MADRID, May 10, 2010 / — At first glance, it did not make sense why First Communion attires bundled up with wedding gowns; then you see the little girls and boys and you realize that they could be dressed up to be a flower girl and ring/coin bearers in a wedding.
Usually thought of a religious ceremony, the rite of First Communion has undergone different changes over the years in Spain. The most striking perhaps, is the fact that this is no longer a strictly religious event, having acquired a secular dimension in the form of what are known as “Civil Communions”.
First Communions have also evolved in a unique manner in Spain. Long gone are the days when First Communions were attended solely by close friends and family and held at home, with light eats being laid on afterwards.
First Communions have almost become mini-weddings today, demanding a considerable financial outlay. These events consist of the idea of organizing a party for children, including the purchase of a special outfit, the celebration itself and the presentation of gifts, but without any Catholic overtones.
In this respect, the price of a First Communion suit or dress with the corresponding accessories comes to between 300 and 800 euros, to which we must add clothing for the rest of the family, photos and videos, souvenirs and details for guests.
Another trend consists of the fact that the celebration itself has incorporated an increasing number of details, demanding higher budgets, with children playing the central role.
For such special occasions, parents are prepared to spend between 300 and 800 euros on special attire for their children.
First Communion attire is gradually increasing its importance within the market as a whole, currently accounting for around 10% of overall turnover within the sector.
This growth has been influenced largely by the gradual increase in the birth-rate that was witnessed in Spain during the mid-1990’s, which is now reflected in the large number of First Communions that have been taking place throughout the country in recent years.
According to figures furnished by the Statistics and Sociology Department of the Catholic Church, in 2005 some 265,084 First Communions took place. The largest numbers were held in the Province of Tarragona, which recorded some 51,537 Communions, followed by Granada, with 37,276, and Valencia with 30,372 First Communions.
To these figures we must add the forecasts that have been made by the Spanish National Statistics Office (INE) for the next ten years, which indicate that Spain’s population will surpass the figure of 49 million inhabitants. With these prospects, the First Communion segment expects to achieve rising sales levels over the next few years.
In Spain there are around 700 companies that specialize in wedding fashion, First Communion attire and party-wear. Catalonia brings together the largest number of wedding gown companies, whilst Madrid features the largest number of party-wear companies. As a whole, some 13,000 people work within this sector.
