Figure 1.--This unidentified Belgian boy wears a traditional sailor suit for his First Communion we think in the 1950s. It was with a set of portraits and snapshots that look to date to the 1950s. The studio was Georges Hotz in Brussels. |
|
We have not yet found many 19th century Belgian First Communion portraits. This is not just the case of Belgium. The same is true of other European countries as well and the United States as well. We are not sure just why this is. The photographic record for prosperous European countries like Belgium is fairly extensive by the 1870s. And thus we can pick up major trends fairly easily. Yet we see very few First Communion portraits in the 19th century and boys wearing sailor suits for First Communion are even more rare. This changes with the turn-of-the 20th century. We are not sure what caused this sudden shit. We see the same pattern in other countries as well. We see large numbers of First Communion portraits after the turn of the centurywith the children dressed up for their big event. Not only that but many of the boys wearing sailor suits. This continued for some time even after boys had stopped wearing sailor suits for regular wear. We note an unidentified Belgian boy boy wearing a classic sailor suit for his First Communion in the 1950s. Sailor suits are still worn by boys for First Communion even today in some countries. We see that in Spain. We are less sure about Belgium.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site religious pages:
[Return to the Main Belgian First Communion sailor suit page]
[Return to the Main Belgian First Communion garment page]
[Return to the Main Belgian First Communion page]
[Return to the Main Belgian activities page]
[Return to the Main communion page]
[First Communion]
[Confirmation]
[Ring bearer]
[Victorian wedding]
Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronologies]
[Countries]
[Style Index]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[French glossary]
[Dutch glossary]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web chronological pages:
[The 1900s]
[The 1910s]
[The 1920s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web style pages:
[Short pants suits]
[Blazers]
[Jackets]
[Kilts]
[Sailor suits]
[Sailor hats]
[Ring bearer/page costumes]
[Shortalls]