Godparent
A godparent, in Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather and a female godparent is a godmother.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 it be orphaned. Today the latter duty is the most commonly recognized duty of a godparent, and the phrase "godparent" often no longer has religious overtones. 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").
Sometimes, the chosen friend is a powerful or rich friend, who can open opportunities to the child:
- In folk tales, we find the fairy godmother.
- The Mafia usage was made famous by the novel and movie cycle The Godfather.
(Godfather and godmother are the names given to two cocktails made with amaretto.)