Recent reports show an increase in non-religious families holding ‘milestone ceremonies’ for their children in place of communions.
According to The Times, the Irish Ethical Celebrants Society has begun providing milestone ceremonies as an alternative to both Communion and Confirmation rituals.
The report suggested each milestone ceremony is unique to families but includes many of the same features as a religious Communion.
Celebrant with the IECS Yvonne Cassidy said milestone ceremonies are an important “rite of passage” for young children.
“It’s a non-denominational option for families who want to mark this occasion in their children’s lives,” she told Newstalk Breakfast.
“It's something that we've seen across centuries and cultures.”
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"Inclusive"
Ms Cassidy said milestone ceremonies take place when a child is eight or nine because “it’s considered that children become more responsible at that age”.
She said the ceremony is suitable for families who want to celebrate their child but aren’t from a particular religion.
“The ceremony itself is very inclusive, it’s very fun - there’s a lot of input from the families and the children themselves,” she said.
The ICES website said milestone ceremonies are for children "who may feel excluded, so that they feel celebrated, loved and supported".
“[There's] definitely more of a buzz about them this year,” Ms Cassidy said. “I think it’s going to be a slow burner in the same way non-religious funerals have taken off in the last few years.”
“Excuse to party”
Irish Daily Mail columnist Brenda Power wrote this morning that the ICES’ milestone ceremonies are an evolution from the ‘Bouncy Castle Catholics’.
She argued parents should tell their children they can’t have a milestone ceremony “because [they’re] atheists”.
“We don’t have a big Eid feast to mark the end of Ramadan, we don’t do Bar and Bat Mitzvahs when you hit puberty,” she wrote. “So, we don’t culturally appropriate the celebrations of another faith just for an excuse to party.”
“No piggybacking"
Ms Cassidy argued that the ICES is not “piggybacking off any religious ceremonies”.
“This is something that is different,” she said. “It’s been designed and created in a way that brings the children and the families in.”
“This rite of passage has been around for centuries, it’s not a new concept.”
Ms Cassidy said families have a right to “celebrate their children” however they see fit.
“If people want to have a Communion, fantastic - if not, fantastic,” she said.
“But if people do want to have an option to celebrate, what business is it of anyone else?”
