First Communion
Encyclopedia
The First Communion, or First Holy Communion, is a Catholic Church ceremony. It is the colloquial name for a person's first reception of the Sacrament
of the Holy Eucharist. Catholics believe this event to be very important, as the Eucharist is one of the central focuses of the Catholic Church. Lutherans traditionally practice First Communion.
First Communion is not practiced in the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Oriental Orthodox Churches or the Assyrian Church of the East
which practice Infant Communion
. Some Anglicans allow infant communion (also called 'paedo-communion'), while others require the previous reception of Confirmation, usually during the teen age years.
Celebration of this ceremony is typically less elaborate in many Protestant churches. Roman Catholics and some Protestant denominations, including Lutherans and Anglicans, believe Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, although, for non-Catholics, not as Transubstantiation
. Other denominations have varying understandings, ranging from the Eucharist being a "symbolic" meal to a meal of "remembering" Christ's last supper. First Communion in Roman Catholic churches typically takes place at age seven or eight, depending on the country. Roman Catholic adults who have not yet received their First Communion may go through a separate program called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
or RCIA to receive this sacrament.
Traditions surrounding First Communion usually include large family gatherings and parties to celebrate the event and special clothing is usually worn. The clothing is often white to symbolize purity. Girls often wear fancy dresses and a veil
attached to a wreath of flowers or hair ornament. In other communities girls commonly wear dresses passed down to them from sisters or mothers, or even simply their school uniforms plus the veil and/or wreath.
In many Latin America
countries, boys wear military-style dress uniforms with gold braid aiguilettes. In Switzerland
and Luxembourg
, both boys and girls wear plain white robes with brown wooden cross
es around their necks.
In Scotland
, boys traditionally wear kilts and other traditional Scottish dress which accompany the kilt.
Gifts of a religious nature are usually given, such as rosaries
, prayer
books, in addition to religious statues and icon
s. Gifts of cash are also common.
Many families have formal professional photographs taken in addition to candid snapshot
s in order to commemorate the event. Some churches arrange for a professional photographer after the ceremony.
leading to Confirmation, which is culturally similar to that of the Bar Mitzvah in the religion of Judaism
. During the era of Communist dominant societies initiation into the Pioneer movement
in communist countries that had large Catholic populations was an overt attempt to supplant the Catholic ritual. In all cases, a child at the critical age of around seven to ten is initiated as a member of a group within which the individuals share certain values and culture.
Children are Baptized at the age of 8 years old.
Chassidim
Chassidic boys receive their first hair cut at the age of 3 years old, in Upsherin
ceremony.
Hinduism
Hindu children receive their first hair cut between the ages of 3 years to 5 years, in ceremony called Chudakarana
.
Sacrament
A sacrament is a sacred rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites.-General definitions and terms:...
of the Holy Eucharist. Catholics believe this event to be very important, as the Eucharist is one of the central focuses of the Catholic Church. Lutherans traditionally practice First Communion.
First Communion is not practiced in the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Oriental Orthodox Churches or the Assyrian Church of the East
Assyrian Church of the East
The Assyrian Church of the East, officially the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East ʻIttā Qaddishtā w-Shlikhāitā Qattoliqi d-Madnĕkhā d-Āturāyē), is a Syriac Church historically centered in Mesopotamia. It is one of the churches that claim continuity with the historical...
which practice Infant Communion
Infant communion
Infant Communion refers to the practice of giving the Eucharist, often in the form of consecrated wine, to infants and children. This practice is standard in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches; here, communion is given at the Divine Liturgy to all baptized and chrismated...
. Some Anglicans allow infant communion (also called 'paedo-communion'), while others require the previous reception of Confirmation, usually during the teen age years.
Celebration of this ceremony is typically less elaborate in many Protestant churches. Roman Catholics and some Protestant denominations, including Lutherans and Anglicans, believe Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, although, for non-Catholics, not as Transubstantiation
Transubstantiation
In Roman Catholic theology, transubstantiation means the change, in the Eucharist, of the substance of wheat bread and grape wine into the substance of the Body and Blood, respectively, of Jesus, while all that is accessible to the senses remains as before.The Eastern Orthodox...
. Other denominations have varying understandings, ranging from the Eucharist being a "symbolic" meal to a meal of "remembering" Christ's last supper. First Communion in Roman Catholic churches typically takes place at age seven or eight, depending on the country. Roman Catholic adults who have not yet received their First Communion may go through a separate program called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the process through which interested adults and older children are gradually introduced to the Roman Catholic faith and way of life...
or RCIA to receive this sacrament.
Traditions
First Communion is traditionally an important festive occasion for Roman Catholic families. Also, Holy Communion is the second sacrament of the seven. This is traditionally practiced by many Roman Catholic Italians, Latino, Scottish, and Irish (etc.) families.Traditions surrounding First Communion usually include large family gatherings and parties to celebrate the event and special clothing is usually worn. The clothing is often white to symbolize purity. Girls often wear fancy dresses and a veil
Veil
A veil is an article of clothing, worn almost exclusively by women, that is intended to cover some part of the head or face.One view is that as a religious item, it is intended to show honor to an object or space...
attached to a wreath of flowers or hair ornament. In other communities girls commonly wear dresses passed down to them from sisters or mothers, or even simply their school uniforms plus the veil and/or wreath.
In many Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
countries, boys wear military-style dress uniforms with gold braid aiguilettes. In Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, both boys and girls wear plain white robes with brown wooden cross
Cross
A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other, dividing one or two of the lines in half. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally; if they run obliquely, the design is technically termed a saltire, although the arms of a saltire need not meet...
es around their necks.
In Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, boys traditionally wear kilts and other traditional Scottish dress which accompany the kilt.
Gifts of a religious nature are usually given, such as rosaries
Rosary
The rosary or "garland of roses" is a traditional Catholic devotion. The term denotes the prayer beads used to count the series of prayers that make up the rosary...
, prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
books, in addition to religious statues and icon
Icon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
s. Gifts of cash are also common.
Many families have formal professional photographs taken in addition to candid snapshot
Snapshot (photography)
A snapshot is popularly defined as a photograph that is "shot" spontaneously and quickly, most often without artistic or journalistic intent. Snapshots are commonly considered to be technically "imperfect" or amateurish—out of focus or poorly framed or composed...
s in order to commemorate the event. Some churches arrange for a professional photographer after the ceremony.
Mission
The social mission of First Communion is a rite of passageRite of passage
A rite of passage is a ritual event that marks a person's progress from one status to another. It is a universal phenomenon which can show anthropologists what social hierarchies, values and beliefs are important in specific cultures....
leading to Confirmation, which is culturally similar to that of the Bar Mitzvah in the religion of Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
. During the era of Communist dominant societies initiation into the Pioneer movement
Pioneer movement
A pioneer movement is an organization for children operated by a communist party. Typically children enter into the organization in elementary school and continue until adolescence. The adolescents then typically joined the Young Communist League...
in communist countries that had large Catholic populations was an overt attempt to supplant the Catholic ritual. In all cases, a child at the critical age of around seven to ten is initiated as a member of a group within which the individuals share certain values and culture.
Counterparts in other religions
MormonismChildren are Baptized at the age of 8 years old.
Chassidim
Chassidic boys receive their first hair cut at the age of 3 years old, in Upsherin
Upsherin
Upsherin or Upsherinish is a Jewish haircutting ceremony, kabbalistic in origin, held when a Jewish boy is three years old...
ceremony.
Hinduism
Hindu children receive their first hair cut between the ages of 3 years to 5 years, in ceremony called Chudakarana
Chudakarana
The Chudakarana or the Mundana , is the eighth of the sixteen Hindu saṃskāras , in which a child receives his/her first haircut....
.