Christening gift

A baptism brings all kinds of gifts. A silver spoon, a photo frame, a soft toy. Lovely things, but most of them end up in a box in the attic within a few years.

GALAMBOM works differently. The box holds a handmade gingerbread – inspired by a monastery recipe, made with, among other things, white rye flour, local farmers' blossom honey and cane sugar, and baked at the Milimári Sütiműhely bakery in Budakeszi – while the satin ribbon hidden in the box carries the words of a Christian saint. Pull out the ribbon and they appear. The gingerbread gets eaten; the message remains.

Each box contains one of twenty-four different messages. The message on the ribbon is in English. If you order several, your guests won't all get the same one.

What we usually tell godparents: everyone will bring something for the child anyway. Bring the parents something that makes them stop for a moment.

Guide

Who gives what at a baptism?

Hungarian baptism customs have no rules set in stone, but there is a division of roles that works more or less everywhere. It is worth knowing, because it helps avoid the most common awkward moment: the family receiving three silver spoons.

• GodparentBy tradition, the most personal gift is theirs – often something lasting that the child will later feel is truly their own
• GrandparentsTypically the larger, practical gift: jewellery, a savings account, a piece of furniture
• Close relativesClothes, toys, books – things the parents use day to day
• GuestsA small token, often meant more for the parents

If you are still at the start of deciding, our guide to baptism gifts goes through in more detail what works and what doesn't.

GALAMBOM typically sits between a godparent's gift and a guest gift: a single box is not expensive, but not insignificant either, and it works because it does not remain an object – it becomes a sentence.

How much do people usually spend?

There is no good general answer, because it depends on the family's means and how close the relationship is. What we see from our orders: guests think in terms of a few thousand forints each, while godparents set aside more. The ten-box GALAMBOM pack comes to €4.00 per box, which usually sits comfortably within the guest-gift range.

When is it given?

After the ceremony, at the baptism lunch or reception. If you mean it as a guest gift, the loveliest way is to have it waiting at each place setting – thanks to the satin ribbon, the box is decorative in itself and needs no extra wrapping.

How many should you order?

Count the adult guests and add two. Experience shows that someone you didn't count on always turns up, and there is always one box left over that the parents keep as a memento. If half the guests are couples, you can give one box per couple – in that case half the headcount is enough.

What to avoid

Sized baby clothes (the parents know better what they need), yet another soft toy, and highly personalised decorations that don't suit their home. The safe choice is something that gets used up, or that takes up no space.