French Boys Activities: Religion--Importance


Figure 1.--This is a French wedding in 1956. The girls are flower girls and wear identical long white dresses. The boys wear identical suspender shorts. We are less sure about their role as there are two boys. Presumably only one boy could be the ring bearer. A French reader explains, "In France they is no ring bearer. These two little girls and two little boys are: Petite fille d'honneur and Petit garçon d'honneur. They escort the married couple, and hold the train of the bride's gown if she has a long formal one. They sit on each side of the married couple inside the chuch and have nothing else to do."

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. There were clothing costumes and fashion styles associated with many of the roles that boys played which have varied over time. Only the garments worn by altar boys have remained relative stable. 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 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 Roman Catholic Church has also palyed a key role in French education. We note French children wearing uniforms at many Catholic schools, but we are not entirely sure about the chronology of this. 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. 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. 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.

Altar Boys

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."

Choirs

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. We note French children wearing uniforms at many Catholic schools, but we are not entirely sure about the chronology of this.

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 throughout 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.







HBC





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Created: 3:40 PM 6/4/2009
Last updated: 3:40 PM 6/4/2009