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Baptismal gown/Christening wrap
Unknown1800/1850
Nordiska Museet
Stockholm, Sweden
Baptismal gown from Veinge parish, Halland. The christening wrap is made of red wool trimmed with silver decorations, ribbons and lace. Shaped wrap and cap for girl. First half of nineteenth century.
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Details
- Title: Baptismal gown/Christening wrap
- Creator: Unknown
- Date Created: 1800/1850
- Use: Veinge, Halland, Sweden
- Physical Dimensions: w46 x h71 cm
- More Information: Agrarian society still (in the 1800s) regarded a newborn baby as a heathen and before the protective baptism had turned it into a Christian, various methods were used to protect it. The threat mainly came from the various invisible supernatural beings who were believed to want to get at the unbaptised child, who was considered a heathen as were they themselves. Many archival documents relate the fear that a troll woman would replace a human child with one of their own. Baptismal gowns usually featured bright colours and were equipped with various decorations and shiny objects. They were often red, a colour believed to have protective powers and which also signalled a certain status, as it was expensive. The large number of decorations were not just decorative, but were also an attempt to provide magical protection for the child. Various metals, in the form of metal embroidery, needles, pins or stitched-on silver beads and buttons, were common. Metals were a well-known method for warding off evil spirits and were used for magical protective purposes. They were produced in contact with fire, which was itself considered to have the power to keep evil spirits away. Shiny objects, such as large pieces of metal, mirrors or beads, also had a reflective effect, as the evil forces who wanted the child would see their own reflection in them and be repelled.
- Type: Traditions
- Rights: Photo: Birgit Brånvall, © Nordiska museet
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