Monday, May 15, 2006
First Communions Cost Parents 3,000 Euros
In the age of consumerism and wastefulness in which we live, say Prensa Alternativa, events of the month of May have turned into a regular phenomenon: that of First Communions.
These appear more and more like mini-weddings, with an average budget of around 3,000 Euros and, which strains many a family budget.
The Federation of Independent Users and Consumers (FUCI) calculate that the minimum spent on First Communions is 1,700 Euros, although the maximum can be as much as 6,000 Euros.
Within this budget is the girl's dress, one of the more costly items, which varies between 100 Euros for a simple dress and 300 Euros for one with embroidery and beading. To this you need to add the costs for accessories, such as shoes, headdress (between 20 and 50 Euros), prayer books, jewelry and gloves.
The banquet adds the greatest part of the cost, at an average of 1,080 Euros, to which the cost of entertainment needs to be added, such as clowns, magicians or bouncy castles, which cost between 150 Euros and 450 Euros. In many cases, it is necessary to book the restaurant up to two years in advance.
Other items which inflate the budget are photography or DVD recordings or commemorative items to give to the guests, items which can cost between 300 and 600 Euros. The general custom is to give guests at least a small item that is personalized with the name of the child and the date of the celebration.
Parents, of course, want to do everything possible to make sure that their child enjoys a happy day, however, many take out loans and go into debt in order to do so. It seems that simple celebrations at home to which just a handful of close family were invited, have passed into history.
The religious community is concerned that First Communions are turning into "shows", where even the adults give more thought to the banquet, the dress, gifts and photography, than they do of the religious significance of the event.
These days a new phenomenon has started to appear, one nicknamed, "Civil Communions", which is to say nonreligious parents who give in to the child's desires for the party, gifts or a visit to Eurodisney - a custom which is becoming connected with First Communions in Spain - but without the religious content. In other words, to have a First Communion, without the communion!
Comunión y horca. Tres mil euros con forma de comunión
