Confirmation – passed in a bliss of presents Posted by Katja on Aug 6, 2010 in Culture
Maybe not as many youths who are baptized are confirmed but there are still quite a few. The reasons why they get confirmed can be questioned. When I asked a lot of people who had decided to get confirmed why they had chosen to they answered “because of the presents of course!”. And we are talking about 15 year olds, so what can we really expect? I am in no way saying that 15 year olds are not capable of making important life decisions, but getting confirmed is something that should mean more than being bribed with presents. Grandparents and other family are expected to give expensive presents to the newly confirmed.
The confirmation usually takes place on a summer camp for about three weeks. A very fun and social event, with more of a focus on ethics and being a good person. So this might suit the age group perfectly, who knows?
Is confirmation anything common in your country? Is it expected of you?
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Comments:
Emily:
I find this really interesting! I come from New Zealand and unless you go to a religious school you hardly ever hear about anyone getting confirmed – and if they do we certainly don’t get presents 🙁
Kenia:
In Cuba where i’m from, most of kids and teenagers go to the church because their parents have taught them to do so, not because they really have the faith. So, they get baptized, but once they have grown up enough to make their own decisions, they stop going to mass every sunday and thus, they never get the confirmation, since the family giving presents is not a tradition here.
Valerie:
In Texas, most people get confirmed if they are of the Catholic faith. I have to agree that most kids do it because they want presents or because their parents want them to. I went with a friend to her retreat and it was pretty boring. All I can honestly say that I remember doing is jumping off rocks into a river and that one kid got in trouble for putting fireworks in the bonfire.
Carol Goller:
I am Lutheran and kids who are active at all get confirmed. They seem to be glad they are with the other kids and understanding more about their faith and their families’ faith–but still, there are the presents.
Bill:
There’s nothing new or particularly Swedish about this phenomenon. I lived in Iceland back in the 1980’s and it was the same there. You wouldn’t believe the loot those kids bagged – they made out like bandits. As a (non-practicing) Catholic I was in absolute awe. And there was a fleeting moment there where I actually considered becoming Lutheran because I needed a new stereo and some cool cash! LOL!
Luke (Sydney):
Was that how Scandinavia being converted? 😀
Daniel:
I’m Swedish and I am confirmed. At the same time I am really atheistic and do not in any way believe in a god. At the time i was atheist too, even if i didn’t really care that much then. I saw confirmation as a way to learn and experience my culture and hierarchy, not to promise eternal servitude to an invisible guy in the sky.. Christianity is a part of our society, our history and culture. But it helped to know that the priest in question was a friend to the family and I knew he was really cool and not preachy at all. I was also promised a nintendo 64, which kind of sealed the deal…