Since when have Communions become such a plebian affair?

Sleepy · 22-05-2018 12:45PM

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.

facehugger99 · 22-05-2018 12:47PM

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.

Cool theory but somewhat wide of the mark.

0ph0rce0 · 22-05-2018 12:50PM

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.

facehugger99 · 22-05-2018 12:57PM

On a separate note, there were a few traveler kids getting their communion on Saturday.

My god, the women from the families looked like they were attending a stripper convention.

It was most diverting.

meeeeh · 22-05-2018 01:02PM

I think bouncy castles are not that expensive. Some here use them for birthday parties and I think cost is comparable or cheaper to having it in some play centre. I never hired one because ours have birthdays at the wrong time of the year but if you can avoid kids going into the house and sticking sweets under couch cushions then I am all for it.

Buford T. Justice XIX · 22-05-2018 01:30PM

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.

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?

topper75 · 22-05-2018 01:47PM

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.

Yeah after unleavened bread, everything else is just an assault on the palate one finds.

Irish Guitarist · 22-05-2018 02:02PM

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.

AllGunsBlazing · 22-05-2018 02:05PM

We went to the beach - don't ask me why - only for my sister to go running headlong into the water, ruining her clothes, and forcing us home five minutes after we arrived. I didn't get anything off the relatives because the few that hadn't long since buggered off to England weren't on speaking terms with my parents.

I was probably back in civilian clothing and out on the streets acting the scut within 2 hours of leaving the church. The year was 1983.

cocker5 · 22-05-2018 02:19PM

Omackeral wrote: »

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

hey now... there's no need for that carry on....

Cody is a deadly name.... it really suits my 13 year old Cocker

RhubarbCrumble · 22-05-2018 03:15PM

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.

1987 for me, but similar story. Stuck in a hotel that my parents thought was posh enough to impress the relatives and shouted at during the dinner to mind my dress because 'do you not know how much you're costing us'.

_Dara_ · 22-05-2018 04:22PM

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.

Yeah, that's so tacky. Why would anyone even want to do that?

I went to one of my good friend's son's communion and party a few years back. A few drinks were had but it was very clear that this was not an occasion for getting mouldy. Nobody did. Just a few glasses of prosecco and wine and that was it. It was just a nice sedate garden party on a lovely sunny day with a buffet of finger food. Classy and appropriate.

_Dara_ · 22-05-2018 04:24PM

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.

Meals out aren't anything new. I made my Communion in 1991 and half the class went out for a meal with their families.

c68zapdsm5i1ru · 22-05-2018 04:31PM

_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.

I'm talking about before that.

_Dara_ · 22-05-2018 04:39PM

Lincoln Refined Varsity wrote: »

I'm talking about before that.

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.

SirChenjin · 22-05-2018 04:42PM

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?

Same as any family communion I have attended. Lovely get together.

ibarelycare · 22-05-2018 04:50PM

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?

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.

22-05-2018 04:52PM

In Italy they use little linen smocks and a wooden cross hung around the neck.

Bout three fiddy in total.

Buford T. Justice XIX · 22-05-2018 05:13PM

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.

Tbh, as this was our fourth, I was just happy to make it to the church without a splatter of cow sh!te across my face and clean clothes.

Unlike the last one...:pac:

It wouldn't be my glass of prosecco either but everyone has their own idea of a good time.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 22-05-2018 07:08PM

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.

SEPT 23 1989 · 22-05-2018 07:26PM

After all the kids had gone home and daddy had a few on him he thought to himself it would be a splendid idea to climb the wall and jump onto the bouncy castle

Well as he left the wall the realisation hit him that he wasn't going to make the middle of the bouncy castle but instead he would land on the side tearing that bouncing castle in two

It was hurriedly deflated ready for collection

c68zapdsm5i1ru · 23-05-2018 12:45PM

_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.

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.

c68zapdsm5i1ru · 23-05-2018 12:48PM

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.

Yeah, my nieces and nephews First Communions have all been like that. Just a family get together in the house, with the grannies helping out by bringing over a dish of something or a dessert.

meeeeh · 23-05-2018 01:23PM

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.

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.

c68zapdsm5i1ru · 24-05-2018 10:06AM

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.

I'm not sure what your point is. I remember a time when going out for a meal for First Holy Communion was unusual and then it became a norm. I certainly never said it was a crazy extravagance. I was showing how, over the years, First Holy Communion celebrations gradually developed until they became the rather extravagant occasions they often are today.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 24-05-2018 11:19AM

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.

c68zapdsm5i1ru · 24-05-2018 12:45PM

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.

Who said it was?

Dravokivich · 24-05-2018 12:53PM

It's all them over the top shows on channels like TLC that have brought this upon us!

TheValeyard · 24-05-2018 01:52PM

Whats the going rate if your the godparent?

50E?

Malayalam · 24-05-2018 01:59PM

Murray TheDemonic TalkingSkull wrote: »

Whats the going rate if your the godparent?

50E?

500 bucks

Since when have Communions become such a plebian affair?

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