First Communion Ritual Ousted of Meaning by Secular Flowering Festival
The City Major of Rivas-Vaciamadrid, José Masa, announced that he was going to organize a celebration for children between the ages of 8 to 10 similar to the religious first communion upon the request of the community. The festivities would be called "fiestas del florecimiento" (flowering festival). "It would be a 'laity first communion'; but I do not want to call it this way because then, the right wing blames me for the celebration of laity baptisms and marriages using Catholic Church rituals", he clarified.
Rivas-Vaciamadrid, ruled by a left wing party, has the highest percentage of young population in the whole country; 22% of its inhabitants are under 16, and the average population age is 30. "This is the main reason for us to promote laity values", Masa concluded. Source: http://www.radiociguena.org/Pruebas%20index/Prueba%20Index_01.html http://www.hazteoir.org/node/20826 http://www.redescristianas.net/2009/05/18/rivas-organizara-primeras-comuniones-laicas/ http://archivo.ayto-arganda.es/archivo/hemeroteca/estedemadrid/200%20ESTE%20DE%20MADRID%20Julio%202009.pdf (page 75) http://elfaroderivas.wordpress.com/page/4/?archives-list=1