Godfather in Sicily

[darkerhorse]

In the mid-to-late 19th century in Sicily, how common would it be for parents to chose as the godfather for their baby a male age 17 not a member of the immediate family?

[erudita74]

From what I can tell, research of 19th century Sicilian baptism practices is lacking but, in looking through my own ancestral Sicilian baptism records for this time period, I found that each infant had only one godparent, not necessarily of the same sex as the infant. In only one instance, for my husband's paternal grandfather, was the godparent a relative. In his case, the grandfather's godmother was his paternal grandmother. So I only know her age at the time, as I have her date of birth. Otherwise, I have not seen ages of godparents in the Sicilian baptism records. I just know, that in centuries prior to the 19th century, age seventeen may have been too young to serve as a godparent, as in those prior centuries, the godparent was responsible for the physical well-being of the godchild, in addition to the child's spiritual well-being. So, if the child was ever orphaned, for example, then the godparent was also responsible for providing financially for that child, something a young seventeen year old would probably not have been able to do.

[darkerhorse]

Thanks for your response.

[erudita74]

You're very welcome
Erudita