Figure 1.--This French boy wore a white sailor suit for his First Communion. The portrait is undated and we are not precisely sure when it was taken. Click on the image to see the boy's entire outfit. |
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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.
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. Some churches also make a major event out of the child'
renewing his vows. HBC has less information on this event than First Communnion. There are confirmation ceremonies in both Catholic and Protestant churches. Generally speaking confirmation is more important in Protestant than Catholic churches. France is of course a primarily Catholic country. A French contributor has provided information about a Catholic boarding school during the mid-1930s had the boys (les renouvelants) dress in emaculate white sailor suits to renew their vows. The sailor suits were probably also worn for First Communion. The sailor suits are trimed in blue, but insread of three white stripes as is traditional in England (for Nelson's three great victories over the French), have red stripes. This presumably mirrors the uniform worn by the French Navy during the 1930s. They all wear black oxfords rather than white shoes--presumably an economy measure. I do not know how common this was, but have some reports from Spain that boys also wear white sailor suits for First Communion. We are unsure as to how common sailor suits were for confirmation in other countries.
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