Baptisms and christenings date back to the earliest days of Christianity, and have their roots in the Jewish tradition of mikvah, or purification ritual. The word baptism comes from the Greek term for "to immerse," or "bathe;" The word Christen comes from Middle English and means "to receive into the Church."

Though types of baptism and christenings vary from a sprinkling of water of the head, called aspersion, to a full immersion of the body, the purpose and customs remains much the same as it was 2,000 years ago: to purify and receive into the family's spiritual community.