Confirmation and Communion Days are a very important milestone in every catholic schoolchild’s life. Not only is it important to the child, it’s a very special day out for all the family. If this is the first sacrament in your family, you may be at a loss; where do you start? We’ve put together a quick guide to prepare for Communions and Confirmations, what to buy as a gift and where to celebrate. Make sure to celebrate your First Holy Communion or Confirmation in style with a meal in the newly refurbished Hoban Hotel Restaurant, 1801, where we cater especially for these special family occasions.
Preparing for the big day
For parents & guardians, it’s important to ensure that your child understands the significance of the day. You should try to attend Sunday Mass as a family in the run-up to the big day and continue to do so after. Many schools will invite you along to one or more meetings before the First Communion day in the school or church which you should try to attend. Although the sacrament hasn’t changed at all, the way it is delivered might have so attending these meetings will help you to familiarise yourself.
What to wear – children
Traditionally girls wear a white dress and white accessories for their communion day and boys would wear their Sunday best, usually a classic suit with a red rosette and dress shoes. For the Confirmation celebration, it gives the child the chance to wear something to their own style. It’s often the first time in their young lives that they are given the opportunity to choose their outfit in a style that they feel represents them well. As with all religious events, the outfits chosen should be conservative and modest while remaining comfortable and elegant.
What to wear – family & relations
If you are the parent or guardian of a child making their First Holy Communion or Confirmation, you will be expected to attend church on the day. You can expect many pictures and mementos to be taken, many of which will be shown for years to come so you’ll want to look and feel your best. Your clothing should be appropriate for a religious ceremony, avoiding anything too casual or low cut. For ladies, there are many stylish and comfortable dresses, trouser suits and jumpsuits that are demure but trendy. For gents, a collared, button-up shirt with trousers and dress shoes would be appropriate.
Gift ideas
As a parent or the sponsor of a child, you may wish to give them a gift as a keepsake of this important day. For something that will treasure and wear for years to come, you may consider jewellery. No sacrament is complete without a cross but if that’s not your child’s style, you can always go for a more classic piece, like a watch, that they’ll use with every outfit. You might also consider gifting an experience like a cinema trip or a visit to the zoo creating long-lasting memories.
Lunch in 1801
Usually, after visiting close family and friends on the communion or confirmation day, you will head to a local restaurant or hotel for a family meal. The Hoban Hotel in Kilkenny offers many dining options for your celebration from a sit-down meal to a more informal BBQ option. The stylish and modern surrounds of our newly refurbished restaurant makes for the perfect backdrop for some family snaps you can treasure forever. Your special guest, the Communion or Confirmation child dines with our compliments.
If you’d like to book your Communion or Confirmation lunch in the Hoban Hotel, contact our team today who would be happy to talk through your options. Check the menu for our 1801 restaurant to see the delicious menus we have for this special day.
