Figure 1.--Here a group of German boys are in a procession to church for their First Communion. The photograph was taken in the early-1950s. We believe they attended a confessional school. Notice how they are all dressed similarly. This was also often the case at American parochial schools. The short pants suits and white knee socks were fairly common at the time. The flat caps were much less common.

We have little information at this time as to chronological trends on German First Communion suits. We have not found any written sources. We do not a range of images in the photographic record. We have begun to acquire German images of boys taking their First Communion, some of which are dated or are fairly easy to date. This has allowed us begin to assess costume and other trends over time, but our limited number of images and the fact that not all are dated, makes it difficult to draw any firm conclusions at this time. Interestingly, virtually all the images come from the 20th century. We are not let sure why this is. Did First Communion become a more important event in the 20th century? Surely children in the 19th century commonly did First Communion, but for some reasons parents did not seem to think it was important enough to photogrph until the 20th century. A factor here is that photography did not become very important until the introduction of the CDV (1860s) and even then it was not as wide sopread as America. But we do not even see ruich people photographing their children's First Communiion in the 19th century. Of course we do not see American communions until the 1890s, but that was in pet because there werre so few Catholics in America until southern Europeans began to emigrate in numbers (1880s). We do see many German boys doing their First Communion in the 20th century. Hopefully our German readers will tell us about why there are so few 19th century images as well as sending details on their own experiences.

The 19th Century

We have no information about First Communion for German children in the 19th century. And have yet to find any images of the commuicants showing the services or how they were dressed. Of course photograph was only developed in the mid-19th century (1839). There are, however, very few German Daguerreotypoes or Ambrotypes. A factor here is that photography did not become very important until the introduction of the CDV (1860s). Even then we do nno see portrairs of children in their First Ci\ommuniin outfits. and even then it was not as wide sopread as America. But we do not even see ruich people photographing their children's First Communiion in the 19th century. Of course we do not see American communions until the 1890s, but that was in pet because there were so few Catholics in America until southern Europeans began to emigrate in numbers (1880s). We see a similar trend for school, images, but we have found quite a number of late-19th century school images. We have not vyet found any 19th century First Communion images. Hopefully our German readers will tell us about why there are so few 19th century when about half of Germany was Catholic.

The 20th Century

Interestingly, virtually all the German First Communion images come from the 20th century. We are not let sure why this is. Did First Communion become a more important event in the 20th century? Surely children in the 19th century commonly did First Communion, but for some reasons parents did not seem to think it was important enough to photogrph until the 20th century. We do not know if this reflects chaning attitudes toward photography or if there were changes in Catholic religious practice. We do see many German boys doing their First Communion in the 20th century. We note both individual portraits and group portaits. some of the groups portraits have the children dressed similarly or nearly identically. We suspect these were events sponsored at confesuional schools. These were public schools which had a religious component to the program. Most German children until the NAZI take-over attended confessional schools. The NAZIs began the assault on the religious role in education, especially the Catholic influence. We continue to notice large numbers of children doing First Communion through the 1950s. Girls in the first half of the 20th century often wore wore junior wedding dresses. Boys wore short pants suyits with long stockings or knee sicks. White knee sicks were populsr for a time. Boys began wearing long psnts suits more commonly beginning in the 1960s. Outfits became less formal in the lste-20th century. Overall participation has gradually declined in Germans modern more secular society. Hopefully our German readers will send details on their own experiences.

The 21st Century

Germany was a largely Christian country in the early-20th century. This began to change first as aesult of World War I and then the radiclization of German politics after the War. Left-wing Germans (both Socialists and Communists) were less religious than other Germans. After the NAZI seizure of power (933), they attacked the religious foundations of the country. This affected the thinking of many right-wing Germans who were among the strongest supporters of the Christian churches. The terrible destruction and suggering as a result of the War further undermined relgious faith. And then the Communist Government of the DDR waged the standard atheist campaigns. In the West the increasing secularization of society also affected religious belief. As a result, by the 21st century large numbers of Germans have turned away from the Christian faith. Even so, the celebration of important Church rituals (baptism, communion and church weddings) are still popular, more popular than church membership and attendance. Thus large numbers of German children till do First Communion. There are associated family gathering, sumptous food, and presents for the children. White Sunday is still a tradition which occurs a week after Easter, Because of the post-World War II affluence of Germany, the celebrations are today more elaborate than was the case when the country was much more religiously oriented. The communicant families invite relatives for the day. They attend morning mass and then have a nice lunch, often in a restaurant. This is followed by the First Communion church service. After this the commuicants and their families go home to enjoy a fancy cake.

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Created: 8:37 AM 4/9/2011
Last edited: 8:22 PM 1/27/2012