Celebrate the birth of your child and offer him an official godfather and godmother, all without going through the church hut, it's possible thanks to civil baptism! Our advice to organize it well.
And no, the passage to the church is not compulsory for parents who wish to baptize their child! You can also go to the town hall for an equally moving secular ceremony, and thus celebrate the civil baptism, also called republican baptism, of your child, which will allow him to be granted, in a slightly more formal way, a sponsor and / or a godmother. A solution that can be ideal for celebrating the birth of a child when the parents are of different religions or atheists.
What is the origin of civil baptism?
If it has not yet really become part of the customs, civil baptism does not date from yesterday since it appeared at the end of the 18th century, during the Convention, in a France in demand for secularism, at the Robespierre initiative. It can since be proposed in the town halls, but know however that since the republican baptism has no legal value, each town hall chooses to celebrate it or not. Ask upstream to find out if your city offers it, or your arrondissement, if you live in Paris, Lyon or Marseille.
What is the legal value of civil baptism?
Unlike civil marriage, republican baptism is not an act of civil status: it will not be entered in the civil status registers and will have no legal value. It will in fact be a purely symbolic and moral commitment made by the godfather and / or the godmother to replace the parents in the event of default or disappearance. Likewise, the certificate of civil baptism issued at the end of the ceremony will have no legal value, and will not bind the parents and the godparents by a contract.
But we can think that such a promise made to loved ones and family will have a strong sentimental value, and will allow the godfather and the godmother to feel fully invested in their new role.
If you wish to go further and appoint them as the legal guardians of your child in the event of death, you will have to do so by will or by declaration before a notary.
What administrative procedures to carry out?
Have you decided to take the plunge and organize a civil sponsorship for your child? Then go to the civil status office of your town hall or on your city's website to find out which documents will be required. You will certainly be asked for the following supporting documents:
- the family book
- your child's birth certificate
- one or two proofs of address less than 3 months old (receipt, invoice, etc.)
- proof of identity of the parent making the request
- written permission from the parent not present
- a photocopy of the identity document of the godfather and godmother (you can choose the number of godparents you wish)
You can then choose the date and time that suit you best, knowing that most civil baptisms take place on Saturdays, after or between two civil weddings. It’s best to do it a few months in advance so you can choose between several days. You will then certainly have to confirm the date and time with the town hall about a week before the ceremony.
Which invitation to send?
As for a religious baptism, you can invite the number of people you want and send them an announcement beforehand to invite them to reserve the date. For a Republican baptism in the spring, we advise you to send the invitations about two months in advance, and if the ceremony takes place during the summer, then try to send them four months in advance, so that your guests can s 'organize.
Paper or digital invitation, the choice is yours and your budget, of course: the less formal nature of a civil sponsorship may encourage you to choose an electronic invitation, more economical and with more and more varied options. .
How is the ceremony?
That's it, it's D-Day! The future baptized, dressed or not dressed in white and accompanied by his parents, finds his relatives, his family and of course his future godfathers and / or godmothers in front of the town hall, before they are all accompanied to the wedding hall, where civil sponsorship generally takes place.
The mayor or the deputy mayor will then welcome them and start the ceremony with a speech to recall the origin of the civil baptism, then to ask for the parents' consent to place their child under “the protection of republican and secular institutions”, and the consent of the godfather and godmother to "accept this noble mission of being the child's civil godfather and godmother". The baptized child can then be declared "godchild of the Republic" and the act of civil sponsorship will then be signed.
This rather short ceremony, of about ten minutes, can in some cases be a little more personalized, with for example a speech from the parents, the godfather or the godmother.
What party to plan?
After the ceremony, let's party! Depending on the number of guests, you can invite them to your home, in the garden or living room, for a small committee, or in a town hall or a restaurant privatized for the occasion if they are more numerous.
Small treats like sugared almonds or perhaps sweets, chocolates or another specialty of your city, will always be appreciated by your guests.
Also, don't forget to send a thank you card after the event, especially if your child has been spoiled.
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