Genealogy Chat

Reason I ask is that i have a picture of my grandmother and her sister taken about 1915 and they are wearing some quite unusual clothes and I would like to know what its all about. If anyone who may know could message me with thier email address I would gladly forward it for them to look that Thanks

I'm no expert Elaine, but I'll take a look if you like. Sending you a PM. Christina

I would be happy to take a look as well - don't know if I can help but willing to try. Have pm'd my e-mail. Dea x

mails sent, thanks for looking for me :)

Gosh - that's a toughie !! It looks like some sort of religious attire - I am not an expert on these things but the white muslin type robes, belts and dark (probably black) stockings and shoes look very makeshift, as if it is a 'mass ceremony' of some sort. Usually, if it is 1st communion etc, the dresses are individual and better made. These look to me as if they are part of a larger event where everyone wore the same. Sorry, I can't really help any further - I would look for a religion with a 'mass' ceremony. Dea x

Typo on my email address, have sent the correct one now Elaine, sorry. Christina.

I know she was Catholic, so maybe yes some kind of mass comminuin Thanks for looking Dea!

I think that will be what it was - I suppose it was 'wartime' so fabrics would be on ration - therefore probably quite makeshift dresses would be shared and passed on. ?? I think this will be what it was. Dea x

I would suggest that if the family was not so well off these could be first holy communion or confirmation outfits lent by their school, especially if it was a Convent school (been there done that). Alternatively, they could be outfits associated with a Catholic society for young girls, such as the Children of Mary. Hope that might help, Christina

You obviously have more experience in this than I have Christina, but at least we seem to be looking along the same lines. Dea x P.S. - Lovely photo though. X

Thank you both! I know the family were very religous and the were Catholics, I doubt money would have flowed too freely, so I shall settle for first holy communion Thank you both again :)

Not really more experienced Dea, it was a bit before my time ;-) I think you are probably on the right track about material being in short supply during WWI. The oufits are definitely the sort of things that the nuns would have come up with at my school even in the early 60s. I had to wear a long white dress knitted by my blind (yes blind) gran. Lol, Christina

On saints days people would dress up and parade, and it sounds to me very much like that, the lost world of Mitchell and Kenyon showed one such parade, it was huge, obviously very important to the people,,,,,,,,,, Barbara..xx

Lol Christina, I didn't mean you were that old, just that you seem to know more about the Catholic faith than I do. Anyway, I feel we are on the right track. Dea Xxx

Catholic children often make their First Holy Communion in June on the Corpus Christi feastday (I did myself) and there is a huge procession in the afternoon. I think it was such a procession that was shown on the programme. Christina Dea I think we are on the right track too - and I know that you didn't mean that. C x