First communion customs

TundraGreen · #1 (**permalink**) 5th July 2012, 05:59 PM

I need advice. I have just been invited to a young Mexican friend's first communion. Is it customary to give a gift? If yes, would cash be an acceptable gift? This is a family with not much money. And finally, if cash is acceptable, what would be a reasonable amount? I was thinking of getting a new $500 peso bill from the bank and putting it in an envelope. Good idea or not?

Thanks,

circle110 · #2 (**permalink**) 5th July 2012, 06:50 PM

I asked my wife and she immediately said that a cash gift is considered bad form. A gift is customary but it should be nothing extravagant. She suggested perhaps $300 pesos in value.

#3 (**permalink**) 5th July 2012, 06:59 PM

I asked my daughter and some of her 11-13 y.o. friends. Most common gifts are something like a decorated t-shirt, a cute little pillow or other decoration for their room, a small cross, etc. If the gift giver doesn't know the child involved well, then maybe 200 pesos. They said 500 pesos in cash was probably more appropriate as a gift for a Quinceañera.

sparks · #4 (**permalink**) 5th July 2012, 07:11 PM

500 is over doing it but cash ... no. Since you can have your first communion at any age that would be a clue on what to buy. Normally around 8-10 years but teenagers do it too.

I went to a first communion last Sunday with 60+ kids because in our small town they only do it once a month (or less) because a head priest comes down from Autlan.

I bought a stuffed teddy bear for a nine year old girl. If it's clothes include the receipt so they can exchange it

TundraGreen · #5 (**permalink**) 5th July 2012, 07:23 PM

Thanks to all of you. I now have a much better idea of what to do. This is a 10 year old boy. I am going to look for a small gift.

edgeee · #6 (**permalink**) 5th July 2012, 07:59 PM

whatever you decide on, add a wiffle ball and bat. every 10 year old should own one of each.

Isla Verde · #7 (**permalink**) 5th July 2012, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgeee

whatever you decide on, add a wiffle ball and bat. every 10 year old should own one of each.

Do Mexican boys play wiffle ball? I would have thought that soccer (known as fútbol here) would be their favorite sport.

mickisue1 · #8 (**permalink**) 5th July 2012, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isla Verde

Do Mexican boys play wiffle ball? I would have thought that soccer (known as fútbol here) would be their favorite sport.

FWIW, the custom in the US is similar to what's being described here.

Smallish, age appropriate and/or religious gifts are the rule of the day. If you know that the first communicant is a reader, then age appropriate books work, too.

I'm going to assume that the boy involved is between 8 and 10. As noted, first communions can happen at any age, but for those raised from babies as Catholic, between 8 and 10 is the rule.

edgeee · #9 (**permalink**) 5th July 2012, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isla Verde

Do Mexican boys play wiffle ball? I would have thought that soccer (known as fútbol here) would be their favorite sport.

which is exactly why i want TG to start a trend. any child who never gets to play wiffle ball is a child deprived.
all it takes is one ball, one bat, and two kids.

Mr. P Mosh · #10 (**permalink**) 6th July 2012, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgeee

which is exactly why i want TG to start a trend. any child who never gets to play wiffle ball is a child deprived.
all it takes is one ball, one bat, and two kids.

With a soccer ball, you don't even need another kid (and I said it as someone raised in Monterrey, where baseball is still sort of popular, still, soccer all the way).

I'm currently atheist but had a first communion when I was 10 as well, I don't remember getting many gifts, just some money and clothes, I don't think gifts are a must... but maybe a book would be a good and original gift (maybe the first Harry Potter book or something like that).