Baptism

Christianity · water ceremony · faith tradition

Water ritual. Baptism uses water in different ways, depending on the church. Someone might be sprinkled with water, have water poured over their head, or be fully dunked underwater. The water itself is seen as a symbol of washing away the old and starting fresh.

Different traditions. Some churches baptize babies (often called christening), while others wait until people are older and can choose for themselves. The practice varies quite a bit between different Christian communities around the world.

Jesus was baptized. According to the New Testament, John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the river Jordan, and this event is described in the gospels. This historical baptism is why the practice became so important in Christianity.

Sacred sacrament. Most Christian churches consider baptism a sacrament, which means it's a holy act that connects people to God. In some churches, it's called an ordinance instead, but either way it's treated as deeply meaningful.