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| The "dress" |
My family has a christening dress- worn by most babies in our family - beginning with my maternal grandmother, Anne Hughes McCarthy, 1912-1984. The dress is simple and delicate and at this point, 113 years old. Which means it is also a source of terror for every parent putting their child into it. Most babies wear it for a brief moment, to appease the old ladies of the family (a group to which I now state my belonging) and then it is returned to its storage box.
The dress was a gift, from a family friend of the Hughes (Mom and Mickey may have more to this story?) It was first worn at
Our Lady of Mercy Church, in Port Chester New York on the
12th of January 1913.
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| Heather and John putting Evelyn Anne Cheshire into the dress, 2011 |
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| Darren monitoring Evelyn's experience, 2011 |
The ritual of a christening is widely known, readings.. readings.. standing.. kneeling.. moms trying to keep a baby from crying... more kneeling. For some reason, our ceremonies also including older cousin's lurking around wondering what all the fuss is about - or perhaps, truthfully, making sure these addled adults don't mess anything up.  |
Maggie checking on Baby Sam Mathis, 2009
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A sampling of photos of the dress - in action - through the years - is below - please if you have them - send more; I'd love to add to this collection.
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| Corinne Elizabeth Cheshire, 2012 |
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Darren William De Groff, 2003
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| Hannah Anne De Groff, 2001 |
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| The author (Amy Anne Begg De Groff) in the dress, 1968 |
All who have worn "the dress" .. so far.....
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