Communion gift

[mom2rtk]

I'm Catholic but I suggest NOT buying any of the First Communion stuff out there. Most kids already have a bible from their religious instructions classes. The First Communion frames, statues and other things are cute but will soon just be one more thing to dust. Cash is always appreciated.

Exactly. Some of those things are important. But if everyone gives a religious item, that's a lot of stuff collecting dust years later. Bibles and rosaries are important and I hope every child gets a few items like that, but not from everyone.

 

[mom2rtk]

Man, am I a cheapo?!?!?

Maybe it's just the area I'm in, but my dd had First Communion last year and received $50 and a sterling silver bracelet from grandma & grandpa. The god parents (and mom and dad) gave more, and we went out for a nice meal -- but that was the extent of it. No big party, so friends didn't give anything.

However, our church/school really advocated that First Communion was about the sacrament, the true meaning of the day over the fancy dresses and parties. Maybe we took it too literally, but I know her classmates had the same type of day.

Well OP, I'd give cash. It's the amount I'm unsure of.

I think the amount varies a lot regionally. And by family.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

If everyone gives them a religious gift what are they going to do with all that stuff? How many rosarys, bibles, saint books can one kid have?

I give cash unless it were my Godchild. I always thought only the Godparents do the special rosary or piece of jewelry (chain with a cross). In our circle all cash gifts go into a savings account for college.

I give $25 for friends. $40 for family.

It doesn't seem to be a problem for most families. Of course, they don't rent a hall and invite a hundred people to the party.

It is generally only close family and friends.

And obviously if someone wants to give cash, go for it. I am just posting what people do around here.

 

[Hikergirl]

I'd give cash, for that age probably $25. I would save the religious items and jewelry for family and god parents to give.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

It doesn't seem to be a problem for most families. Of course, they don't rent a hall and invite a hundred people to the party.

It is generally only close family and friends.

And obviously if someone wants to give cash, go for it. I am just posting what people do around here.

Yea in my circle parties are easily 100 people and that's with just close family and friends. It happens when you have large families.

 

[nkereina]

I'm 30 now, but back when I made my sacraments, first communion was a much bigger deal than confirmation. My parents had a party for my first communion, but not for my confirmation. Friends and family mostly gave me cash and savings bonds, but I recently learned savings bonds can be harder to get now and are given out less frequently. If I were invited to a first communion party, I'd give $50 for a friend or relative that I'm not close with. I remember receiving a lot of money, and my parents put it all in my savings account.

 

[gratefulfred]

Thank you to everyone for all of the responses. Just got back from the party. Glad I went with the $50 they went all out with the party.

 

[kimblebee]

Thank you to everyone for all of the responses. Just got back from the party. Glad I went with the $50 they went all out with the party.

So yoU felt obligated to give a lot of money because of the party the family chose?

I'll never understand gifts for the sake of gifts..

 

[mjkacmom]

So yoU felt obligated to give a lot of money because of the party the family chose?

I'll never understand gifts for the sake of gifts..

She brought the gift she wanted to bring, just was happy she didn't cheap out.

 

[moon]

Man, am I a cheapo?!?!?

Maybe it's just the area I'm in, but my dd had First Communion last year and received $50 and a sterling silver bracelet from grandma & grandpa. The god parents (and mom and dad) gave more, and we went out for a nice meal -- but that was the extent of it. No big party, so friends didn't give anything.

However, our church/school really advocated that First Communion was about the sacrament, the true meaning of the day over the fancy dresses and parties. Maybe we took it too literally, but I know her classmates had the same type of day.

Well OP, I'd give cash. It's the amount I'm unsure of.

Same here. In fact, I didn't get any gifts at all. After the First Communion mass we had a special breakfast at my uncle's house. Only family attended. It was all about the sacrament.

I have beautiful memories from that day.

 

[gratefulfred]

She brought the gift she wanted to bring, just was happy she didn't cheap out.

I'm a guy but other than that you are 100% right, I would of felt like I was cheaping out if I had done less.

 

[quandrea]

My twins have their communion next week. They will get cash from just about everyone. I've done a remembrance book of the day for them. I'd give $25-$100 depending on how well you know the child. Anything will be appreciated.

 

[Disney Doll]

When I've decided to give a gift instead of cash, I don't give one of those "chachi" first communion things. I usually give a crucifix and I make it one that could be carried throughout the persons life and hung in their house when they become an adult.

If they're Irish it's always a Celtic cross in nice wood or pewter or something g like that.

 

[JaneBanks]

I really don't like the implication that if you're giving a cash gift, and it seems excessive, that it is giving a gift just for the sake of it or that it's not about the sacrament.

In my case, I like to give a nice gift because it is coming from the heart and as a celebration for the happy day.

 

[Minnesota!]

As a Catholic gift store manager, I would suggest, for a first Communion gift:

not cash
Saint book
nice, but not really expensive, rosary
for a girl, a bracelet, necklace; for a boy, tie clip/tack
first "real" bible
crucifix

for Mom/Dad or Godparent: a Mass Book, Mass book kit

I know you didn't ask, but I liked that you simply ask at a gift store.

Cash is king here, too. One person gets a Bible, another a crucifix, another a rosary, and then my younger son also got a cool inscribed box, too, with some psalm on it. But, 90% gave cash.

No lavish gatherings here, just back at our house, with easy food, and hanging out.

 

[janicept]

I bought some rosaries from the Vatican in Rome for my niece and nephews that I gave them for their first communion. I think they sell them online. They were not as expensive as I thought maybe 14 euros each.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Dolla dolla bills, y'all!

 

[McKelly]

My Catholic kids are 18 and 16 now, but when they had their First Communion, they received money, religious items, clothing, toys and some people just came to the celebration with a card.