All denominations of Christianity have ceremonies and rituals although some, such as Roman Catholics, put more importance on them than others. These ceremonies are often similar to each other but some are unique to particular denominations. These rituals are called 'sacraments' and are supposed to be a means by which believers receive divine grace. For Protestants, the sacraments are merely symbolic gestures, whereas Catholics believe that by performing these rites they actually receive divine grace. Baptism is a water purification ritual practiced by all Christians. Depending on the denomination, the member is immersed in water or has it sprinkled or poured on their head. This symbolizes the washing away of original sin and the formal entry of the member into the Church or a public avowal of their acceptance of the faith. For some denominations this ritual is performed shortly after birth. In the case of Roman Catholics, the parents of the child will select a godfather and a godmother and this will be announced at the ceremony. Many Protestant denominations perform baptism at a later age, when the member can decide for themselves to accept the teachings of Christ. In this case, the member is deemed to be 'born again'.At some point in their life, Christians will reconfirm their faith in public. This ceremony is known as confirmation and is usually carried out during adolescence. The idea is that the believer was baptized as a child and is now old enough to understand the scriptures and should confirm that they do indeed believe in their religion. In most cases the believer will have a witness. This will usually be a relative who has already been confirmed. The witness will stand behind the person being confirmed
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