first communion in the nineteenth century: what does fashion look like?

It's May, which is associated with the celebration of First Holy Communion in the ecclesiastical tradition and rites. Today, preceded by strenuous preparations, this day is usually celebrated solemnly. There are gifts, parties, and festive costumes - in the case of girls, a white dress or a more modest simple alb. Today's post will be devoted to this dress. I admit that the topic is interesting and requires more careful study.

The custom of receiving communion among many children was established in the 17th century and spread in the following centuries. It arrived in Poland in the first half of the 19th century. Pius X ordered the general First Communion ceremonies among children at the beginning of the 20th century. In the "Kurier Warszawski" from 1871 there is a mention of preparatory courses for 12-year-old children.

First_Communion_18411882_Plate_021 — Magasin des Demoiselles 1857

The history of the white dress can be traced on the magazine prints, paintings and photos. In the 19th century, richer families could afford a special outfit for children, usually disposable. In Poland, even in the 20th century, children from poorer homes usually wore prettier Sunday clothes or folk costumes. However, let's focus on the version of the outfit recommended by magazines. It is difficult to capture the moment when the white dress dominated the communion fashion. Certainly, such a dress appears in the engravings from the 1840s. Probably such a dress spread gradually along with the development and popularity of the white wedding dress (in 1840 the wedding of Queen Victoria of Hanover took place, whose wedding dress became an inspiration for future married women) . Since white was supposed to emphasize the chastity of the bride, it was all the more suitable for an innocent girl. In general, the communion dress was a miniature, slightly more modest, because without excess ornaments and train, counterpart of a wedding dress. It was long, covering the ankles and heavily built-up, obligatory with long sleeves. It kept up with the current fashion, although in the 1880s, girls did not always wear bustle. The complete communion outfit could not be complete without gloves and a long veil. Moreover, there was an appropriate headgear, most often a bonnet or bonnet, less often a wreath. There was also a white purse - reticule, which has survived in an almost unchanged form to our times. Boys' communion fashion was simpler and modeled on men's clothing. The boys wore black uniforms or tailcoats, and the special day was signaled by a white ribbon with a bow tied on the left shoulder.