For those of the Catholic faith, the First Holy Communion is a very important event in the lives of young people and their families. It usually takes place when a child is 7-8 years old and celebrates the first time that they accept the bread and wine, also known as the Eucharist. They will usually be dressed in new clothing for this special occasion, a pure white dress for girls and a smart suit for boys. It’s a special time for families with many people arranging parties and celebrations to mark the milestone. Every occasion calls for flowers and communions are no exception!
Traditions around Communion in Ireland
Many traditions around communion in Ireland have been around for years and some are more modern. White clothing is usually worn by the child, but not in all cultures. Girls will wear a wedding-style dress with white shoes and a veil, and boys usually wear a blazer and shirt with a corsage or ribbon. It's customary to give the communion child a card with some money inside, the amount depends on the situation and your relationship to the child. Traditional gifts include candles, bibles and rosary beads but many children prefer a cash donation so they can decide to spend or save it how they like.
Celebrating Communions
While some families prefer to celebrate this milestone in their homes or by visiting close friends and family, we see function spaces, restaurants and halls booked so everyone can come together and make the most of this important time. With kids entertainers, music, games and dancing, communion parties are celebrations of age and great reasons to come together. Every room deserves flowers and there are some beautiful varieties that are seen often at communions. We’d recommend keeping colour palettes light and bright in keeping with the theme of childhood and purity.
Types of Flowers to Choose
There are thousands of varieties to choose from and all flowers have their beauty so it's hard to go wrong. We recommend seasonal blooms, native if possible. Lilies are always a popular choice for occasions because of their beauty and smell but keep those stamens away from the white clothing. They’re guaranteed to stain with the slightest touch! Alternatives include;
- Azaleas
- Baby’s Breath
- Carnations
- Daffodils
- Daisies
- Gardenias
- Hyacinths
- Hydrangeas
- Lavender
- Peonies
- Roses
- Tulips
Flowers for Communion
If you’re dressing your home or a hired space for communion, flowers bring an air of luxury to the celebration. Bouquets, centrepieces, table arrangements and wreaths are popular floral décor in the celebration space. Freestanding displays provide the perfect backdrop forphotos. Single flowers can be carried by the child or small bouquets can be held. Wrist corsages are popular for girls and buttonholes often decorate the boy's suit. They might like to add fresh flowers to their hair or wear a floral headpiece. If you’re not able to attend the celebration, sending First Communion flowers is an option and as it's likely the first time the child will have received something so beautiful for themselves, it creates lovely memories.
Belles Fleurs Florist in Blanchardstown Dublin 15 provides a full flower delivery service for communions. We specialise in custom arrangements to suit the child's style and taste, and nothing is too much to ask of our team. Call, email, phone or drop into our Dublin florist for a communion flower arrangement you’ll love.