h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I had to wear a dicky bow to mine and I had to do a reading and sing a solo.

I was 7,*groans* the embarresment.

ah ok. It is pretty much the same. I got a book about first communion when i was confirmed. confirmation is when we get our first communion. The difference really is we dont do the dress thing. but its still a special service with the bishop and stuff. its a good experience.

How old is alex?

10, she only started going to church last year, First Communion is a BIG thing, Alex has to where a white dress and veil, all her family will be there and there's going to be a BBQ in the afternoon, it's a huge event, All the boys are getting special ties made with the date and chalice embroidered on it

Will she do the "rounds".That is the best part of the day,I made 750 punt on my rounds.Thats not including the brocken statues and Holy communion cards.

I was 12 when I got confirmed. february 1998. I think the big difference between the c of e and the catholic is the formality. with c of e we dont have to get outfits and we just have a meal after words. we can go in jeans and a t sirts if we really want to! most people do tend to get a bit dressed up though. I remember getting a new pair of trousers and this arran jumper which i loved!

For my confirmation I wore a hoody and a paite of cream jeans,one person wore a Metalica jumper.

I think Alex will get presants from the people in the church and from the family too

yeah thats what i got.

my mum bought me a porcelen dol (which i collected at the time) which is kneeling praying and a book about first mass(which is catholic not c of e!).

we never did the "rounds" but i have heard of it from reading autobiographys from ireland (a fascination cant explain it!)

I really have no idea what all this entails as I've never been through it

doing the rounds, according to the autobiographies, is where they knock on doors near to where they live telling them its their first communion and hope to get money from them. its really just a form of begging.

I guessed that bit, it was the first communion/confermation thing I'm not sure of

oh
its just about confirming your belief. when you are baptised (at childhood) your parents say you are a christian. when you are confrimed you make that decision your self and you confirm your belief in Jesus and the rest of the christian faith.

you also take your first communion at the ceremony which is just bread and wine which represents the body and blood of Jesus.

the servise it self is just a question answer sesion between all the people getting confirmed and the bishop. you then go individually up to the bishop and hell lay your hands on you and say something and may then have a chat with you while your kneeled on the floor in front of him.

its really nice

Ah ha

For mine the Bishop lightly slaps your cheek,and says some mumbo jumbo.

Confirmation is just an excuse to have a 2 hour mass,for the alter boys to make alot of money,and to have a huge party.....Bascically the mass itself is Mystic Nonsense.....but who dosen't like a bit of mystic nonsense every now and then.

I have no idea at all as I'm not of the Catholic faith

Come into Cork airport and close your eyes and the first person will say he/her is a catholic,but most people don't go to mass.

My mum took the Catholic faith 2 years ago after a lifetime of the Church of England

Well it is the fastest growing christian religion.

Mum says it's not so dogmatic as the Protestant