lord.
Therefore, it is quite possible to buy a spoon in a jewelry store, in shops at churches and monasteries, or even order it to order from a jeweler.
In a busy modern life, an excellent option would be to purchase a spoon in an online store from a trusted seller. The Orthodox store PravLife is perfect for this goal.
You can choose a beautiful silver spoon that will please both parents and children. We have so many options that it's dizzying. We guarantee quality and availability of certificates for all products. In addition to the spoon, you can choose any necessary Christian item, and we promise that we will deliver it to any point in Moscow and Russia without delay. Pay attention to our prices - they are very affordable!
Who buys a silver personalized spoon for the first tooth?
The pleasant and useful tradition of a personalized gift allows you to bring a lot of benefits to your baby. Relatives and friends can give gifts. More often it is a godfather or godmother. Often grandparents prepare a gift for their beloved grandson or granddaughter in advance.
If previously it was believed that those who baptized should give gifts, today this is permissible for any relative. The main thing is to choose the right gift. For example, for a girl they buy a device with openwork weaving, butterflies, and bows. For boys, you can choose ones with images of stars and bears.
Advice
When darkening, a silver spoon can be easily cleaned with chalk or soda!
What else do you give a baby besides silver?
If the tradition of giving a child a silver spoon for his first tooth seems old-fashioned, you can modernize it and order a spoon engraved with the name or date of birth. Or order it with a modern style design applied to the enamel. You can choose another useful gift for your baby. There is no shortage of choice; when you go to a children's store, everyone will choose the best option:
- You can give toys and rodents. They will always come in handy, any child will be happy with them. You don’t have to worry about making a mistake with such a gift—you can never have too many toys.
- Clothing and children's cosmetics are the most relevant and necessary gifts. The choice in the store is very large, you can choose something for every taste, and parents will be grateful, because this is the first item of expenditure for a young family.
An interesting solution would be handmade products. You can order them online with home delivery or go to a special store:
- A diaper cake with a surprise inside, especially one made by yourself, will be a great gift. Inside you can put baby cosmetics, diapers or anything else your baby needs.
- Parents will be pleased to receive a handmade photo album made by a master especially for their child.
If you don't know how to create your own creations, that's okay. Buying such original items is not a problem; now on the Internet there is a large selection of craftsmen working to order.
Who gives a silver spoon for a boy's first tooth?
There is an opinion that the first person to give cutlery is the one who notices the teething of a tooth. Often this is a grandmother or grandfather. Many parents prefer to choose a present for their baby themselves. Previously, godparents were at the origins of such a gift. That is, it was the godfather who chose the spoon for the boy.
Today, many parents prefer to hear the child’s opinion when he grows up, because not everyone wants to be baptized. Of course, this all depends on the individual. After all, the rite of baptism is a serious step. Therefore, they wait for the child to grow up and make a choice on his own.
Why isn't a gold spoon suitable?
It is impossible to say with certainty that a golden spoon is not suitable for a gift. There is a sound grain in this issue, because gold is a more expensive metal.
In addition, it is believed that the origins of the custom of giving a spoon when the first tooth appears are in biblical legends, when the wise men gave gold, frankincense and myrrh for the birth of Jesus.
Table gold
However, historically it happened that the spoon should be made of silver. Once upon a time in Rus', silver was recognized as the most valuable metal.
Therefore, if you want to preserve traditions, then it is best to purchase a silver spoon. And for a gold product, a baptismal cross is perfect.
Who should give a silver spoon for a girl's first tooth?
It has long been believed that the godmother selects a gift for a girl. She chooses a silver device with Orthodox symbols and gives it as a christening gift. Today the tradition has changed a little and it is permissible to give such a gift to any relative.
The main thing is that the gift is safe for the baby. The characteristics of the device should not raise any doubts, so you can ask what type of metal it is and what the silver spoon’s scoop is coated with. After all, manufacturers often use special coatings on such items so that tarnishing is less noticeable.
