Figure 1.-- This portrait shows two unidentified brothers dressed in their first communion suits somewhere in Quebec, possibly Quebec city, probably during the 1920s. They both wear the white ribbons around the left arms known as "brassards". They also wear "insignia", a flower and white satin strip of cloth with fringe (like a short stole) with religious symbols, fastened to their lapels. These boys look to be about 7-8 years old. They wear the traditional dark suits with short trousers, white shirts and matching ties, and black long stockings, obviously worn with garter waists. They also wear black low-cut shoes. Quebec boys were dressed for first communion in the Catholic Church similarly to German and Belgian Catholic boys of the same period.

We note a range of different garments were associated with First Communion suits in Canada. Some are similar to the first communion outfits worn in Ameriva, but there are differences, especially in the time-line. HBC has little information on the headwear worn for First Comunion. There almost certainly would have been headwear in the late-19th and early-20th century. However, as the portraits were almost always formal ones in studios, the boys are not wearing their headgear. And after World War I, headwear began to decline in popularity. The only image HBC has at this time is a boy in the early 1950s wearing a beret. How common it was for French Candian boys to wear berets and to wear them for dress occasions, HBC is unsure of at this time. Boys tended to wear standard suits for First Communion--usually dark suits. We see mostly single-breasted jackets, but our sample is very limited so we are not entirely sure about the type of jackets. We do not notice sailor suits being worn to any extent. We are not sure about the color of the suits, but think they were mostly black or dark blue. Many American boys in the 20th century wore white suits. I'm not sure if Canadian boys also wore white suits. We tend to see mostly dark suits in the images we have archived so far. Girls wore white dresses as were standard in America, but I do not yet know if boys wore white suits. HBC is not sure what kind of shirts were worn. As far as we can tell they were mostly white shirts. Wrist ruffles were not worn, but collars are unknown as they have been covered by large white bows. Large collar bows were popular rather ties. The commemorative sleeve bows were also worn. They both wear the white ribbons around the left arms known as "brassards". They also wear "insignia", a flower and white satin strip of cloth with fringe (like a short stole) with religious symbols, fastened to their lapels. HBC does not have sufficient information at this time to assess what kind of suit pants were common. We are not sure about the 19th century. Knee pnts seem common in the 1900s and knickers in the 1910s. Some boys may have worn knickers in the 20s, bit short pants seem the nost common during the 1920s-50s. We are not yet sure about the 60s. mages from the 1920s-50s show that short pants were worn. Again HBC does not have adequate information for any definitive assessment. Our initial impression is that the boys wore black long stockings anbd the girls white long stockings. The long stockings were worn for formality rather than knee socks, alt least through the 30s or even the 40s. We are less sure about the 50s. Available images show boys wearing long stockings with knee pants, knickers, and short pants. We do not know if boys wore white stockings or knee socks swith wehite suits like American boys. Boys commonly wear black lace up shoes, at least by the 1920s. Girls wore junior wedding dresses with fancy headwear and white long stockings

Headwear

HBC has little information on the headwear worn for First Comunion. There almost certainly would have been headwear in the late-19th and early-20th century. However, as the portraits were almost always formal ones in studios, the boys are not wearing their headgear. And after World War I, headwear began to decline in popularity. The only image HBC has at this time is a boy in the early 1950s wearing a beret. How common it was for French Candian boys to wear berets and to wear them for dress occasions, HBC is unsure of at this time.

Jacket

Boys tended to wear standadrd suits for First Communion--usually dark suits. We see mostly single-breasted jackets, but our sample is very limited so we are not entirely sure about the type of jackets. We do not notice sailor suits being worn to any extent. We are not sure about the color of the suits, but think they were mostly black or dark blue. Many American boys in the 20th century wore white suits. I'm not sure if Canadian boys also wore white suits. We tend to see mostly dark suits in the images we have archived so far. Girls wore white dresses as were standard in America, but I do not yet know if boys wore white suits.

Shirt

HBC is not sure what kind of shirts were worn. This is difficult to tell when the boys are wearing suit. We see, however, some boy wearing blouses and shirts without suit jacket. As far as we can tell they were mostly white blouses or shirts. Wrist ruffles were not worn, but collars are unknown as they have been covered by large white bows.

Bows

Large collar bows were popular rather ties. The commemorative sleeve bows were also worn. They both wear the white ribbons around the left arms known as "brassards". They also wear "insignia", a flower and white satin strip of cloth with fringe (like a short stole) with religious symbols, fastened to their lapels.

Pants

HBC has begun to expand our Canadian First ommunion section and thus we know increasingly more about the pants worn by boys for their First Communion. There are a lot if similarities beteen America and Canada, but some substantial diffrences with First Communion celebrations. We see boys commonly wearing knee pants in the late-19th abd early-20th century worn with long stockings, often black long stockings. Knee pants continued to be commonly worn in the 1900s and knickers in the 1910s. We do not see, however many Canadian boys wearing knickers for First Communion as was very common in America. We can not yet make a firm assessment here because we do not yet gave many Canadian 1910s images. We suspect that many mothers saw short pants as more appropriate for younger boys and knickers for older boys. Brithis influences were more pronounced in Canada than in America. Some other conventions, however, may be involved. Perhaps our Canadian readers will know more about this. We see a few Canadian boys wearing knickers for First Communion in the 20s, but not very many. We see more in the 30s, especially the late-30s. Knee pants were disappearing, but short pants seem the most common during the 1920s-50s. It is not always possible to identify the type of pants because many boys wore long stockings, often colors matching the pants. Images from the 1920s-50s show that short pants were worn. We note some long pants in th 30s, but short pants seem more common. We begin to see white short and long apants in the 1950s. White short pants suits seem nuch more popular in Amnerica. We are not yet sure yet about the 60s and subsequent decades. We no longer see knickers and long pants become increasingly common.

Hosiery

Again HBC does not have adequate information for any definitive assessment. Our initial impression is that the boys wore black long stockings anbd the girls white long stockings. The long stockings were worn for formality rather thsn knee socks, at least through the 30s or even the 40s. We are less sure about the 50s. Available images show boys wearing long stockings with knee pants, knickers, and short pants. We do not know if boys wore white stockings or knee socks with white suits like American boys.

Shoes

Boys commonly wear black lace up shoes, at least by the 1920s. e note mostly low-cut shors by the 30s.

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Created: 7:54 AM 9/30/2011
Last edited: 7:54 AM 9/30/2011