Irish Christening Gowns feature inspiring designs and generations of craftsmanship. Celtic Christening gowns look stunning with embroidered shamrocks and Cluny lace. Although traditional, its charming Irish style allows for flexibility. Christening gowns may have shamrock lace, a shamrock inset, or other shamrock details. Dresses can have Victorian lace, Irish lace, or Venetian lace.

Irish symbols may include Celtic crosses, the Claddagh, the Celtic knot, or other Celtic symbolism. Irish christening gowns, like Celtic wedding dresses, are embellished with ‘shingerleens’ (Irish lace, embroidery and ribbon trimmings). Some Irish fathers have the family coat of arms or the names of the wearers embroidered on the dress, cape or christening blanket. The Irish Christening Gown symbolizes purity, joy, faith and new life.

irish christening gowns

. Clover

The shamrock is one of the best known and most popular Irish symbols. Symbolizing the Trinity, the shamrock often adorns Irish christening gowns. The clover can be woven into the fabric or appear in one or more places on the dress.

Whether green or white, shamrocks can decorate everything from christening gowns and rompers to christening headbands and bibs. Satin dresses with organza overlays may have scattered shamrocks and small pearls. Often the bodice of an Irish christening gown will have embroidered shamrocks.

Floral embroidery of shamrocks can fill the bodice, sleeves, and skirt of a christening gown. You can choose christening fashions with lots of shamrocks or just a few, even dresses with just one shamrock. A soft, sailor-style, gabardine christening romper for boys may have shamrocks and shamrocks embroidered on the chest. The matching christening hat can also feature a shamrock.

. Cord

Irish baptism dresses use all kinds of lace, from French lace to Venetian lace. Irish Cluny lace is a cotton lace. With a light and airy appearance, Cluny lace resembles crochet stitch.

Irish Christening gowns can feature beautiful lace in an elaborate style. Vertical lace can create separate “panels” in a skirt that are deeply scalloped, each with different embellishments. The center front can be impressive with a cross decorated with embroidered ribbons and beautiful flowers. The side panels could have formed lace in a Celtic pattern and more lace may adorn the scalloped hem.

. irish linen

Linen is a special fabric that has been woven from natural flax fiber for thousands of years. Linen is woven all over the world and is a strong and resistant fabric. With its expert spinning, weaving and finishing, Irish linen is recognized as the finest linen in the world. Fine linen from Ulster, Ireland is a favorite for Celtic Christening fashions, including hats, briefs and booties. 100% pure Irish linen can be decorated with small embroidered Celtic knots, a row of shamrocks or rosebuds, and pretty pearls.

A beautiful Irish linen dress is a delight with delicate Venetian lace and shamrock lace with an embroidered Celtic cross with trinity knots and shamrock appliqués. An Irish linen christening gown may have crosses and hearts in scalloped Victorian lace at the hem. A magnificent petite trouser and Grandad shirt ensemble (with “grandfather” collar) can be made from pure Irish linen.

. Needle

Crochet will often appear on Irish christening gowns (sometimes called “robes” in Ireland). A bodice, crocheted in fine mercerized cotton with a touch of glitter, can feature a trefoil with lace chains and a satin ribbon at the front. Crochet was introduced to Ireland in the mid-19th century.

Women and children were trained in the art. Within a few years, the Irish had become skilled enough to supply the markets of Dublin, London, Paris, Rome, and New York. Crochet work helped supplement the family income. In fact, some Irish people used the money to immigrate to the United States.

. smoked

Although Celtic christening gowns can have intricate details, the ruched gown is also a long-time favorite in Ireland. Crafted from fine Irish linen, with a tri-pleat trim detail to the hem, a lace-trimmed slip underneath, and a matching bonnet, this simple style can exude an air of elegance. Exquisite hand embroidery can adorn the bodice, bonnet, and sleeves of a soft, ruched christening gown.

. celtic cross

The Celtic cross appears everywhere at Irish baptisms. The Celtic cross (or high cross) is a beloved Irish symbol. Perhaps a single Celtic cross could be in the center of a skirt with white (or light green) shamrocks around the hem.

Crossed shamrocks may rest on a bodice below a Celtic cross with heirloom leaves on either side. Clovers and leaves can continue around the hem of a christening gown. A boy’s christening romper may have Celtic crosses embroidered on it or his satin shoes may display a Celtic cross.

The Celtic cross is believed to represent the four directions of the wind, as well as the four seasons. The oldest known Irish high cross dates back to Donegal. The 7th century Carandonagh Cross was part of a hermitage in the north west of the county.

. Celtic knot

The Celtic knot is a favorite embellishment for Irish Christening attire and accessories. The Celtic knot design has been found in the jewelery of the Celts, even since before the time of Christ. The Celtic knot is associated with the ornamentation of early Christian monuments and manuscripts (such as the 8th century Book of Kells). This Irish symbol is believed to ward off evil: the more complex the knot, the greater the protection.

Celtic knot might appear on the bodice of a three-piece christening gown with puff sleeves and a Celtic floral lace trim. Even a blue Celtic knot cross can appear on the bodice of a dress. Sometimes red roses surround a blue and gold knotted cross, while a shamrock, claddagh, and thistles go around the hem. Often under a central cross, the baby’s name and the date of the christening are embroidered on the dress. Trinity Knots can be embroidered across the chest directly below the collar on christening rompers.

. Claddagh

The Claddagh (a symbol of ‘holding hands’, a sign of friendship and love) is always seen in christening fashions. A beautiful christening gown might have a satin ribbon on the front yoke with a Claddagh appliqué. Also, christening accessories use the claddagh as in a crystal rosary. bracelet with pearls, cross and claddagh pendant.

. celtic tree of life

The Celtic Tree of Life is another Irish symbol that can be applied to a christening gown. The Celtic tree of life is supposed to deliver wisdom. The symbol is believed to convey messages from the gods.

. Saint Bridget’s Cross

St. Bridget’s Cross is a familiar Celtic symbol that appears on Irish baptismal gowns. Brigid’s crosses are associated with Brigid of Kildare, revered as one of the patron saints of Ireland. Made from pure Irish linen, a Christening gown may have a gathered skirt, satin bows at the back, and an embroidered Saint Bridget’s cross on the bodice.

. Embroidered Tara Brooch

Christening capes can use embroidery inspired by the Tara brooch, one of Ireland’s best-known antiques. Believed to have been made some 1,300 years ago, the true Tara is an ornate Celtic ring clasp made from gold, silver, copper, amber, and glass. The brooch was found on the seashore at Bettystown, south of Drogheda, and is now held at the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.

. christening capes

Christening capes, especially the Kinsale cape, are popular with Irish babies. For hundreds of years in rural Ireland, wearing a long hooded cloak was a tradition. In fact, layers can still be seen in western County Cork.

. spirals

Pretty swirls float gently over Irish christening gowns. Celtic spirals, prominently displayed on ancient Irish artifacts, are second only to knot designs as the symbols most associated with Celtic art. With no written history of spirals, there is still some mystery surrounding their meaning. Within the Druid faith, it was forbidden to put sacred material in writing. No doubt the spirals represented something sacred to the Druid people.

Most scholars believe that, due to their simplicity, spirals are symbols of the spiritual balance between inner and outer consciousness, the sun, and the cosmos. Some scholars of Celtic art believe that the meaning of the spirals may lie in their direction. Clockwise spirals can be associated with the sun and harmony with the earth. Counterclockwise spirals may be associated with the manipulation of nature. Other people think that the Celtic spiral symbolizes the seasons of life and the cycles of time.

Celtic spirals are often seen in ancient burial mounds and holy places. Many believe that the spirals have mystical powers that prevent evil from entering a sacred tomb. In 1991, archaeologist Kate Johnson of Arizona State University conducted a computer analysis of the structure of some Celtic spirals found in ancient rock carvings. She compared these spiral patterns to astronomical events that had occurred over the course of the last millennium. According to her research, the Celtic spirals were accurate representations of the visible planetary configurations and the brightest fixed stars during total eclipses long ago.

The Triskele (or triskelion) is a three-pointed spiral that is often used as a base for more complex spirals. Some suggest that the ancient Celtic triskeles represented the Triple Goddess of the three ages of womanhood. Later, the symbol came to represent the Holy Trinity in Christianity: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The motif is based on the number ‘3’ considered to be a sacred number in many ancient cultures.