First Holy Communion still pays for Irish children

Struggle Irish parents turn to credit cards to pay for big day

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Friday, May 6, 2011, 8:12 AM

Updated Friday, May 6, 2011, 8:12 AM

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Irish kids still earn big on Communion Day

There’s still money to be made in Ireland – if you’re making your first Holy Communion that is.
But parents are struggling to pay for the big day with many resorting to credit cards to finance the festivities.

A survey for the Irish Credit Union movement has discovered that kids are earning an average of $750 on their white dress day.

Despite the recession, family, friends and neighbors continue to shower money on children on the landmark Catholic date.

Those making their Confirmation in Ireland can expect an average of $650 according to the report commissioned by the Irish League of Credit Unions.

The figures for both Communion and Confirmation payments are largely unchanged from the height of the Celtic Tiger boom.

Parents may struggle to finance the big day but they are encouraging their kids to save the money collected, mostly in the Credit Unions present in every Irish parish.

Clothes account for the biggest outlay on Communion day with food and drink the biggest expense for those families hosting confirmations.

One in five families are using credit card facilities to pay for Communions with one in eight households forced to borrow from moneylenders.

Irish parents believe it is important to educate their children about money in the current economic climate but just one in four said they received any such advice when they were younger.

More than half of those questioned give their kids pocket money – at an average of $10 for those between five and eight years of age rising to $20 for teenagers.

“A healthy attitude to money is crucial to ensure that children don’t develop bad habits when it comes to money management,” said Kieron Brennan of the Irish League of Credit Unions.

“Studies have shown that the development of a savings habit at a young age results in that healthy attitude to money staying with the person through to adult life.”

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jacersagain | May 14, 2011, 03:08 PM EDT

It is true today that the cost of Communion outfits, especially for girls, is outlandishly high and should be condemned and changed for more simple outfits (like Irish Dancing costumes should be). While there is merit in celebrating a child’s First Communion with Christ, I don’t believe there is any justification for parents to spend so much outlay for what is a special occasion for the child, not the parents or neighbours. Indeed, I think that parents may feel ashamed if they don’t put on a ‘big show’ compared to what some boorish parents do – that should not be allowed and I think that parish priests should set the course and lay down simple standards to be observed on the day.

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jacersagain | May 14, 2011, 02:37 PM EDT

Well said 2B. I think the origin of First Communicants receiving money was a community thing, where neighbours contributed to reimbursing parents for the cost of Communion outfits for the boys and girls. There used to be a saying (still see it around in some places) “What you give in Charity, God will reward you more abundantly”. I remember receiving a small-value coin from a very poor neighbour of mine on my Communion day. She was almost distraught at feeling obliged to give the coin away, I remember seeing tears in her eyes in that moment - it was the price of a lb of spuds, tea, milk and bread back then. My mother touched her arm, saying there was no need for her to give the money but the lady insisted. Within a week, her husband found a job and income was once more flowing into her household. My mother’s delight for that poor lady was great.

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esatdigiwank | May 06, 2011, 05:17 PM EDT

The Meek shall inherit...nothing, ha ha.

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mamaginnty | May 06, 2011, 03:26 PM EDT

CATHAL, for the life of me, I do not know where you get your information. I have been to a lot of first communions, and never seen anything like $600 given to children. Mainly relations would give money and it might if lucky reach $100. Which usually is saved for whatever reason. As far as children 5 to 8 yrs getting pocket money, never met a family yet who give it. Yes you will get some who go overboard in buying a better communion dress than the next person, you will get that in any country. People are far more sensible than Cathals fairytale.

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PatriciaMarya | May 06, 2011, 03:02 PM EDT

This is absolutely ludicrous. To go into debt for one day? Why hasn't someone come up with a plan to recycle the veils and the dresses for the girls! Now the boys' suits and the shoes for both genders can be re-used, but to spend high 3 figures, why? There must be some bright thinkers who can come up with a way to trade and borrow and barter for both of these religious events. Isn't poverty supposed to be part of the virtues in Catholic ideology? We alway said that Catholicism raised it to an Art Form. Our Mom made our dresses and we created the veils ourselves by going to the millinary stores, but not everyone was able to be so clever with such a hard-working Mother. Let's modernize our thinking here. And if I remember correctly: I had the hardest time coming up with what was a sin when I was 7 years old for my first Confession! I do agree with starting to save when one is young, but there is always going to be something that is really needed whereas ceremonial clothing is a one-time only deal.

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MotherIrish | May 06, 2011, 11:43 AM EDT

I have never understood the Catholic reasoning behind a big party for a new communicant and the significant outlay of money that now goes into it. When I was young, there was a very large Catholic parish at the end of my short street. The girls had white dresses and a veil usually made by mom. Then a few family members attended and dinner after. Not lots of money given only a Bible, rosary, religious book mark or book given. Is this what Jesus would want or do???

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