Expensive First Holy Communions!

freshpopcorn

I'm 25 this year and would have got my Communion in 2001. Now most people had nice clothes and went for a family meal after words. I think about one maybe two people went for the big sparkly dress/horse drawn carriage. I remember at the time both boys/girls were laughing at these people at how tacky and cheap it looked. Is this still the case or is everybody doing it?
I'm from a small town and most people seem to still be going for a simple enough style Communion. The biggest difference I notice is more people seem to go home for a barbecue or buffet instead of going out for a meal.

bear1

My communion was in 97. I got a juventus jersey.
No one showed up in anything special except maybe a new Toyota carina.

Barry Badrinath

I made my Communion in 1988.

All I remember is dropping the candle and then choosing the "Donald Duck" menu in the Tara Towers Hotel in Booterstown.

That is all.

OldMrBrennan83

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Senna

I thought it was only the "authentic Irish" who would be tacky enough to come in a carriage?

biko

After church we just dinner at home as usual, albeit my favourite dish.
No fancy restaurant for me

hairyslug

I would have made mine in 87/88, I went to the Lambert puppet theatre after.
When a friend's child was making his communion, someone tried to book the church carpark because there was nowhere else the helicopter could land.

Our daughters is on Sunday, after the service is a meal with close family and then home to wash the stink of church out of my clothes

Lau2976

I didn't have a communion myself but remember the girls in my class who did. One wore a backless dress and was covered in fake tan. One or two others went over the top, the rest were fairly standard afaik. Oh's niece made hers this year, i don't remember seeing anything that really stood out like those two had at mine.

Allinall

Tara Towers hotel for me.

I was pissed by 6.00 pm.

Ah the good old days.

Crea

My son made his this year. We live in a decent enough rural area. Most had small family & friends gathering. One family had a marquee with bar and catering for 100 people.
I was driving through our local town last weekend and got stuck behind a horse drawn carriage on its way to a communion.

TresGats

I made mine in 1978, and as a family we went to the Powerscourt Gardens which wasn't very much fun at all, we did drop into my maiden aunties on the way home, which made up for it as I loved their dog so much.
I didn't want my 2 sons making their FHC, but I gave into pressure from my parents and their Dads parents over a decade ago. Dressed them both up nice from Debenhams, brought one to the zoo, the other for a big family meal in a reserved area in an ok restaurant. I was for as little fuss as possible

Wardling

I went to a nieces the weekend gone. Way over the top. Private room booked, dj, professional photographer, sweet cart, photo booth. A wedding wouldn't cost as much. Nuts

Samaris

My mum made my dress for my Communion (it was dyed primrose yellow afterwards for a "good dress"). We did the Church thing and then I think we had a Chinese takeaway with the family/extended family. Pretty straight-forward.

Niece had hers there last Saturday, and again, simple (although very pretty) dress, family went back to her parents house and we all had a nice afternoon.

Really doesn't need all the froofraha imo, but each to their own I guess.

gramar

Crea wrote: »

My son made his this year. We live in a decent enough rural area. Most had small family & friends gathering. One family had a marquee with bar and catering for 100 people.
I was driving through our local town last weekend and got stuck behind a horse drawn carriage on its way to a communion.

Well if that doesn't take the biscuit or the holy ghost or whatever they give you nowadays.

uck51js9zml2yt

Senor Fancy Pants wrote: »

I made my Communion in 1988.

All I remember is dropping the candle and then choosing the "Donald Duck" menu in the Tara Towers Hotel in Booterstown.

That is all.

Ooohhh....whose posh !

Made mine in 1975! Lemonade and sandwiches at home!

the14thwarrior

I made mine in high babies (as it was called then), because i was six, and deemed old enough. There was another girl in my class too that had to do this.
All i remember is going over to the first class to take lessons. all i remember of the day is I got my socks dirty before I even made it to the church.

Fast forward to the following year, I couldn't then make it with my classmates, and I remember the Monday after when all the girls in my class wore their dresses and veils, i came running home at 9 o clock in the morning, roaring crying to my mother. i can still remember her taking down the box from the top of the wardrobe and putting on the dress and veil, no new shoes or my red coat. the class photograph of the shows me like a lemon half dressed. i was never included in the class that i made my communion with.
i always felt cheated....

ectoraige

1984, we went to a fancy *hotel* restaurant afterwards where my dad had a staff discount and I got to have a bit of everything from the dessert trolley!

DEFTLEFTHAND

Just a meal in the local hotel with family. I think it was 1997.

I remember I bought a goalpost out of my money.

Barry Badrinath

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Just a meal in the local hotel with family. I think it was 1997.

I remember I bought a goalpost out of my money.

Did you buy the other goalpost with your Confirmation money?

smaoifs

1990. I remember I got my hair curled that morning but they fell out by the time we went to the church. Also remember brand new white knickers and vest set from Dunnes. Family went for a meal after the mass and then a tour of the relations. My mother hated it, felt we were like beggars so the following year for my sister's we had a buffet at home and had everyone come to us.

sunbeam

Did mine in 1980 and was the only girl with a new non-hand-me-down dress due to my lack of older siblings/cousins.

I had a lovely long lace nightdressy number which apparently was the height of fashion at the time-Pippa Middleton eat your heart out. :-D

We had tea and cake with neighbours and younger cousins back at the house then headed off to see the grandparents. Lovely dress was then trashed as we played down the fields.

If I got any money I don't remember seeing any of it...

Aglomerado

1984 West county hotel in Ennis, a modest family lunch. My dress was from Todds in Limerick and was tiny because I was the smallest in my class. We ran into a girl from my class in the West county and had to sit with her and her family, there is a picture of me in my white dress with a scowl on my face while she beams at the camera, I hated her as she used to tell tales to the teachers....

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

I made my communion in 95. I was only 6. Kids seem to be much older now, which is good.

We went out for dinner afterwards and then the next day I got to choose what we got to do. So, we went to the zoo

Kalimah

the14thwarrior wrote:

Fast forward to the following year, I couldn't then make it with my classmates, and I remember the Monday after when all the girls in my class wore their dresses and veils, i came running home at 9 o clock in the morning, roaring crying to my mother. i can still remember her taking down the box from the top of the wardrobe and putting on the dress and veil, no new shoes or my red coat. the class photograph of the shows me like a lemon half dressed. i was never included in the class that i made my communion with. i always felt cheated....

the14thwarrior wrote:

Fast forward to the following year, I couldn't then make it with my classmates, and I remember the Monday after when all the girls in my class wore their dresses and veils, i came running home at 9 o clock in the morning, roaring crying to my mother. i can still remember her taking down the box from the top of the wardrobe and putting on the dress and veil, no new shoes or my red coat. the class photograph of the shows me like a lemon half dressed. i was never included in the class that i made my communion with. i always felt cheated....

I made mine in 1969. The week before the big day I came down with chickenpox and couldn't make it with the class. The following week I was brought down to the church, the only girl among a load of boys, and made it then. I was mortified! Added to that I didn't have the dress or shoes I wanted either. I still talk about it!

Estrellita

Wardling wrote: »

I went to a nieces the weekend gone. Way over the top. Private room booked, dj, professional photographer, sweet cart, photo booth. A wedding wouldn't cost as much. Nuts

That is absurd. Not to mention completely taking from the day that's in it. It's not about what actually happens at church anymore, it's all the above crap, or bouncy castles while the adults get p.issed in their back gardens.

I'd a very simple day. I made my communion and had a meal out afterwards with just my parents and siblings. Perhaps dull by today's standards, but I enjoyed it and I'm glad it was as low-key as it was. I've fond memories of getting ready for the church, and how special the day felt.

5rtytry56

May 1979 for me, same day as my cousin. Meal in Deerpark hotel howth with both families and grandmother's. Grandfathers had both died.

c68zapdsm5i1ru

My mother made my dress. We did a tour of the relatives and I think we had lunch in a restaurant in O'Connell Street. Then I think we had tea in my grandparents.

It was a long time ago!

MRnotlob606

I made mine in 1968.

Shenshen

Mine was sometime in the early 80s, I don't remember exactly.
My mom had bought the dress second hand via a newspaper ad, and it was sold on the same way after the event. Only cheaper, as I had managed to tear it somewhere.
I think the extended family showed up for coffee and cakes at home, but that was it, really.

I remember a few years later having huge, heated arguments with my mother about me not wanting to do my confirmation after our RE teacher had told us that while communion was our parents' decision, confirmation should be our own, and being forced to do it anyway.

duffman13

Made mine in 95 I think. Nothing major, out for dinner and the bowling i think.

My sister's God child had his communion last week. Facebook/Instagram cut outs, personalised water bottles and business cards with his picture, private function room with dj, huge banner with his photo and happy communion day.

I've been to weddings which wouldn't cost this much. The mother in question is on single parents with a council house. I honestly wonder how they afford this stuff

B0jangles

Made mine in the mid-1980's. The dress I wanted consisted of layer-upon-layer of big poofy frills topped off with some kind of frilly bodice; in retrospect it looked horribly like those dolly-shaped toilet roll covers*. The dress my mother got for me was both simple and elegant, so of course 7 year old me didn't like it very much. My abiding memory of the day is of me sitting demurely in church admiring my perfectly spotless little white sandals suddenly realising the kid behind me had just set my veil on fire.

:mad:

I think we had a chinese meal afterwards but the sad sight and smell of burnt veil overshadowed the rest of the day a bit so I don't really remember.

*Like this, only slightly less tasteful:

iguana

hairyslug wrote: »

Our daughters is on Sunday, after the service is a meal with close family and then home to wash the stink of church out of my clothes

Genuine question. If you feel like that, why bother with it?

DeanAustin

Communions are becoming like Christmas now with religion completely irrelevant to the day.

I've two kids and don't think I want them making their communion but I'll have some battle with my missus and mother over it. I went along with the christenings to get them into a school.

Don't get me wrong. I don't have major issues with the church or Catholicism but it's sheer hypocrisy to be sending your kids into a church for christenings, communions and confirmations if you don't believe or don't go to church.

seamus

smaoifs wrote: »

My mother hated it, felt we were like beggars

She's right. It's such a trashy thing to do, going round the houses looking for money. So weird.

About a decade back, I remember drinking with a mate in a *ahem* downmarket city centre pub early one Saturday afternoon and one of the regulars comes in with his daughter in all her finery, showing her off to the other barflies. Anyone who didn't put their hand in their pocket and produce a twenty was swiftly "reminded" that it was her communion and not to be stingy.

WTF like.

turbowolfed

It's my brother's communion soon. We're doing dinner with just ourselves in the immediate family, and bringing him to the cinema which he asked for. Nothing too over the top.

On the other hand, he has classmates renting out function rooms, bringing their whole extended family for dinner, and one is even booking out an adventure centre for their party. It's all a bit mad really.

Murrisk

Wardling wrote: »

I went to a nieces the weekend gone. Way over the top. Private room booked, dj, professional photographer, sweet cart, photo booth. A wedding wouldn't cost as much. Nuts

That honestly sounds like it was treated as a mini-wedding! :eek:

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Murrisk

seamus wrote: »

About a decade back, I remember drinking with a mate in a *ahem* downmarket city centre pub early one Saturday afternoon and one of the regulars comes in with his daughter in all her finery, showing her off to the other barflies. Anyone who didn't put their hand in their pocket and produce a twenty was swiftly "reminded" that it was her communion and not to be stingy.

WTF like.

That's so weird. For the panhandling aspect but also because what grown man would give a crap about some acquaintance's offspring's communion?

PandaPoo

I made mine in 2001. No make up, nails, hairdresser, carriage, just the dress and veil etc. Went for a meal after in a place in Stillorgan, I think it was called Blakes?

My son will make his in 2 years and it will be the same thing, no make up for him! A nice family dinner in a restaurant and that's all.

sjb25

Aglomerado wrote: »

, I hated her as she used to tell tales to the teachers....

Fecking informers

Neyite

Third hand dress and new knickers for me. I was seven. Nowadays kids are about 8/9 which is a better age I think.

The parents were religious so it was all about the sacrament and so rather annoyingly, the mother warned relations and neighbours not to go daft giving me money so I got sod all on that front. Plenty of saint's medals though :rolleyes: No photos and straight home afterwards for Sunday Dinner.

Parchment

I went to the post office with my communion money (this is over 20 years ago) and my mom waited outside in the car. I was supposed to put it into my savings account. I didnt get a huge amount for my communion .

Anyway i asked for it all in ?1 coins. They gave it to me. I felt so rich.

Went back out to the car with my money bags. My mom went mental - sent me back in to lodge it.

Hermy

freshpopcorn wrote: »

... is everybody doing it?

Thankfully no as some people have coped on to the fact that all religion is made up nonsense.