Figure 1.--A German reader has sent us this photograph from his First Communion in 1990. He tells us that the "sammet" (velvet) jacket seen here, was the one his uncle used to wear when he was a boy, usually with short trousers. Click on the omage to see what an ealier German boy with a First Communion candel looked like.

We have received a few comments from our German readers about their First Cmmunuions. Often these personal experience sections are the most interesting sections of HBC. Hopefully we can expand this section as more of our German readers provide us information on their own experiences. Readers are welcomed to make these contributions in German if that would be easier.

A HBC reader tells us, "At my first communion on White Sunday 1990. I wore a white shirt and a red bow tie. I had a black velvet vacket and grey long trousers worn with shiny black shoes. The "sammet" jacket uit seen here, was the one my uncle used to wear when he was a boy, usually with short trousers (figure 1). There's a saying in German: "Samt und Seide". I wore my hair long, over my ears." [HBC note: That translates to English as "velvet and silk", but I'm not sure what it means other than two very expensive fabrics.] Our German reader tells us, "The other boys wore suits, too. Black trousers and bow ties, one of them a black jacket and the other a grey--black checked ("caroed") jacket." Note the candal that he holds, that was a tradition for German boys. We note many of the older portraits of German boys doing their First Communions also had these candals. I remember, that after service I got serveral presents (especially a bible and a church song book) and there was a gathering with our cloest relatives around a coffee table.

Another German reader tells us, "I wore a suit for my First Communion in 19??. For my confirmation I also wore a suit which is the common practice. Protestants are usually confirmed around age 14 years. This is so that the children have a similar age for entering the "social world". I was confirmed at age 18."

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Created: June 10, 2002
Last edited: July 12, 2002