Figure 1.--Many French boys have served as altar boys. It is a considerable honor for a boy tombe chosen to assist the priests with the mass. Boys for this duty are costumed like the priests. I am not sure who the artist was. It was painted in Paris at the Luxembourg Church. I am not sure about the date, but it looks like the late 19th century. The artist portrays wonderfully the contrast between the severe looking parishners dressed in black and the innocent looking boy dressed in red and white. The altar boy here is distributing some little pieces of ordinary bred during a mass. This was very common, especialy in rural churches until the 1960s. It was a symbol of the farmer work.

France is a largely Roman Catholic country. Protesant groups have been severely persecuted in France. Since the Revolution there has been relogious freedom. After World War II, migrants from North Africa have added Islam to France's important religious groups. Religion has palyed a major role in France's history and the lives of its people. The importance of religion and church attendance has declined significantly in France. Even so so, religion is still an important force in France, especially in the lives of children. Many French boys have served as altar boys. The Church has been the primary force behind the organization of boys choirs. The Church has also palyed a key role in French education. Most French boys have a First Communion which is a major event in their lives. Important French holiday are religious festivals, including the most important for children--Christmas.

Faiths

France is a largely Roman Catholic country. Protesant groups have been severely persecuted in France. The St. Barthlomeu Day Masacre was a particularly grevious incidebnt of religious persecution. Since the Revolution there has been religious freedom. There was an important Jewish community in France, especially in Alsace. The French Jewish community was descimated by the NAZIs in the World War II Holocaust. After World War II, migrants from North Africa have added Islam to France's important religious groups.

Importance

Religion has palyed a major role in France's history and the lives of its people. The importance of religion and churchl attendance has declined significantly in France. Even so so, religion is still an important force in France, especially in the lives of children.

Altar Boy

Many French boys have served as altar boys. It is a considerable honor for a boy to be chosen to assist the priests with the mass. Boys for this duty are costumed like the priests. The altar boy seen here wears an alb in two pieces and a skullcap ( calotte ). This was the fashion until the early 20th. A HBC reader who was an altar boy in the 1950s reports wearing an all white without a skullcap. In the past, there were two grades of altar boy: 1) Enfant de Choeur and 2) Enfant de Choeur cérémoniaire. This system was still in use during the 1950s. The altar boy ( cérémoniaire in France and Ministrant in Austria ) was a boy with a thorough understanding of the mass. He need to be able to recite by heart several prayers in Latin; to be able to sing the ordinary mass; and familiar with the ceremonies involved. In the past such altar boy wore a red scullcap with his white alb, like the boy in the image here (figure 1). By the early 1960s this was changed, except for certain special ceremonies. A HBC reader writes, "I have not forgotten the Latin chant. Quite often at home, I enjoy singing holly chant! I am still able to sing on two scales, with contre-alto voice. My brother had extensive piano lessons, begun by mother."

Choir

The Church has been the primary force behind the organization of boys choirs. Many countries of Western and Central Europe have a long tradition of church boys' choirs dating back to the medevil era. One of the longest traditions is that of the French boy choirs. The choirs were associated and continue to be associated with the the Catholic Church. I do not know of any secular boy choirs in France. The French tradition has influenced the development of boy choirs in several other countries, including Belgium, Canada, Haiti, and others.

Education

The Roman Catholic Church has also palyed a key role in French education.

Communion

Many French boys remember taking Communion. It was a major event in their lives. Most French boys have a First Communion which is a major event in their lives. French boys like American boys used to get dressed up in new suits or fancy outfits for their First Communion. The suits have changed over time. Some were simplly new suits. I have unfortunately, little historical information on the suits worn before the 20th Century. Considerable information exists on the 20th century. A smaller but still imaportant number of boys were also confirmed, called renewal in French.

Holidays

Important French holiday are religious festivals. The two most important are Easter and Christamas. Of course the miosr important holiday for children--Christmas. Another important religious festival in France is Easter.

Weddings

We do not have much information about French weddings. France of course is a Catholic country and the wedding traditions ar Catholic. Even so I believe many poor people did not marry formally before the Revolution (1789). A strong anticlerical trend developed with the Revolution which was moving toward a kind secular religion. This of course affected wedding trends. This was stopped by Napoleon, but throyghout the 19th century there was a conflict between the Church and liberals. Even so most French people wanted a Church wedding. A lot of American wedding traditiins come from Vctorian Britain. We know much less about French wedding traditions. I am not sure about modern trends in France. Another factor is France's growing Muslim population.

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Created: December 11, 2002
Last updated: 10:51 PM 3/8/2005