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A girl receiving her First Communion

The First Communion (First Holy Communion) is a Roman Catholic ceremony. It is the colloquial name for a person's first reception of the sacrament of the Eucharist. Roman Catholics believe this event to be very important, as the Eucharist is one of the central focuses of the Roman Catholic Church. First Communion is not practiced in the Eastern Catholic Churches, which practice Infant Communion. First Communion is also celebrated by some Protestant denominations, particularly Lutherans. Celebration of this ceremony is typically less elaborate in those Protestant churches that practice it.

Communion is most often first received by children around the age of seven or eight, when they have reached the age of reason and are capable of participating in the sacramental life of the Roman Catholic Church. First Communion is to be preceded by the sacraments of baptism. If a person has not been baptized as a baby or small child, they will usually be baptized shortly before their First Communion.

According to the decree released by Pope Pius X in 1910, entitled "Quam Singulari", the sacrament of penance must be received before First Communion. The Code of Canon Law c.914 states "It is the responsibility...of parents...as well as of the pastor to see that children who have reached the age of reason are correctly prepared and are nourished by the divine food as early as possible, preceded by sacramental confession; it is also for the pastor to be vigilant lest any children come to the Holy Banquet who have not reached the age of reason". The Decree Quam Singulari, in treating the age at which children are to be initiated into their post-baptismal sacramental life, had to face (as had a decree on frequent Communion by the Sacred Congregation of the Council, five years before) certain doctrinal and ascetical errors that had become deeply rooted in Catholic life at the opening of the century, at least in some parts of the world. One of these was the pretense that a greater discretion is required for first Communion than for first Confession. This, like most of the other errors, was rooted in Jansenism: for example, one was the idea that to receive first Holy Communion requires a nearly complete knowledge of the Articles of Faith and, therefore, an extraordinary preparation. In effect, this means deferring first Communion for the riper age of 12, 14 or even older.

While this sacrament usually takes place when the person is still a child, it can be received at any age provided the person has never received the sacrament of the Eucharist before.

Depending on culture, this could be the same as or different from a solemn communion.

First Communion is traditionally an important festive occasion for Roman Catholic families.

Traditions surrounding First Communion usually include large family gatherings and parties to celebrate the child's First Communion; special clothing is usually worn. The clothing is often white, to symbolize purity. Girls, especially, wear fancy dresses and often a veil attached to a headdress, as well as white gloves (long or short). In some communities in the United States the practice of buying a special dress for First Communion is becoming increasingly extravagant, with prices sometimes in excess of $200. In other communities it is more common for girls to wear dresses that have been passed down to them from their sisters or mothers, or even simply use their school uniforms plus the veiled headdress and gloves.

In Scotland, it is traditional for boys to wear a kilt for the ceremony. Many countries in Latin America have the boys wearing pseudo military-style dress uniforms, with fancy gold braid augelltes. In Switzerland, both boys and girls wear plain white robes with brown wooden crosses around their necks.

Gifts are usually given and often this will include gifts of a religious nature, such as rosaries, prayer books, in addition to religious statues and icons.

Many families will also take this opportunity to have formal, professional photographs taken, in addition to the many candid snapshots of the day.

• Communion and the Developmentally Disabled
• Confirmation

• Quam singulari
• A Letter from the Vatican: First Penance, First Communion
• CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Communion of Children