How many godchildren do you have? Two … maybe three? Some of us may even be able to boast as many as half a dozen or so. Well spare a thought for The Queen. At the last count, Queen Elizabeth II had amassed a grand total of 30 godchildren.

For us mere mortals, choosing an appropriate Christening gift, remembering a birthday or finding another Christmas present, on top of providing the occasional piece of pithy moral and spiritual advice, can be taxing at the best of times. So how does The Queen manage with thirty little souls to guide?

Well, firstly we can assume that she doesn’t spend too much time pottering around the shops trying to find that special Christening gift. Similarly, an equerry will probably remind her when the next birthday is due and a Lady-in-Waiting or a Woman of the Bedchamber will be on hand to recommend the most popular Christmas presents for the little darlings. I think we are safe in assuming that the godchildren don’t come high on that list of forgotten jobs that keeps the rest of us awake at 3am in the morning.

The Queen has also spread her responsibilities over a few decades. To tell the truth, most of the little darlings aren’t really that “little” at all. The oldest godson is now well into his sixties, whilst the youngest goddaughter is already in her twenties. So, with a bit of judicious planning, The Queen has managed to dilute her godparent’s duties over time.

Part of a godparent’s purpose is binding ever-tighter links between friends and family. Never has this been more true than in the case of the old family firm that is “Royalty.” Look down the list of The Queen’s godchildren and it is easy to see ties and connections being strengthened and alliances forged. One of The Queen’s first godsons was Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia, her last goddaughter was Princess Theodora of Greece. There are Barons, Dukes and Viscounts scattered about all over the place. And when you do find someone on the list who sounds just like the rest of us – take George Herbert for example – he turns out to be an earl … the 8th Earl of Carnarvon to be exact. Yes, becoming a godparent really is a case of “keeping it in the family.”

However, as The Queen so correctly observed: “Like all the best families, we have our share of eccentricities, of impetuous and wayward youngsters and of family disagreements.” So, if we look a bit further down the list of godsons, we find Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, brother of Diana, Princess of Wales. The Queen was present at his Christening on 14 July 1964 in the Henry VII Chapel at Westminster Abbey. It’s worth considering, that the next time they faced each other in Westminster Abbey was at Diana’s funeral when Earl Spencer read his moving and rather controversial eulogy in front of a global TV audience of around 2.5 billion viewers.

As a final note, you should be aware that The Queen is not alone in taking on numerous godchildren. Prince Charles already has thirty-three godchildren, while Prince William started assuming godparental responsibility way back in 1999. His first chosen godson followed family tradition; he was Prince Konstantine Alexios of Greece.



By: Richard Hoare

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We all know somebody who was “born with a silver spoon in his mouth.” That lucky friend who inherited money or to whom wealth, health and happiness came without any effort on their part. And, admit it, we are just that tinsy winsy bit jealous.

Well, how did family wealth and easy good fortune become associated with a commonplace eating utensil?

Spoons have been around for thousands of years. Most early spoons were wooden spatulas or even re-worked seashells. The Greeks and Romans did manufacture the occasional spoons of gold, silver and bronze, but the most common materials, as in the later Medieval period, were wood, pewter and bone.

It is probably in the 15th and 16th centuries that the link between fortune and spoons became established. By Tudor times, it was not uncommon for godparents in wealthy society to present their godchildren with a Christening gift of silver Apostle Spoons. A set of twelve spoons, each with an image of one apostle on the handle was a prestigious Christening gift. An alternative was a set of four spoons representing the evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Silver spoons are still given as Christening gifts and Baptism presents today, but Apostle Spoons are less common and more difficult to find.

In the sixteenth century a silver spoon was still pretty rare, so any child receiving such a Christening gift would have to come from a wealthy background. Moreover, if some recent medical research is correct, they were also blessed with a bit of luck. Silver spoons and teethers have been popular for centuries, but it is only in the last few years that the antibiotic properties of silver have been recognized. To put it bluntly, the wealthy Little Lord Fauntleroy teething on a silver Christening spoon had a better chance of survival than a pauper sucking on a lump of pewter. I rather poo-pooed this idea of silver’s miraculous properties until I remembered my granny dropping a silver thrupenny bit into the milk churn to “stop it turning.”

As with so many of our current customs and traditions, the Victorians have had a large influence on Christening gifts. By the mid nineteenth century the Christening gift of a spoon was commonplace amongst the middle and upper classes. Often these were combined with teethers and rattles, so, once again, a well off godchild could be seen with a silver Christening spoon in his mouth.

We cannot be certain of this etymological link between Christening gifts and the phrase “to be born with a silver spoon in his mouth,” but there is obviously something way back in our subconscious that associates spoons with success, or the lack of it.

For example, “The Wooden Spoon” is a symbol of failure. Sports teams that come last in a tournament or league are handed “The Wooden Spoon,” a tradition that goes back many centuries. There is also reference to it in the distant past at Cambridge University where the “Junior Optimes” – the graduates at the bottom of the order of merit – were presented with a wooden spoon. And what did the more successful honor men receive? You’ve guessed it … a gold or silver spoon.

Similarly, there used to be an expression in the Royal Navy describing a young officer who received preferential treatment and accelerated promotion as “born with the silver spoon.”

So, the jury is still out as to the exact origins of the phrase, but the romantic in me would like to believe that it finds its origins in silver Christening gifts.

So the next time you talk about someone “born with a silver spoon in his mouth,” you’re allowed to say it with a touch of jealousy, just a hint of that little green-eyed monster, but also a touch of smugness … at least you may know where the phrase has come from.



By: Richard Hoare

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A silver napkin ring is still one of the most popular and lasting gifts given to babies at their Christening. This may seem an odd choice since, sadly, fewer and fewer families eat together on a daily basis around the dinner table and the majority of those that do will use a paper serviette in preference to a linen napkin. But the tradition of napkin rings as Christening gifts endures.

Before the 19th Century, napkins were tied with a strip of colored ribbon or named tape. This was a purely practical response to domestic life at the time. Since washday took place only once a week, linen napkins were only washed once a week, so each individual napkin had its own unique tie to identify its owner. The idea of using the same napkin for a whole week may not appeal to us now in more hygienic times, but, as we can see, the simple napkin ring was born of necessity, not for decoration.

The first recorded examples of napkin rings made from silver date from the early 1800’s, but it was during the later Victorian period that the silver napkin ring came into its own. For middle and upper class Victorians, the display of wealth at the dinner table was an essential declaration of status. The more ostentatiously decorated your table, the higher up the social pecking order you could place yourself. A sort of Victorian “Banqueting Bling”. Of course the Victorians would never admit to being so overtly brash, so their blatant bragging had to be passed off as etiquette – a social nicety.

So there, amongst the candelabra, elaborate table centres and ornate cutlery, you will find the humble napkin ring doing its bit for Victorian propriety. The silver napkin ring became yet another “must have” gift for Christenings and weddings in Victorian and Edwardian society.

The arrival of disposable paper napkins and serviettes should have sounded the death knell of the napkin ring at dinner tables everywhere, but this traditional piece of tableware is becoming ever more popular. In a world where everything is disposable and transient, the napkin ring is a personal possession that is treasured for life. The napkin ring presented at a baby’s Christening is highly likely to appear at the dinner table on their 80th birthday.

Napkin rings come in all shapes and sizes, from round and oval to octagonal and square. Plain or ornately decorated, they are often engraved with the owner’s initials and, sometimes, their date of birth. As such, napkin rings are very personal possessions. Every member of the family can identify their own napkin ring. Silver napkin rings have become popular as Christening gifts for this very reason. There are few presents that are so personal to the individual and that can be used and treasured for a whole lifetime.

The napkin ring has little religious significance (you are highly unlikely to have found one at the Last Supper) and it can make no major aesthetic claims for beauty and design, but, if you are looking for a Christening gift that will stand the test of time – look no further.



By: Richard Hoare

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The birth of a baby is one of the happiest occasions in a person’s life. The new arrival signifies hope, love, and the start of a new era. The parents are happy, the grandparents are happy, and there is a general feeling of good will and cheer all around. Most members of the family want to contribute towards making the event a memorable one. They shower different types of baby gifts on the little bundles of joy to celebrate this joyous occasion. Then, there are special events such as christenings and baptisms that are equally important. And what better way to commemorate these than through silver christening gifts? These gifts are made of sterling silver and often tend to become the keepsake items in many families.

There are different types of silver christening gifts that are currently available in the market. There are the sterling silver plain bangles that are very popular as gifts for special occasions such as christenings and baptisms. These bangles are packaged in an attractive manner – a fact that makes them that much more appealing to the potential buyers. Then, there are the silver photograph frames with beautiful motifs that can be personalised with the christening details of the little ones. One could also choose the tooth fairy box made of sterling silver complete with a gold plated fairy sitting on top. The costs of many of these silver christening gifts are reasonable and can be procured quite easily using the services of online providers working in this sector.

The silver christening gifts could also be the egg cups, napkin rings, and spoons that are made of sterling silver. These are great as gifts as the little ones would be quite thrilled in using their own silverware. These articles are packaged in beautiful gift boxes and can also be treasured by the little ones as they grow up. Then, there are the silver plated teddy clocks that can be great gifts for christenings and baptisms. One could also select the leather bibles with sterling silver fronts as the ideal christening gifts.

The silver christening gifts have a longer shelf life than any other gift items. These would tend to remain in the family, long after all the other gifts have either worn out or have become of limited use. In many families, these often tend to become keepsake items with the little ones and their parents treasuring them all the way.

All these different types of silver christening gifts are now available for the interested buyers in different parts of the world. There are some reputed online providers who are working in this sector and ensuring that all these and more are available to the people who are interested in purchasing the same. The costs are reasonable and the choices that are available are more than one. A person – searching the online marketplace for the best gifts – can now have everything going in his favour. He can take his time to browse for the perfect silver christening gifts and silver baby gifts and make intelligent purchase decisions.



By: Duff Morgan

About the Author:

One of the most important moments in a little girl’s life happens when they are too young to remember it – their Christening. Of course they’ll be able to look back at pictures and videos once they get older, but wouldn’t it also be nice if they had some special keepsakes to commemorate that most important of days.

Now, the debate on what makes a perfect christening present has been going on since the beginning of time. One thing that most people always seem to agree on is that whether your taste is traditional or modern, silver is always a brilliant choice for girls christening gifts.

Another thing that people agree on is that Oishii Jewellery is a fantastic site to go to find those perfect girls christening gifts. Some of their vast selection includes:

Silver Heart Rattle – This delightful rattle is not only beautiful to the eye but is also pleasing to the ear with it’s wonderfully soothing chime. This is a sweet piece can be passed down from generation to generation.

Silver First Tooth Pot – They only ever lose that first tooth once so you’ll want to be sure to keep it safe. The perfect place is in this beautiful sterling silver pot which is guarded by a sweet little sterling silver fairy, there to keep your treasure safe.

D For Diamond Heart Locket – This special keepsake can be saved for her until she gets a little older. It’s a beautiful silver heart locket featuring a single diamond, the perfect present for the little gem in your life.

Silver Baby Bangle – This solid silver bangle will look sweet on baby and also doesn’t have any small moveable parts.

You also don’t want to forget about the people who made this special day possible… the proud Mum and Dad. Some ideas for Dad include a set of brushed steel cufflinks, polished silver tag pendants on an ID chain or even a solid silver Ingot Paperweight. Some ideas for Mum range from crystal flower earrings, a Mother of Pearl pendant or a silver teardrop bracelet.

Each item that you’ll find on Oishii-Jewellery.co.uk has been hand chosen and will be carefully gift wrapped before it’s delivered directly to your door. Oishii Jewellery, treating your special day like their own.



By: Erin Kelly

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Find-me-a-gift have over 1000 gift and gadget ideas for everyone, they cater for men, women, children and pets. Their categories are amazing and full of great gift ideas. You will find something to buy even for that difficult person who has everything!

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Christening gifts

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By: Find-me-a-gift

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