Since when have Communions become such a plebian affair?

ibarelycare · 21-05-2018 10:56PM #1

When I was young your communion was about having a mediocre meal in the local hotel, getting fivers in cards from aunties and uncles, and if you’re lucky one of your friends’ parents hiring a bouncy castle, which half the street got the use out of.

These days they’ve become mini working-class weddings. Piss ups for the families, sweet carts, limos, candy floss machines, those tacky-as-ef Instagram/Facebook cardboard frames, hiring djs, renting out an area in a scummy pub, professional photo shoots, mothers and aunties and grannies booking their hair, tan, makeup months in advance, dads and uncles and grandads taking fashion tips from McGregor’s clan. It’s like a competition in some neighbourhoods to see who can get themselves in most debt to out-tack the people next door. The past few weeks in work I’ve heard numerous people talking about the “mad” communions they were at at the weekend. Seriously can people not leave the crates of Blue WKD and bags of poor quality cocaine for a day that’s not supposed to be about children?

/fin

Your Face · 21-05-2018 10:58PM

Last week.
Wednesday I believe.
Not sure the time but it was definitely after Earl Grey and before Pimms.

mookishboy · 21-05-2018 10:59PM

Jealous much ?

Esel · 21-05-2018 11:01PM

U OK, hun?

verycool · 21-05-2018 11:03PM

For a minute there I thought the "time traveller" poster was back!

seamus · 21-05-2018 11:04PM

I think they've always been that bad tbh.

Kid two doors down had his over the weekend. Bouncy castle on the green, the whole street were using it, his Ma gave all the kids cake. His uncles brought their hurleys (bleedin' culchies) and had a knockabout on the green.

Very civilised affair by modern standards, no limos or 8 year olds in slutty wedding dresses to be seen.

Though the ice cream man did decide to come around at 9 o'clock. That was weird.

ibarelycare · 21-05-2018 11:06PM

mookishboy wrote: »

Jealous much ?

Yup. Dreadfully. I wish I could spend all my weekends getting drunk around children.

Ipso · 21-05-2018 11:06PM

seamus wrote: »

I think they've always been that bad tbh.

Kid two doors down had his over the weekend. Bouncy castle on the green, the whole street were using it, his Ma gave all the kids cake. His uncles brought their hurleys (bleedin' culchies) and had a knockabout on the green.

Very civilised affair by modern standards, no limos or 8 year olds in slutty wedding dresses to be seen.

Though the ice cream man did decide to come around at 9 o'clock. That was weird.

Who doesn't like a bit of "ice cream" at 9 pm?

21-05-2018 11:08PM

mookishboy wrote: »

Jealous much ?

Esel wrote: »

U OK, hun?

Two absolutely sh*t and unoriginal replies from circa 2013. You must learn to respect a hateful rant and not be so crap in future you pair of nits.

Jimmy Dags · 21-05-2018 11:08PM

With the new sugar tax parents will be giving their children some rose wine.

Conservatory · 21-05-2018 11:08PM

ibarelycare wrote: »

Yup. Dreadfully. I wish I could spend all my weekends getting drunk around children.

Sure it’s better they see their daddy handling 12 pints like a pro than learning to fall over after 3 pints from kids their own age.

verycool · 21-05-2018 11:09PM

Ipso wrote: »

Who doesn't like a bit of "ice cream" at 9 pm?

So, it's not just me thinking they're dealers?

21-05-2018 11:16PM

I wonder are the priests cringing at the names like Braxton and Codi-Mai and such in God's gaff.

matchthis · 21-05-2018 11:19PM

Think it was about the time of the recession.

Conservatory · 21-05-2018 11:21PM

Omackeral wrote: »

I wonder are the priests cringing at the names like Braxton and Codi-Mai and such in God's gaff.

They probably have their own stuff to cringe about

mzungu · 21-05-2018 11:28PM

seamus wrote: »

I think they've always been that bad tbh.

Kid two doors down had his over the weekend. Bouncy castle on the green, the whole street were using it, his Ma gave all the kids cake. His uncles brought their hurleys (bleedin' culchies) and had a knockabout on the green.

Very civilised affair by modern standards, no limos or 8 year olds in slutty wedding dresses to be seen.

Though the ice cream man did decide to come around at 9 o'clock. That was weird.

That's just business. If the area was mobbed then he is sure to make a tidy profit for himself.

seamus · 21-05-2018 11:35PM

mzungu wrote: »

That's just business. If the area was mobbed then he is sure to make a tidy profit for himself.

It was 9pm. All the kids were in bed.

He drove down the road playing the Match of the Day theme tune, stopped to look at his phone, and then turned around and fncked off again!

Larbre34 · 21-05-2018 11:45PM

Its not restricted to the working class to try and show-off without cause. Hypocrisy of people "celebrating" a sacrament they are unlikely to darken the door of a Church for long after the communion day to ensure their kids keep receiving it, is widespread

There are plenty of ways to de-power it. First Communion should be received during the school day, with one parent / guardian allowed be present, and all the kids boys and girls alike should wear plain white soutane. If tacky parents can be bothered buying separate dresses and outfits and organising a party at the weekend, then good luck to them.

Yer Da sells Avon · 21-05-2018 11:48PM

It's always been a bit tacky and creepy. Dressing little girls up in mini wedding dresses. That, as my late granny used to say, is some fucked up shit.

_Dara_ · 22-05-2018 02:24AM

The “family knees-up in the pub” communion celebration was actually quite common in my rural Wesht of Ireland primary school in the 80s and 90s. My family was the odd-one-out for just having a nice meal at home then going for a spin.

But all the other stuff mentioned in the OP wasn’t the done thing at all. It is very wedding-y alright.

Graces7 · 22-05-2018 07:38AM

i was at my landlord's eldest;s First Communion in deep rural Kerry, at a small church, a while ago. It was handled respectfully and lovely. The girl was the only one and it was an evening service. Very much a community/family service.

Yes a white dress but no veil etc

The mother spoke lovingly of her daughter during the service.

Afterwards, supper in the local school, again the whole community.

They are a family faithful at Mass, so it was deeply meaningful.

Working class heroes · 22-05-2018 07:43AM

My young fella’s communion this weekend, gonna be epic!

freshpopcorn · 22-05-2018 07:49AM

The word I'd use is tacky.
Well I got my communion back in early 2000's.
Both the CBS and convent joined for their communion.
The fake tan/big fair/massive/dress/etc was only really done by one girl.
Most people went for a meal with their family after words. Parents/Siblings/Aunts/etc.
I don't think anybody had a bouncy castle. They were done for Birthday's.
It wasn't until the second half of the 2000's that the big tacky Communions became more common.

erica74 · 22-05-2018 07:50AM

Young girls in their communion dresses makes me think they're brides of jesus.

Richard Hillman · 22-05-2018 08:54AM

Seen one communion girl yesterday with a Unicorn horn headband. Last year somebody I know was trying to flog off helium filled balloons in the shape of a crucifix.

ibarelycare · 22-05-2018 09:21AM

Richard Hillman wrote: »

Seen one communion girl yesterday with a Unicorn horn headband. Last year somebody I know was trying to flog off helium filled balloons in the shape of a crucifix.

I saw that on Instagram yesterday...a photo of a girl the morning of her communion wearing a white dressing gown inscribed with "____'s Communion Day <date>" and holding a helium crucifix.

Sky King · 22-05-2018 09:25AM

I do get your point OP but communions are weird and creepy indoctrination ceremonies anyway. Al least this way we can kind of laugh at them a bit.

Helium crucifix indeed! Wouldn't be much good hammering a nail into that, let me tell you!

EdEd · 22-05-2018 09:28AM

Creepy nonsense to be dressing up young girls as brides of christ.

22-05-2018 09:30AM

Fair Play OP, communion has now become a thing of competition.

Checkmate19 · 22-05-2018 09:40AM

It's alot to do with who can have the biggest communion. I seen one where my brother work's with a bouncy castle, popcorn machine, candy floss machine, two lots of food, mini go kart track, limo, ice cream van, macgican/face painters and dj. Just people trying to out do each other. Become a bit sad really.

meeeeh · 22-05-2018 09:46AM

Richard Hillman wrote: »

Seen one communion girl yesterday with a Unicorn horn headband..

Shush. Communion or no communion you can't avoid the bloody unicorn stuff.

Anyway I have one of ours doing communion this year. It will be a meal in a local hotel for the family, close relatives and feck all else. I would possibly pick more glamourus location for the meal but we have a voucher for the hotel we won't spend otherwise.

Since when have Communions become such a plebian affair?

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