Godparent
A
godparent, in some denominations of
Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's
baptism. A male godparent is a
godfather and a female godparent is a
godmother. The child is a
godchild.
Traditionally, the godparents were counted informally responsible for ensuring that the child's religious education was carried out, and for caring for the child should he/she be orphaned. Today the latter duty is the most commonly recognized duty of a godparent, and the word "godparent" often no longer has religious overtones. The modern definition of godparent is an individual chosen by the parents to take a vested interest in raising a more complete human being. However, godparent is not a legal position, and should the parents seriously intend the godparents to act as
foster parents in case of their death, this must be legally specified through the usual means (such as a
will).
A godparent may be related to the child, such as an
uncle or an
aunt, or may simply be a friend of the family. Usually someone very close to the family is chosen; in some cultures, the word for "godparent of one's child" is used for any, or certain, very close friends. This is the meaning of the
Spanish compadre and
comadre, the
French commère and
compère, and the archaic meaning of the English word
gossip (from
godsib, "god-sibling").
At least in the
Anglican church, prospective godparents must be at least
christened before they can take on this responsibility. The
Roman Catholic Church requires that the godparents have undergone
Confirmation.
Folktales often feature a
fairy godmother, a fairy who acts as a mentor to a main character.
* "Italians have a little joke, that the world is so hard a man must have two fathers to look after him, and thats why they have godfathers" -
Tom Hagen to
Jack Woltz, from
Mario Puzo's The Godfather, Book I p.60.
