Sleepy wrote: » It's quite simple really. With the vast numbers defecting from their organisation, why wouldn't the church encourage people to bribe children to join their cult with sweets, bouncy castles and ostentatious parties? It's (hopefully) the dying gasps of a defunct and repugnant death cult.
0ph0rce0 wrote: » Had one last week for the little one. A mate runs a party business, so had all the crap the OP mentioned, Bouncy Castle, Giant Garden Games, Candy Floss/Popcorn on the go. (Paid **** all for it) Weather was great, BBQ on the go. The child had the friends over, all her family and cousins. Great oul day. There was a few drinks on the go. Not many times during the year you get all your family & friends together in the one place so see no reason why the older folk can't have a bit of craic too. Cheaper than bringing them all out for a meal in a hotel/pub while the child sits in a corner for the day on their IPAD bored out of their mind. P.S. there was no fake tan or limos.
Badly Drunk Boy wrote: » I made my Communion in May 1980. Afterwards, my parents, sister and I went up to Dublin from Kildare where I had my first McDonald's (on O'Connell Street). Fish and chips. I got all upset because McDonald's had violated my fish with probably tartare sauce and loads of salady stuff all over it, and I've always been fussy about food.
Omackeral wrote: » I wonder are the priests cringing at the names like Braxton and Codi-Mai and such in God's gaff.
Irish Guitarist wrote: » My communion was in 1984 and it was a piss up for my family just like every other occasion was. I was stuck in the pub for the day bored out of my skull. The idea of it being a day about me never entered anyones head.
ibarelycare wrote: » I’d say it depends on where you live but it definitely seems to be the norm in lots of parts of Dublin. I think they calmed down a bit post Celtic Tiger but I’ve noticed this year for the first time ever the amount of people going along to communions of their friends’ kids as social events and excuses to get mouldy.
Lincoln Refined Varsity wrote: » Back to the topic of the thread - I think the OTT stuff has been gradually creeping in over the years. Holy Communion children used to spend the day calling on relatives, ending up with tea at their granny's or somesuch - or as a big treat they might be taken to the zoo. Then the calling at relatives was changed to an event in the child's house, buffet, drinks etc. Then the bouncy castles started to come along.Then it became a meal out, and a late afternoon party with bouncy castle. Then during the celtic tiger some people went mad - fake tans for the kids, marquees and champagne and blahdey blah. I even heard of families going to a hotel the night before the 'big day' as if it was a wedding. I think things calmed down a bit during the recession, but have probably started to wind up again over the last couple of years.
_Dara_ wrote: » Meals out aren't anything new. I made my Communion in 1991 and half the class went out for a meal with their families.
Lincoln Refined Varsity wrote: » I'm talking about before that.
Buford T. Justice V wrote: » Likewise a few weeks ago with the youngest lad. Food at the house for family and games outside and xbox inside for the kids when it rained. All immediate family in the one place together for a few hours, a few drinks and craic, what's not to like?
ibarelycare wrote: » The events I'm talking about aren't a few hours drink and craic. They're an all afternoon, evening and night affair. Parents and their friends getting absolutely locked and going on a mad one. Kids either being carted off to grandparents as early as the parents can get away with it, or else up half the night surrounded by drunk adults.
_Dara_ wrote: » It wasn't anything new in 1991. The immediate family going out for a meal for a big occasion is hardly extravagant, is it? Eating out was much less common then, reserved for big occasions, of which Communion was one.
Brayson Freezing Flatware wrote: » At one last week. No outrageous outfits. Back to the house for a buffet type meal. Kids played in the garden and the adults chatted. All done and dusted by 7pm. A nice civilised day and reminiscent of our own kids' First Communion.
Lincoln Refined Varsity wrote: » Okay. I was just giving a general idea of how Communion celebrations have escalated over the years. I do remember a time when eating out in a restaurant wasn't part of it, but I'm older than you I think.
meeeeh wrote: » In Ireland we go out for family dinner with husbands parents and his sister an her family at least three times per year. When we are in Slovenia we go out with my parents and my brother and his family every time we are there, once or twice per year. When we were growing up we would always go out for family meal for our birthdays and other family occasions. I very much doubt we are some sort of crazy exception and I'm pretty sure plenty of people go out for a meal way more often than just for communion. While I appreciate people didn't eat out as much in the olden times I don't think diner out now days is some crazy extravagance.
Luella Dry Lacrosse wrote: » Going out for dinner isn’t a big deal is it? We do it almost every single week. For my communion the best auntie ever™️ Came to stay for a few days, my mam loooooved (and was very good!) cooking, so there was a huge hullabaloo at home, all the family over, and then next day me my mam my dad my brother and best auntie ever™️ Went to the zoo.
Murray TheDemonic TalkingSkull wrote: » Whats the going rate if your the godparent? 50E?
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