


Items like prayer books, jewelry or home decor with crosses or inspirational messages, anything that reminds the godparent how thankful you are for their spiritual influence. What are traditional godparent gifts?Ī religious gift is a very traditional choice, considering the formal role of a godparent. For some, a godparent is designated as the legal custodian of a child in the case of the parents’ death.įor others, a godparent can simply be someone very close to the family that the parents want to have an influence on the kid’s life and can provide guidance and support whenever needed. (This is where the terms Compadre and Comadre originate.)įor others, the role can be a little more relaxed, with the godparent definitely present but not necessarily co-parenting. The answer to this question depends largely upon the godparent’s relationship to the parents, and how devoutly religious they are.įor extremely religious families, upon christening, the godparents share co-parenting responsibilities with the child’s natural parents. What are the expectations of being a godparent? Non-Christian faiths like Santería and Judaism have similar traditions. You probably already knew that, though.Īs the child grows, it is the godparent’s role to take responsibility for the child’s spiritual education and formation. In the Christian tradition, a godparent is someone who bears witness to a child’s christening, not someone who shows up and sends you to the ball in a pumpkin carriage.

What constitutes the role of a godparent? Here’s the scoop on all the other things about being a godparent that you may or may not have known. Most of us know at least one thing about being a godparent: It’s an honour to be asked to take on this role and all that it involves.
