We have very limited chronological information on American First Communion suits at this time. We do not know just when it became common to buy a boy a new suit for First ommunion. We do not note very many 19th century portraits. We note, however, numerous photographic portraits beginning in the early 20th century. We believe that immigration from Catholic countries in Europe, especially Italiand in the 1890s, had a significant impact on popularizing the convention of a new suit for First Communion. Dressing boys up in suits for their First Communion presumably predated the 19th Century, but I have no information. The subject does not seem to have elicited great interest on the part of the painters of the day. Large numbers of Catholics first came to the United States in the aftermath of the potato famine in the 1840s. Even great numbers of Italian began to arrive in the 1880s. With these two groups large numbers of American boys began to have First Communion. I'm not sure, however, what these boys wore for their First Communion at mid-Century. We have relatively limited information on First Communion suits during the late 19th century. we note boys from the 1870s through the 1890s wearing kneepants suits for First Communion, especially in the 1890s. We are not sure how common it was or boys to receive new suits for First Communion. The boys who had them always wore long dark stockings. I am not sure when it became common to buy a boy a new suit for his First Communion. Certainly it was the standard practice in America by the ealy 20th century. Families that coud afford it bought their sons brand new suits. Some wre suits that could be worn for other formal events. Others were special white suits that were just for First Communion. Not all families could afford this. Amercan boys in the first decade of the 20th Century wore suits for First Communion much like those worn in the late-19th Century. This began to change in the 1910s as kneepants were gradually substituted for knickers or short pants and knee socks. There were significant changes in First Communion suits after world War I. Short pants suits appear for the first time. American boys mostly wore knicker suits for First Communion. Some boys wore short pants or long pants suits, but the knicker suits were most common. We also see more white First Communion suits.
Suit jacket: American boys commonly wore single breasted suits for First Communion. Some suits, however, were made in the double breasted style. The predominately knicker pants styles for First Communion suits began to change in thr 1940s. Long pants suits became the predominant style, but short pants suits were worn by some boys through the 1960s. Boys that did wear suits would often wear a special white suit. The trend toward casual fashions also affected First Communion attire. Beginning in the 1960s it became less common to buy a suit for First Communion, at least for boys. Boys began wearing a simple white shirt, tie, and slacks. Many girls continue, however, to wear quite elaborate white First Communion dresses.

The 18th Century

Dressing boys up in suits for their First Communion presumably predated the 19th Century, but I have no information. The subject does not seem to have elicited great interest on the part of the painters of the day. I am not sure if the event was regarded as it is in the modern sence. The econmic situatin of families and popular attitudes toward childhood itself suggest that the event was quite differet than the modern event. Certainly fewer families could have afforded an expensive suir to be worn for just one special occassion.

Figure 2.--These twins, porobably in the 1890s wear double-breasted knee pants suits. It looksd like the suits night have been purchased or First Communion, but look dsuitblre for otyher dress up occassions.

The 19th Century

Large numbers of Catholics first came to the United States in the aftermath of the potato famine in the 1840s. Even great numbers of Italian began to arrive in the 1880s. With these two groups large numbers of American boys began to have First Communion. I'm not sure, however, what these boys wore for their First Communion at mid-Century. We have few images of First Communions in this period. We believe that there two boys in a Maine family were photograohed in their First Communion suits in the late 1850s, but we are not sure. We have relatively limited information on First Communion suits during the late 19th century. we note boys from the 1870s through the 1890s wearing kneepants suits for First Communion, especially in the 1890s. We are not sure how common it was or boys to receive new suits for First Communion. The boys who had them always wore long dark stockings. We do not yet have extensive information on First Communion suits, but white suits were not common in the late 19th Century. Nor were white stockings commonly worn. Photography became widely available in the late 19th Century. Many mothers considered their children's First Communion an important event for photography. Irish and Itlalian Americans were generally low-income families, but many could afford a visit to the photography studio for this event. Tis was especially true by the 1890s as the declining cost of portraits made studio visits more common.

Figure 3.--American boys by the 1910s were commonly wearing knicker suits for First Communion. The knickers varied with the current fashions. This photograph was taken in 1925 when knickers buckling below the knee were becoming standard.

The 20th Century

I am not sure when it became common to buy a boy a new suit for his First Communion. Certainly it was the standard practice in America by the early 20th century. Actually we see relatively few First Communion portraits in the late-19th century and quite a number in the early-20th century. We suspect that the massive immigration in the late 19th century and early 20th century was a factor. This brought large numbers of Italians and other Catholic immigrants to America. Thus the number of Catholic children doing First Communion increased exponentially. Families that could afford it bought their sons brand new suits. Some were suits that could be worn for other formal events. Others were special white suits that were just for First Communion. Not all families could afford this. Amercan boys in the first decade of the 20th Century wore suits for First Communion much like those worn in the late-19th Century. This began to change in the 1910s as kneepants were gradually substituted for knickers or short pants and knee socks. There were significant changes in First Communion suits after world War I. Short pants suits appear for the first time. American boys mostly wore knicker suits for First Communion. The standard was a dark, often a navy blue suit. Some boys wore short pants or long pants suits, but the knicker suits were most common. We also see white First Communion suits beginning to appear, especially in the 1940s. The predominately knicker pants styles for First Communion suits began to change in the 1940s. Long pants suits became the predominant style, but short pants suits were worn by some boys through the 1960s. Boys that did wear suits would often wore a special white suit. Unlike the former dark suits, these white suits had only limited untikity after the First Communuib service. The trend toward casual fashions also affected First Communion attire. Beginning in the 1960s it became less common to buy a suit for First Communion, at least for boys. Boys began wearing a simple white shirt, tie, and slacks. Many girls continue, however, to wear quite elaborate white First Communion dresses.

The 21st Century

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Created: 5:06 PM 12/15/2006
Last edited: 5:06 PM 12/15/2006