In short: Good First Holy Communion gifts are ones that recall the day and stay with the child: a cross, a necklace, a guardian angel picture or a personal book. How much you spend is secondary; a handwritten card often counts for more than the price. Here are 25 ideas, arranged by type and budget.
What to bear in mind
In the preparation, parish priests and catechists often stress that the celebration should come first, not the presents. Good Communion gifts are therefore personal rather than big. Three questions help:
- What does the child already have? A cross in the bedroom, a necklace, a children’s Bible? Ask the parents briefly so that nothing is duplicated.
- What suits the age? Most children are about nine. They like things they can touch, wear or stand up.
- What lasts? A keepsake that is still in the room years later is worth more than a voucher that is forgotten by the summer.
To wear: necklaces and pendants
1. Olive wood necklace with cross. Simple and light, handcrafted in Bethlehem: for example the heart and cross necklace (€9.90).
2. Necklace with dove. The dove stands for the Holy Spirit. The cross necklace with dove, blessed costs €9.90.
3. Necklace with figure of Christ. A small cross with corpus, blessed and handcrafted (€11.90).
4. Tau cross. The tau cross is a Franciscan sign and looks simple and modern: tau cross necklace (€11.90).
5. Angel pendant. An olive wood guardian angel (€9.90) accompanies the child in the school bag or on a cord.
6. Cross pendant with certificate. The simple cross pendant with cord and certificate (€9.90) is a good starting point.
7. Cross necklace with St Benedict medal. For children who prefer something a little more classic: crucifix cross necklace with St Benedict medal (€14.90, blessed).
8. Sterling silver cross necklace. If you would like to spend more: the cross necklace in 925 sterling silver (€39.90, blessed).
To stand or hang: crosses
9. Holding cross. A cross to hold on to, blessed, in olive wood (€13.90).
10. Small wall cross. The olive wood wall cross 16 × 9 cm (€19.90) fits above a bed or desk.
11. Lime wood wall cross. Light, natural and blessed (€16.90).
12. Olive wood wall cross 30 cm. A calm, larger cross as a “first cross of their own” (€39.90).
13. Standing cross with base. The olive wood standing cross 18.5 cm (€29.90) can be taken apart and fits on the bedside table.
14. Standing cross with tealight holder. For an evening ritual: beech wood standing cross with tealight holder, blessed (€29.90).
15. Tau cross on the wall. Olive wood tau cross 15 cm (€29.90, blessed).
16. Glass cross. Colourful and special: for example the glass cross in rainbow colours (€49.90) or the glass cross with golden fish symbol (€49.90).
For the nursery: pictures
17. Guardian angel picture on wood. Angel watching over a child (€29.90, blessed, with certificate).
18. Guardian angel wall picture in a wooden frame. The motif in which an angel leads children across a bridge is available from €19.90.
19. Guardian angel picture in a gold frame. Two children on a bridge at night, from €19.90.
Around the festive day
20. Communion candle cloth. The candle cloth with chalice and cross (€9.90) protects the candle and stays as a keepsake.
21. Cross bookmark. For bookworms: the bookmark with tassel (€14.90).
22. Pin badge. For a jacket or a school bag: “Team Jesus” pin badge (€9.90, blessed).
Ideas from elsewhere
Not everything has to come from our range. These three also fit:
23. A children’s Bible or a prayer book. Loveliest with a personal dedication on the first page.
24. A gift of money. Many families are pleased with it. Put in a card with a Bible verse it becomes more personal, or you can explain what it is meant for.
25. Time together. An outing, a trip to the zoo or an afternoon just for the child: that is something they will remember later.
Putting together a gift set
If you would like to give more, it is better to combine than to buy a single expensive piece. For example: a wall cross (idea 12), a necklace (idea 2) and a card with a blessing wish. That way the gift looks thought through, and the child has two things to see every day.
You will find the whole selection in our First Holy Communion gifts collection.
When and how do you hand over the gift?
That differs from place to place. Some families unwrap on the day of the celebration after Mass, others open the presents only at home or at the party in the afternoon. Ask beforehand so that your gift does not get lost in the bustle. A card with a few lines of your own is easy to slip into a bag. If you live far away, send the gift in good time and allow a few days’ buffer for ordering and delivery. Shipping goes via Amazon's logistics network – free within Germany, €5.90 to Austria and France; Italy €6.90, Spain €6.90. Avoid staging the gift at length during the celebration: the child should be happy about what they receive and not be the centre of a present-giving ceremony.
For parishes and groups
Should the whole group receive something? For parishes, schools and groups there is a quantity discount on the total quantity of your order: 10% from 10 items, 15% from 25, 20% from 50 (does not apply to wooden statues from the woodcarving workshop) – quote on request on +49 30 2178 2502 (German and English) or at hallo@lunexus.world (more on the quantity discount).
Frequently asked questions
What do you give a boy or a girl for First Holy Communion?
A cross suits everyone. Girls often like delicate necklaces, boys a plain tau cross or a holding cross. Ask the parents.
What do you give for First Holy Communion if you hardly know the child?
Something simple: a necklace (from €9.90), a cross pendant or a gift of money in a lovely card.
How much money do you give for First Holy Communion?
There is no fixed rule. Choose what suits your budget and your relationship with the child.
Do blessed gifts make sense?
If faith matters to the child and the family, often yes. With us, a Catholic priest from the Diocese of Fulda blesses many items in our warehouse, and a certificate with the date is enclosed.
Can I also give a cross to a Protestant child?
Yes, a simple cross is a shared Christian sign. First Holy Communion itself, however, is Catholic; Protestant children celebrate Confirmation.
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