Every child born will be faced with the traditions, cultures and religions of the community or society that they will be raised in. There are different ways to welcome them into that community, Christening and Blessing.
For the Catholics, there is the Christening, a.k.a. Baptism, and for the Protestants or Christians, there is the Blessing or Thanksgiving. Both welcome the child into the fold of the Church, both have Godparents to stand in for the child. These Godparents are asked to share their strength in committing the child to the Church which they will support to the best of their capabilities. These Godparents are either relatives or great friends, although there are some who simply ask because they have ulterior motives and are usually kindly refused.
The difference is in the ceremony itself. A blessing will only bless the soul and life of the child and thank God that the child is alive and healthy. A Christening or Baptism fully enfolds the child in the arms of the Catholic Church, with the full protection of the spiritual rites that they will now become part of the community of Soldiers of Christ that they are now in full Catholics. The ceremony is officiated by a priest, while a blessing may only be done by a lay minister or lay priest.
The anointing of the oil, eating the blessed salt and the pouring of the water all have symbolic meanings. The crying of the child is expected, in olden times, if a child did not cry, there would be speculation as to the acceptance. If the child cries, it is symbolic that the rejection of sin is willfully given up by the child. Actually the child is just reacting to the bad taste of the salt and the shock of cool or cold water.
Christians or Protestants believe that the child or individual must have full knowledge of what to accept before becoming a full pledged member of their church, for Catholics, this is not the case. The Baptism will protect the soul of the child from evil and they can always argue their way if they wish to be confirmed at an older age.
The blessings are usually done outside of the church, but Baptisms are always done in a special section of a Church. Here, the ceremony will be performed, the certificates issued and the child introduced. However, Godparents are given a special seminar before the ceremony to refresh their knowledge of their duties to the child, which is why most Godparents are always of the same religion as those who are not would not know the implications of the spiritual duties to the child.
A reception usually follows in the home of the parents or grandparents, but a restaurant will do just as well. Traditionally, after a Christening all family members share food to bring to the house as a show of support for the child. Today, a caterer can do the same thing and it is easier as the mother would usually be too tired.
A Christening or Blessing Cake is usually made from a favorite cake and frosted white and party favors of slices of that cake wrapped in white tulle is given to the guests, that plus a small token of appreciation from the parents and a Thank You card.