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First Communion ( Pierwsza komuniais ) very important in Poland. The country is perhaps the most Catholic country in Europe. As such the ceremony is watershed event in the life of Catholic children. We don't yet have much historical information on First Communion in Poland. The chidren seem to celebrate Firt Communion at about 7-9 years of age. We suspect that at one time that instruction was given in the schools, but this may have varied as Poland until 1918 was split among Austria, Prussia/Germany and Russia. Then during World War II Poland was controlled by the NAZIs and Soviet. After World War II, the Communist Government launched upon an athiest campaign and prevented Church activities in the schools. We are not sure what has occurred in Polish schools since the fall of Communism. The Church's view is that First Communion aims primarily to prepare a child for religious experience, and everything associated with the event should enhance this experience rather than detract from it. Through these difficult times, First Communion has contunued to be important in Poland. Many believe that all the external aspects of the event have come to overshadow the religious essence of the occasion. First Communion has become an expensive undertaking in Poland today. Parents buy expensive lace dresses for girls and velvet suits for boys. Other expenses include a lavish reception and party as well as contributions to churches and priests for officiating and flowers. Godparents are expected to come up with expensive gifts for the children. Often this attract's the children's focus to the detriment of the religious experiebnce. Entrepreneurs have persued financial opportunities. Many families purchase engraved invitations, specual hotograph albums, commemorative Bible editions. Stores hold First Communion fashion shows. Restaurants cater First Communion parties. First Communion has become an opportunity for people to show case their rising social status and affluence. Gifts in particular have become ncreasingly expensive. Lavish parties are also becoming increasingly common. One Polish ckeric writes, 'Of course, this special moment in a child's life requires some celebration, but what is happening is a grave distortion. The entire cultural aspect of this event for the family tends in a dangerous direction and has little to do with the religious ceremony itself."
First Communion is very importsnt in Poland. The country is perhaps the most Catholic country in Europe. When as a result of the Polish Partitions, the Polish state cased to exist, the Church became the principal symbol of Polish nationalism. Given the importance of the Church, the ceremony is watershed event in the life of Catholic children. This remained the case even in the face of vicious repression by both the NAZIs and Protestants.
We don't yet have much historical information on First Communion in Poland. And unfortunately our photographic archive is very limnited. We know nothing about the 19th century. At the time, Poland was mostly under Russian rule with smaller areas controlled by Prussia/Germany and Austria. There was a varying degree of religious freedom in these countries, although Austria was the only Catholic ruler. The situation was complicated, especially because the Catholic Church was the symbol of Polish nationalism at a time when Tsar Alexander III launched a major Russification program. All of our information on First Communion comes from the post-World war I era when Poland gained its independence. The few examplws we have found show the children dressed much as German children dressed at the time for First Communion. In fact, it is very difficult to identify Polish First Communions unless the children are identified. We alsdo notice First Communions during the Communist era (1945-88). We are not sure just how many children did First Communion during this era are what rules were set by the Communist authorities. Communist rule ended (1988), but we do not yet have much information on how First Communion is celebrated in modern Poland. One report suggests that albs have become more common.
The chidren seem to celebrate First Communion at about 7-9 years of age. One observer writes, "I believe that the First Communion celebration should be delayed at least 1-2 years in order that the children will understand the religious aspect of the Eucharist. Before my First Communion, we had to pass a test whether we knew enough about the basic church laws and commandments. I remember that I had to learn these rules by heart without really understanding their meaning. I realized that my daughter's religious understanding was also very limited when she asked a month ago, "Mom, I don't need to attend religion class anymore after the First Communion, right?"
We suspect that at one time that instruction was given in the schools, but this may have varied as Poland until 1918 was split among Austria, Prussia/Germany and Russia. Abd very little instruction occurred in the Polish language. We do not know if the Church was allowed to prepare the children for First Communions in the schools during this period. Polish education blosomed after independence (1918). We suspect that the Church was able to give instruction in the schools. This was the pattern in Germany. Then during World War II (1939-45) Poland was controlled by the NAZIs and Soviet. After World War II, the Communist Government launched upon an athiest campaign and prevented Church activities in the schools. The NAZIs even closed many schools as it set out not only to destroy the Polish state, but Polish national identity. We are not sure what has occurred in Polish schools since the fall of Communism.
The Church's view is that First Communion aims primarily to prepare a child for religious experience, and everything associated with the event should enhance this experience rather than detract from it. Through these difficult times, First Communion has contunued to be important in Poland.
The First Holy Communion is a big celebration in Poland, usually a party after the church service. Many believe that all the external aspects of the event have come to overshadow the religious essence of the occasion. First Communion has become an expensive undertaking in Poland today. Parents buy expensive lace dresses for girls and velvet suits for boys. Other expenses include a lavish reception and party as well as contributions to churches and priests for officiating and flowers. Godparents are expected to come up with expensive gifts for the children. Often this attract's the children's focus to the detriment of the religious experiebnce. Entrepreneurs have persued financial opportunities. Many families purchase engraved invitations, specual hotograph albums, commemorative Bible editions. Stores hold First Communion fashion shows. Restaurants cater First Communion parties. First Communion has become an opportunity for people to show case their rising social status and affluence. Gifts in particular have become increasingly expensive. Lavish parties are also becoming increasingly common. One Polish ckeric writes, 'Of course, this special moment in a child's life requires some celebration, but what is happening is a grave distortion. The entire cultural aspect of this event for the family tends in a dangerous direction and has little to do with the religious ceremony itself."
Gifts often were religious in nature such as a picture of Jesus, a wooden plaque with Jesus on it, a catechism, prayerbook, and a rosary. Sometimes the children receive the rosary and prayer book from the priest in advance which the parents pay for.
Over time non religiou gifts like warches and jewelry and even cash have become common. We also note bicycles, gold rings toys, and even comouters. One modern observer complains, "First Holy Communion is yet another celerbation that has been stripped of its spiritual dimension and subjected to agrgressive pop-culture commercialism which brain-washed go-with-the-flow families feed and perpetuate. Like Sandy Clutz (Santa Claus) Christmas, it is all about spend through the nose and shop till you drop -- zero substance and mega-glitter and packaging so the filthy-rich exploiters can get even richer!"
Another observer agrees, "First Holy Communion is succumbing to the same disease as weddings did earlier -- the hyper-commercialisation of our times. High-powered adverts have brainwashed people into allowing what since time immemorial had been family occasions par excellence fall into the ‘just reach for your credit card, we’ll do the rest’ mode.
Weddings have evolved into a wedding industry and a communion industry is well on its way to emerging. Same with studniówka. Rather than school-leavers decorating the gym with balloons and streamers and their parents preparing the eats, stretch limos are hired to whisk kids to clubs and restaurants for the festivities. So we can also speak of a studniówka industry…Recently we celebrated my daughter's First Communion in Idaho. It reminded me of my First Communion Celebration in my parish church in Krakow Poland over thirty years ago. Also, I was able to locate some of my mother's family photographs that are over 70 years old."
Not everyone agres. One observer writes, "
The parents and the children will dress as best as possible to mark the occasion.
Contrary to what is being said, little will be thought of other families watching and envying. The celebrations after church will be with one's own family. People who are bothered that they have less than rich ones, should work faster and stare less.
I can't imagine how much envy and hatred there is directed to other people on the basis of wealth. (inni majom) But I would not have the event spoiled for the kid and family just to satisfy the little hearts of the enviers. The dress and jewellery are important for the little ones - and fun for the grow ups.
In Wprost or Polityka there was 3-4 years ago an article about millionaires who hide from public view by never mentioning their wealth and going to work to hide it."
Polish readers have provided some personal accounts.
Maciej Maleńczuk was born in 1961. He quickly dropped out of school, refused compulsory military service, and was in prison for 2 years. Then he was homeless, played guitar, and sang in the streets, took drugs, abused alcohol. In 1986, professional musicians noticed him. He became a soloist in a rock band. Today he is one of the most interesting and original singers in Poland. He gives 120 concerts a year and earns a lot of money. He has a wife and three daughters. A few years ago, Maleńczuk stated that he is a Satanist--quite a statement in still thoroughly Catholic Poland. In 2014, at the Song Festival in Opole, he wore an inverted cross around his neck - the emblem of the Satanists. He explained that as a child he was very thin and that he hated short pants because of it. At First Communion, he was forced to wear a white suit with short pants. It was the worst day of his life (considering his biography - those are quite strong words). From that day on, he took the road to Satanism. (This Satanism - if understandable is unusual - consists only in believing that God is malicious and unkind.)
Być może ta historia cię zainteresuje: Maciej Maleńczuk urodził sie w 1961 roku. Szybko porzucił szkołę, odmówił obowiązkowej służby wojskowej, dwa lata był w więzieniu. Potem był bezdomny, grał na gitarze i śpiewał na ulicach, brał narkotyki, nadużywał alkoholu. W 1986 roku zauważyli go zawodowi muzycy. Został solistą w zespole rockowym. Dziś jest jednym z najciekawszych i najoryginalniejszych piosenkarzy w Polsce. Odbywa 120 koncertów rocznie, zarabia duże pieniądze. Ma żonę i trzy córki. Kilka lat temu Maciej Maleńczuk oświadczył, że jest satanistą. W 2014 roku na Festiwalu Piosenki w Opolu miał na szyi odwrócony krzyż - emblemat satanistów. Wyjaśnił że jako dziecko był bardzo szczupły i z tego powodu nienawidził krótkich spodni. W czasie Pierwszej Komunii zmuszono go do założenia białego garnituru z krótkimi spodniami. To był najgorszy dzień w jego życiu (biorąc pod uwagę jego biografię - to dość mocne słowa). Od tego dnia wszedł na drogę wiodącą do satanizmu. (Ten satanizm - o ile można zrozumieć, jest nietypowy - polega tylko na przeświadczeniu, że Bóg jest złośliwy i nieżyczliwy).
I had a similar problem. I didn't like short pants either, so before First Communion I vigorously demanded a long pants suit. Fortunately, I lived in liberal Szczecin, not in conservative Krakow. I was given a suit with long pants (the communist garment industry produced a lot of different suits for boys going to First Communion) and that's why I'm not a Satanist.
Szczerze mówiąc miałem podobny problem. Też nie lubiłem krótkich spodni, dlatego przed Pierwszą Komunią energicznie domagałem się garnituru z długimi spodniami. Ja na szczęście mieszkałem w liberalnym Szczecinie, a nie w konserwatywnym Krakowie. Dostałem garnitur z długimi spodniami (komunistyczny przemysł odzieżowy produkował dużo różnych garniturów dla chłopców idących do Pierwszej Komunii) I dlatego nie jestem satanistą.
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