A child's First Holy Communion celebration used to be a small family affair but Kristina Chetcuti finds some parents go to such financial lengths these days that they have become like mini-weddings, complete with souvenirs, weekend breaks and a professional videographer.

Parades of young girls and boys posing for photographs outside churches and public gardens have dotted the streets in recent weekends.

Earlier, the children would have made their way up the aisle to receive their First Holy Communion, an event they then proceed to celebrate at a cost that can be truly staggering. When the clothes, the bouncy castles and the food and drink for their nearest and dearest are all totted up it, the expense can amount to at least €1,000 per child.

The Holy Communion has proven to be recession-proof, with some parents willing to go without to ensure their children get the very best. Sales of high-priced frilly dresses - apart from certain parishes where all the children are kitted out in the same altar-boy-style attire - have held up strongly. Parents spend an average of €300 on outfits for their daughters, with boys costing half that.

At three Communion outfitters boutiques in Valletta, Attard and Msida, prices for girls started at about €200, in some instances rising to €600. The average cost of gloves is €10, the tights another €8, while veils start at €25. The shoes, depending on the make, can start from €25 and go up to €100.

Rosalie Sammut from Mosta is, like many well-meaning parents, aware of the excessive spending associated with the event. "I've decided to hire out the suit for my son. It's white, so it's not something which he will ever wear again." But this does not come cheap either and the cost of the outfit hire is €150. Then there is the obligatory sash and holy medal.

"Some people opt to buy the holy medal in gold or platinum. I'm passing on to Andrew the holy medal which I had used in my Holy Communion; that way we're giving it a bit more meaning," Mrs Sammut said.

Another parent, Daphne Silvio, said girls had more needs than boys: "There's the hairdresser, for example, which costs about €30. Then there is the expense of the party. Ours was very low-key, costing about €400."

There are families who go for lunch or organise a party at restaurants or hotels on the day. Some, depending on the number of guests, tot up a bill of over €1,000 on the meal or catering alone.

Both mothers said their total expenses for the day amounted to about €1,000 but that meant always opting for simpler choices: "I just wanted to make the occasion special but keep it simple so that the religious importance is not lost. I did not want the dress to be the most important thing," Mrs Silvio said.

Claire Camilleri, of Skinsense Beauty Salon, said this time of year was the busiest for beauty parlours mainly due to weddings and Holy Communions.

"Yes, we have quite a number of mothers whose children are receiving Holy Communion. They usually book in for facials and nails. Some also book make-up for the day. Unlike the trends that exist abroad, requests for beauty treatments on young children for such occasions are not popular here," said Ms Camilleri.

The big thing about the First Holy Communion for many is not the food or the clothes but the gifts. Despite this being the age of cash gifts, jewellery is still popular, although not in gold.

Sterling Jewellers marketing manager Rachelle Tabone said silver was probably what most people chose. Although people often opted for sets of earrings, bracelets and necklaces, watches were becoming increasingly popular as Holy Communion gifts, she said.

Most of the gifts come from relatives. Not all parents give their child a gift to mark the day. Some parents make a conscious decision about this so that the chid remains focused on the religious importance of the occasion. However, others choose to take their kids on holiday or on weekend breaks.

Then there are other props: invitations, souvenirs, prayer cards, tags and candlesticks, as well as decorations such as Holy Communion balloons and confetti for the parties.

Emma Galea of Bow & Ribbon Souvenir and Gift shop said that although most of these items were not compulsory, most parents spent money on them. "I would think people on average spend about €2 per souvenir and up to about €45," she said.

The event calls for other extra expenses. There are the parents' outfits, which would include a hat for the mothers (starting from €30 or hired from €12). Some mothers get a beautician at home for their make-up, others opt to mark the day with a family photo session, and some even book in a cameraman to come home before Mass to record the event on DVD. There are families who even order flower arrangements for their homes.

Parents' pockets may be emptier after the First Holy Communion but, at least, it is an occasion which brings families together. To be sure, the little girls and boys will give their best toothless smile as their proud parents beam and snap away at digital cameras.

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