Greek Baptism--Gift?

[Haven]

We''re going to a Greek Orthodox baptism tomorrow, and we can''t figure out how much to give as the gift. Our Greek friends tell us everyone gives an envelope with money in it, but how much do people normally give?

We''re friends with the parents, but not super close. We''ve actually never met the baby, and she''s several months old.

I know the traditional gifts vary for baptisms in other religions and denominations, so please, if you''re familiar with Greek Orthodox baptisms, please help us out.

Thank you for your help!

 

[AdiS]

Haven, I can't help that much with your question, but I saw that no one has answered yet, so I thought I might chime in. I'm a Bulgarian Orthodox and we don't really have a "rule" when it comes to baptism gifts. Most guest do give money but the amount is always different. I'd say just give the amount you'd be comfortable with spending if buying a gift?

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 11/23/2009 3:00:55 AM
Author: AdiS
Haven, I can''t help that much with your question, but I saw that no one has answered yet, so I thought I might chime in. I''m a Bulgarian Orthodox and we don''t really have a ''rule'' when it comes to baptism gifts. Most guest do give money but the amount is always different. I''d say just give the amount you''d be comfortable with spending if buying a gift?

ya ditto. I was going to say something similar Haven as I''m Macedonian Orthodox. I think it''s kinda like any other situation where you give cash - give what you can reasonably afford or would spend on a decent gift.

From your description, if it were me I would say ~$100. But then again we''re both students, so your financial situation is likely quite different, etc.

Sorry don''t have a definitive answer!

 

[Haven]

Thanks, ladies!

It was the first baptism we''ve attended, and I feel really honored to have been a witness to it.

We ended up giving them a check for $100. We figured we''d be in the middle with that amount, and we were comfortable with it. I was hesitant to give them anything at all because this is the couple that sent out pre-printed thank you cards for their wedding, and then they haven''t sent a thank you note since for anything we''ve given them, so it''s obvious that they don''t really appreciate the gifts. (We''ve sent a housewarming gift, two baby shower gifts, a gift for the baby once she was actually born, and an anniversary gift since the wedding.)

They''re DH''s friends, though, and I''ve learned that his social circle has different standards than mine when it comes to manners, so I''ve been *trying* to come to terms with it and accept it since this is a friendship he''d like to maintain. (Which is why we keep sending gifts and cards.)

Venting about their lack of manners here has just made me feel much better. Thank you for listening!

It''s strange because when we''re with his friends I enjoy their company, but they can be so rude with some things that it''s a struggle for me to muster up the excitement to spend time with them *before* we go out. Once we''re with them, I''m fine. I''m loosening up, though, I''ll get used to it over time.