The Infanta Sofia First Holy Communion: May 2017

[Marengo]

Indeed nice to see king Juan Carlos is such a good mood, and talkative towards his wife, daughter-in-law and granddaughters. It is also good to see Queen Letizia's grandmother in good health and able to attend this special day for the infanta.

 

[ANNIE_S]

Another video: En Video: todos los detalles y los gestos de la Familia Real en el Bautizo de la Infanta Sofía

And a gallery from Bekia: La Infanta Sofía con los Reyes Felipe y Letizia, la Princesa Leonor y los Reyes Juan Carlos y Sofía en su Comunión - Primera Comunión de la Infanta Sofía - Fotos de Actualidad

Every report notes there is a great closeness between the two sisters. Apparently, at the peace giving at the ceremony, Leono hugged Sofia quite tenderly. There is also some info about Leonor wanting to read something during the Mass, but her parents told her to do something for her sister later at the private celebration since they didn't want a preferential treatment at the church.

This is a gorgeous picture of Princess Leonor IMO : https://www.instagram.com/p/BUM1QrflRpP/
I also love this one of Queen Letizia and her grandmother - who looks great for her 89 years, I must say: https://www.instagram.com/p/BUMtxsVhp28/
And there is also this cutie of the young Princess greeting a little girl outside: https://68.media.tumblr.com/583ed1b4d7832cf3476350d9c270385a/tumblr_oq3luqqy1Y1uz3vbfo1_540.png

 

[Iain]

10 seems a little old for First Communion, here in Scotland it's 7.

 

[sarahedwards2]

Leonor and Sofia attend the same school, so why weren't they required to wear their uniforms at each other's communions, since they were on school days?


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[An Ard Ri]

Leonor and Sofia attend the same school, so why weren't they required to wear their uniforms at each other's communions, since they were on school days?


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Probably to distinguish that it was The Infanta Sofia who was making her 1st Holy Communion ,had they both turned up in school uniforms it might have been confusing.

 

[Alondra]

Leonor and Sofia attend the same school, so why weren't they required to wear their uniforms at each other's communions, since they were on school days?


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It's not just "another" school day, it's First Communion Day. The school the girls attend to have the policy of gala uniform (blazer and tie are compulsory) for all students at their local church in Aravaca. Leonor attended the communion as a guest, not a student, and was able to wear whatever formal clothes she wanted. In Spain is very rare, and extremely difficult, to celebrate a first communion on your own. The majority do it with classmates (accepting the school polity attire) or with their Sunday school classmates.

First communions have gone so much out of hand that they rival weddings in expenditure. People spend thousands in between the dress, the hairdresser, jewelry, restaurant's menu ....As the following article states what used to be a celebration of tea and cakes, today is a masterchef lunch, a trip to Eurodisney and the latest mobile phone.

One paragraph of the article reflects the current situation better than most ....."As we go, the banks will have to grant micro-credits so that we can live up to the gifts and dinners that are currently organized to celebrate first communions"

It's no wonder that there is growing backlash from many schools wanting to make communions a more simple and humble affair focused on the rites and not the "social party".

http://verne.elpais.com/verne/2017/05/16/articulo/1494942038_307879.html

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

They are both teenagers now. I'm always looking to Sofia first these days, she's glowing! She's already taller than her sister and will really do for it, personality wise.

I already get the feeling that Leonor knows what is coming for her, feeling the weight of it somehow with regard to body language.

 

[sarahedwards2]

It's not just "another" school day, it's First Communion Day. The school the girls attend to have the policy of gala uniform (blazer and tie are compulsory) for all students at their local church in Aravaca. Leonor attended the communion as a guest, not a student, and was able to wear whatever formal clothes she wanted. In Spain is very rare, and extremely difficult, to celebrate a first communion on your own. The majority do it with classmates (accepting the school polity attire) or with their Sunday school classmates.

First communions have gone so much out of hand that they rival weddings in expenditure. People spend thousands in between the dress, the hairdresser, jewelry, restaurant's menu ....As the following article states what used to be a celebration of tea and cakes, today is a masterchef lunch, a trip to Eurodisney and the latest mobile phone.

One paragraph of the article reflects the current situation better than most ....."As we go, the banks will have to grant micro-credits so that we can live up to the gifts and dinners that are currently organized to celebrate first communions"

It's no wonder that there is growing backlash from many schools wanting to make communions a more simple and humble affair focused on the rites and not the "social party".

http://verne.elpais.com/verne/2017/05/16/articulo/1494942038_307879.html

It's like Sweet Sixteens; they range from pizza and bowling to an elaborate formal debutante-style ball with the birthday girl wearing a white ball gown and elbow-length gloves, having a formal waltz with her father and an escort, and being met at the door to the lavishly decorated ballroom by her father and curtsying to the attendees.


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[Countessmeout]

The difference being a birthday is a private celebration. Secular. First communion is a religious tradition. It is meant to be about the sacred religious right, and not how expensive a dress can be. I think the school the girls attend have it right, making it an uniform weekday event for all. The focus is where it should be.

Religion wise, only thing I have seen as elaborate as some have said about communions is on American gypsey show, for communion. But of course Jewish bar and bat mitzvah. But those are both religious and birthday. Some of those are insane, bigger then weddings.

I have never been to a communion as an adult. I know my cousins who have kids raised Catholic had simple dinner for communion. Like Sofia, they did theirs through their school in uniform. Back in my day it was white dress and veil. And local family. My godmothers wouldn't have even come, they were older ladies and didn't live close.

 

[TLLK]

It's like Sweet Sixteens; they range from pizza and bowling to an elaborate formal debutante-style ball with the birthday girl wearing a white ball gown and elbow-length gloves, having a formal waltz with her father and an escort, and being met at the door to the lavishly decorated ballroom by her father and curtsying to the attendees.


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I'm astonished at how extravagant some of these celebrations have become. Hope my children won't "suffer" because theirs was merely a family dinner at home with their cousins, grandparents and a few friends.

 

[Fürstin Taxis]

A video took by somebody in the public, with a point of view from behind:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByKHXrZfMq8

Menchu and JC with their canes though, chatting. I have soft spot for old people.

Everyone was very good spirited yesterday, JC surprised me the most tbh. Didn't see him so cheerful for a long time.

 

[Lee-Z]

10 seems a little old for First Communion, here in Scotland it's 7.

In the NL the first Communion is also around age 7/8, i understand it used to be around 12 until pope Pius X changed it in 1910, but i think the decree doesn't specify a fixed age so maybe it differs from country to country
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quam_singulari

 

[sarahedwards2]

I'm astonished at how extravagant some of these celebrations have become. Hope my children won't "suffer" because theirs was merely a family dinner at home with their cousins, grandparents and a few friends.

As quoted from fisheaters.com, "[FONT=arial, helvetica, verdana, sans-serif]On a mundane, sociological level, a child's "First Communion" is a rite of passage, an acknowledgement that he has[/FONT][FONT=arial, helvetica, verdana, sans-serif] reached the age of reason and is now liable for many of the penalties involved in ecclesiastical censure; it is, in other words, a marker that the child is growing up... Gifts are given to the new communicant (typically Rosaries, prayer books, Bibles, etc.), and a party typically follows the Mass during which he first receives the Sacrament. These mundane aspects of a child's "First Communion" should never, ever overshadow the greater reality! In some parts of the world, a child's First Communion is turning into a lavish, extravagant, keeping-up-with-the-Joneses bat-mitzvah, with little girls, wearing dresses that cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars, carried about by limousine to parties with expensive ice sculptures and la-di-da waiters. It is disgusting! [/FONT][FONT=arial, helvetica, verdana, sans-serif]While a child's First Communion should be memorable and very beautiful, it should, above all, be holy and with all priorities in place."[/FONT]

 

[free2rhyme]

Menchu and JC with their canes though, chatting. I have soft spot for old people.

Everyone was very good spirited yesterday, JC surprised me the most tbh. Didn't see him so cheerful for a long time.

It was also nice to see such pleasant interactions between JC and Queen Sofia. It seems as though they have become a lot closer in recent months.

 

[An Ard Ri]

It was also nice to see such pleasant interactions between JC and Queen Sofia. It seems as though they have become a lot closer in recent months.

Yes I agree ,have not seen Juan Carlos looking so relaxed and affable with Queens Sofia and Letizia in a long time.

 

[HereditaryPrincess]

It was great to see the photos and videos of Sofia's first communion, thank you to all those who shared them with us.
It was also nice to see Juan Carlos there, and I concur with the other posters: the reactions between Sofia, Letizia and Juan Carlos were lovely. It's so good to see them getting along. Infanta Sofia looked charming in her uniform, but I must say, I do prefer the traditional white dresses (which are still common for girls here in England, IIRC - I'm not Catholic myself but from what I've heard, they still are worn) since they seem more 'exciting' for a little girl than everyday school wear. I would have felt more 'special' at Sofia's age wearing a white dress. And not just because of the excitement, but also because of the tradition behind them. Leonor looked beautiful too in her blue dress, she looked quite grown up and stylish. I just can't believe how big the girls get each time we see photos of them. If I didn't know who they were, I would easily think they were non-identical twins.

 

[camelot23ca]

Infanta Sofia looked charming in her uniform, but I must say, I do prefer the traditional white dresses (which are still common for girls here in England, IIRC - I'm not Catholic myself but from what I've heard, they still are worn) since they seem more 'exciting' for a little girl than everyday school wear. I would have felt more 'special' at Sofia's age wearing a white dress. And not just because of the excitement, but also because of the tradition behind them.

We have both parish and independent Catholic schools here and from friends and colleagues with kids that age I know a couple of the schools have had the children wear their uniform at their first communion for awhile now. Apparently the schools got sick of having some girls turn up in obviously very expensive dresses and having to remind parents every year that a first communion is supposed to be a simple, serious affair, not a fashion competition.

 

[HereditaryPrincess]

We have both parish and independent Catholic schools here and from friends and colleagues with kids that age I know a couple of the schools have had the children wear their uniform at their first communion for awhile now. Apparently the schools got sick of having some girls turn up in obviously very expensive dresses and having to remind parents every year that a first communion is supposed to be a simple, serious affair, not a fashion competition.

Ah, I see. I can understand the schools' frustration because even though I still of course like the traditional dresses, some families do go rather over the top with them and spend a fortune finding the perfect one.

 

[ladejesus]

I still don't get why Ana Togores is never in the family pics even though she's goes to the events.

Anyway, congrats to la Infanta Sofia! She and Leonor looked beautiful! I was also surprised to see KJC looking so well.

 

[Countessmeout]

Maybe she doesn't feel comfortable.

It's also a little different. Yes she is married to Letizias father but she was never a stepmother. Not in that she was around when Letizia grew up. It isn't like Prince Charles who has been around his step kids since birth.

She has been invited to events and seen with the family. It's not some kind of snub. IMO, could be wrong, may be a comfort decision.

 

[ladejesus]

@Countesmeout, I guess that make sense. It just always looks strange to me.

 

[Blog Real]

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