le Six Weeks= are allowed to elapse between the birth of the
child and the date of the christening.

* * * * *

=The Relatives are either invited= to luncheon after the ceremony, or to
a reception tea, or to a dinner-party to be given the same evening. If a
luncheon is decided upon it generally takes place at 1.30, or earlier,
immediately on the return from the church. The meal usually consists of
hot viands--game or poultry--not substantial joints. Hot and cold
sweets. Fruit to follow. A smart christening cake should occupy the
centre of the table. Champagne, claret, and sherry are given, although
the former is probably the only one of the three drunk on the occasion;
this, when the health of the infant is proposed--the only health which
finds acceptance at these gatherings.

* * * * *

=The Guests go in to Luncheon= quite informally, the ladies and hostess
entering first, followed by the men guests and the host. They should be
seated at table by the help of name cards, each lady being placed at the
right hand of a gentleman. The clergyman who performs the ceremony, if a
friend, should sit at the hostess's left hand, and should be asked to
say grace; but in town he seldom joins these family gatherings unless
well acquainted with his parishioners.

* * * * *

=A Reception Tea=, when given, is served in the dining-room; but in this
case the guests are received on arrival by the hostess in the
drawing-room, and when all have arrived, she accompanies them to the
tea-room and remains there with them. The maid-servants should pour out
and hand the tea and coffee across the tea-table, but the hostess should
hand the cakes, etc., to her relatives, assisted by the host, if
present. The refreshments consist of the usual variety in confectionery
seen at all smart "at homes," a christening cake being the addition.

* * * * *

=Christening Dinner-Parties= closely resemble all other family functions
of this nature, with the exception that the infant's health is drunk at
dessert, and that a christening cake is placed opposite the hostess when
the table is cleared for dessert.

* * * * *

=The Christening Ceremony= takes place in the afternoon, usually at
2.30. The relatives on arrival at the church seat themselves in pews or
on chairs near to the font. The godmother hold