First Communion? Do you bring a gift?

[shmoogrrrl]

My two closest friends have daughters who will be having their First Communions over the next couple of months. We have been invited to the party after one (limited tickets and a huge family so we won't be going to the actual service), and the other lives in another state now but she is my daughter's best friend and her mother is my best friend.

Anyway, not being Catholic, I am not sure about these things. We should get them a gift, right?

If yes, any suggestions on what a good gift would be? My first thought would be a Bible with their name monogrammed on, but I figure that they probably have a few of those by now! I know my daughter does! Is there a 'usual' gift, or does anything go?

 

[Hillbeans]

Cash or savings bond.

 

[marcyinPA]

I don't know if gifts are expected for First Communion. I was raised Catholic but am not a practicing Catholic. We are Presby's and don't do all of that First Communion stuff....

I'd be inclined to get them something small...or a savings bond or cash. I don't think it necessarily has to be "religious". My first thought would be a gift card to Rita's or an ice cream shop in your town. I personally think $10 would be appropriate!

 

[FireDancer]

I bring a savings bond and card.

 

[FloraFauna]

There are some wonderful dvd's you could get. I was recently invited to a communion party and I brought "The Prince of Egypt" dvd as a present. The little boy liked it a lot.

 

[design_mom]

My son celebrated his first communion last year. Several people brought small gifts, both religious and non-religious. He got several rosaries, a keepsake box, a religious plaque to hang in his room (which he doesn't want to put in there), a gift certificate to the bookstore and a book (non-religious) that he'd been wanting. Several others brought nice congratulatory cards but no gifts, and that was fine, too.

A token gift is nice, but I don't think you need to spend a lot. (For what it's worth, my son does not have his own Bible. I don't think Bibles are all that common as gifts between Catholics...or at least not in my family. However, I think it would be a nice gift if that's what you want to get. If you do choose to get that, you might want to make sure it's a Catholic bible though. I think there are a few books in the Catholic bible that are not in the King James Version (or maybe it's the opposite...but I know they are different!)

 

[mom2travel]

I don't think you are obligated to get a gift, but I'm sure it would be welcome, like any other occasion.

I think for DS' Communion most people gave money or savings bonds. Grandparents/Godparents gave something in addition to remember the day. We had invited family and a some close friends. He went to Catholic school at the time so did not invite any of his school friends since they were also having their celebrations the same day

DD same thing gift-wise: money/savings bonds; a jewelry box from my parents, jewelry from my DSis who is her Godmother. Hers was more recent so I recall that we had invited a few of her close friends. One gave her a really pretty necklace. Another gave her some fun stuff (like from Claire's) which was also perfectly appropriate - a token to let her know that she was thinking of her and "thanks for inviting me to celebrate with you".

I would say whatever you are comfortable with giving is fine. But we usually invite people to join us in celebration, not for gifts - I wouldn't have cared if noone gave a gift

 

[wdwfan16]

Cash is the normal gift.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Card/Money is the common gift.

Go to the Catholic Supply store near you if you want something sentimental, like a rosary, necklace, or something else.

 

[Had2stopLurking]

Not religious either, but, when invited to something like that, we always do the savings bond/card thing as well.

 

[mjkacmom]

Around here, cash, check, or savings bond. The only actual gifts my kids got were crosses/medals from the grandparents, and a toy from a Jewish friend .

 

[themilesfamily]

We give a card and $10.

 

[Art 1]

Yes, of course.

 

[mjkacmom]

I don't know if gifts are expected for First Communion. I was raised Catholic but am not a practicing Catholic. We are Presby's and don't do all of that First Communion stuff....

I'd be inclined to get them something small...or a savings bond or cash. I don't think it necessarily has to be "religious". My first thought would be a gift card to Rita's or an ice cream shop in your town. I personally think $10 would be appropriate!

I live in a very Catholic area, and First Communion gifts are actually larger gifts - $50 - $100, depending upon the relationship. A grandparent/godparent will usually give more. If it's someone you are not close to, a $50 ($25 face value) is common.

We don't have a lot of family here, so no party (we all go out to dinner), but most parties are sit down dinners at restaurants (people here start booking in the winter for the spring, since we have 5 Catholic churches in 3 - 4 miles).

 

[RadioNate]

I bring a savings bond and card.

I think this is the standard Baptism, Communion and Confirmation gift.

 

[shmoogrrrl]

Thanks guys! I found some really cute monogrammed bible covers so I was thinking about those, but after all the mentions of the savings bond, we might just go in that direction!

 

[Rora]

I was raised Catholic and remember getting lots of religious books, toys, etc. I was in 2nd grade.

I think it's customary to bring a gift!

 

[Mom-to-2-Princesses]

I always bring a small gift -- we have a Christian bookstore in town that has tons of cute items. When my 6th grader made her 1st communion we brought cute pink lambs with a tiny cross embroidered on it's side. It was like a beanie baby and was about $8. The kids love them and my daughter still sleeps with hers.

This year I have 2 to go and I picked up some cute inspirational plaques at TJ Maxx for about $5.

Good Luck!

 

[klacey1]

We always do cash (no one in our area does savings bonds anymore). Last spring, DBF and I attended a family friend's communion and gave $50 inside a card. When I had my communion, I think I received slightly less from guests, but it was mostly cash. Don't remember if I got any "gifts," but I don't think so.

 

[NotUrsula]

...
If yes, any suggestions on what a good gift would be? My first thought would be a Bible with their name monogrammed on, but I figure that they probably have a few of those by now! I know my daughter does! Is there a 'usual' gift, or does anything go?

What is customary depends on the part of the country that you are in, but I can assure you that a monogrammed Bible is something that the child probably does not have. IME (cradle Catholic), most Roman Catholics do not own personal Bibles. We used to all get Missals for our First Communion, but that went out in the early 1970's when churches started putting Missals out for use by parishioners. I think such a Bible would be a nice gift, but do remember if you buy one that Catholics do not use the King James Version. Your best bets are the Revised Standard ed. or the New Jerusalem ed.

In areas where cash/bonds are not common, religious jewelry is probably the most popular gift.