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At a young age a child of Catholic faith is indoctrinated fully into the church; this meaningful rite of passage is known as First Communion.
The ritual of First Communion has remained pretty much unchanged through the years. Children dressed in ivory clothing (with particularly elegant dresses and veils for girls) receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist for the first time, accepting a Communion wafer from the hand of a priest. This ritual generally is followed by a lavish party at the home of the child, who likely would be about the age of 7.
Despite the formality and uniformity of this rite, the celebration that surrounds it tends to vary slightly.
Through the years other churches—such as some of the Anglican and Lutheran faiths—have adapted First Communions as part of their symbolic rituals. And instead of the traditional formal white garb, children in different countries wear robes, school uniforms, or even kilts.
Today’s First Communion parties might be livelier than their predecessors, featuring modern (though still tasteful) music and more varied gifts. Today’s child might be just as likely to receive a CD of spiritual music or a DVD of a religious movie as a hand bound Bible, for example, and may receive a porcelain Communion figurine (depicting a child in white dress) as opposed to a wooden statue of a religious figure.
Although the celebrations and traditions that surround First Communion shift over time, the meaning of this ancient religious rite remains steady and true. Plan a First Communion Party today!
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the First Communion
History with your
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