Preparation for a First Holy Communion

The Sacrament of Holy Communion is an important event for Christians, and the First Communion is an extremely significant occasion when a child first eats the holy bread that symbolizes the body of Christ. A child usually takes the First Communion when they are about seven or eight years old. The celebration typically consists of a mass followed by a family celebration. Children are dressed in white, to symbolize purity, and girls often wear veils and long or short gloves. The meaning of Communion can also symbolize a meal in remembrance of the Last Supper. The First Communion is a major rite of passage in the Catholic Church and one of the seven Sacraments. It is considered one of the holiest and most important occasions in a Roman Catholic’s life.

The First Holy Communion is a very important family event. The reception or party afterwards is a way to bring the family together in congratulation of the girl or boy. As such, it is customary to give gifts to both the child receiving their first communion and the guests attending the celebration. Occasion Giftware offers some fabulous keepsake gifts for your child. Click here to see some communion gift ideas. Some functional guest favours include photo frames, rosaries, or cross keychains. Occasion Giftware would like to congratulate the children receiving their first Holy Communion as they become one with Christ and share in His eternal life.

DIY Centerpiece Using Ostrich Feathers

Save money and express yourself with a Do It Yourself project and create your own ostrich feather centerpiece!

One of the up and coming trends are ostrich feather centerpieces…and it’s easy to see why. The feathers are elegant and provide a classy ambiance to the party. There are generally two types of feathers used for centerpieces – the femina feathers, which are large with wide plumes, and the drab ones, which are slightly smaller and narrow in comparison.

For a centerpiece, you also need a large vase to hold them. To create a palm tree effect, you could tie the feathers stems together with wire before putting them in the vase, but the possibilities for these elegant centerpieces are limitless. The femina feathers are more suited towards a palm tree or fern-like centerpiece, while the drab feathers, being considerably fluffier, are perfect as accents for a bouquet or to form a wreath.

A common question is, ‘How many ostrich feathers should I order for each vase?’ The beauty of a do it yourself project is you can make the centerpiece as simple or as grand as you’d like. A standard ostrich feather centerpiece can look spectacular with as few as 13 ostrich feathers. After you choose your preferred colour and vase base, you are ready to start designing your centerpiece. We recommend starting by putting the ostrich feather quill ends into bouquet holders starting from the bottom and moving around the holder in a circular motion, in an upward direction. Try to keep the larger feathers towards the bottom and the smaller ones nearer to the top. The desired look of an ostrich feather centerpiece is to have them soft and droopy so be patient if they seem a little straight at first as it may take a couple of days for them to droop.

Occasion Giftware offers 13 colors to choose from to help you match the theme of your event. Some colors include white, black, red, green, burgundy, pink, blue, grey and more. Click here for more information: http://www.occasiongiftware.ca/ostrich-feathers-feather-centerpieces

Looking For an Organic or Eco-Friendly Green Favour?

In this age of information and all the environmental issues that we are faced with, one topic on our minds is the state of our world. Many of us are becoming conscious of the damage done to our environment and are always looking for environmentally friendly solutions to go ‘green’.

“Green” weddings will have less of an impact on the world by using eco-friendly products and are rising in popularity. Of course, when you have an environmentally conscious wedding, it would suit to fit the theme with some eco-friendly favours.

Some useful favours are environmentally friendly gift bags and boxes, and a specific innovative favour is a herb kit.. The herb kits come with a terracotta planter, peat pellets, and the necessary seeds. The seeds are grown from Ontario farmers and the attractive packaging is made of a recycled cardboard. Herbs are not only useful to use for cooking, but smell great, providing you with an aromatic garden that can be harvested to add a touch of flavour to your food. Suitable for indoor or outdoor use.

Your party guests will be sure to appreciate that personal and practical favour. Some of the organic herb flavours include dill, rosemary, thyme, parsley, sage, basil and more. Use a catchy slogan with any of the herb kits such as, “It’s about THYME that we tied the knot!” Herb planters promote good health and provide a unique experience. Also ideal gifts for corporate events, birthday gifts and more.

Give your guests a plantable, stylish, and eco-friendly wedding favour.

Wedding favours often serve two functions – thanking guests for attending your special event and making a statement about the couple. A herb kit green wedding favour is a great way to create lasting memories.

Click here to see the selection of herb kits: http://www.occasiongiftware.ca/organic-indoor-herb-kits/organic-indoor-herb-garden.Organic Parsley Herb Garden

Wine Bottle Stoppers – A Great Idea for a Wedding Favour

Looking for a practical guest favour for your wedding or other special event? Bottle stoppers are a great choice, especially for those connoisseurs of wine! Wine stoppers can be purchased in many designs to match the theme of your event. Some innovative theme ideas include: flip flop destination or outdoor wedding, winter wonderland, perfect catch fish, fall leaf, cross, love birds, high heel shoe, and more. They are also available in round stoppers with cute or funny messages on them. Wrap the boxes in the colour scheme of your event and voila…a party favour that not only matches your theme, but that that will be appreciated by all!

Bottle stoppers follow the trend of functional and innovative wedding guest favour gifts. Place on the reception receiving line or at the table settings in the hall. Not only are they creative and interesting keepsakes, but they are also a practical gift that your guests will be sure to use.

Jordan Almonds: An Explanation

Jordan Almonds

Jordan almonds, also known as sugared almonds, confetti, dragées, or koufetta, are a type of sweet treat confectionery consisting of almonds covered with a candy coating.

Sometimes, the almonds are colour coded for specific events: green for engagements, white for weddings, silver for anniversaries, red for graduations, and blue or pink for baby showers, christenings or baptisms. They are generally either placed in bowls, or packed in organza bags, tulle, or small boxes.

The countries with the most renowned traditions of using Jordan almonds are Greece, Italy and the Middle East, though the treats are becoming rapidly popular in other countries including Canada and the USA.

Italian Weddings:

In Italy, five almonds (confetti) are always given to the bride and groom. Each almond represents a wish for the lucky couple: health, happiness, fertility, financial stability and a long life. It is customary that the little sugar-coated candies present at every important occasion in Italian life.

Greek Weddings:

In Greece, the almonds (koufetta or dragées) are always given out in odd numbers to convey that they will share everything and remain undivided. Traditionally, an unmarried woman will place an almond under her pillow and expect to dream of her future husband.

Middle Eastern Weddings:

In the Middle East, the almonds are considered aphrodisiacs, and are available for both guests and newlyweds at wedding receptions. All of the traditions agree that the almonds themselves are bitter, but the coating is sweet, which is a hope that the life of the newlyweds will too be more sweet than bitter.

It is also customary to attach a little card or note with the almonds to explain the meaning to your guests.

Sample poem:

Jordan Almonds For Thee

Five sugared almonds for each guest to eat

To remind us that life is both bitter and sweet.

Five wishes for the new husband and wife,

Health, wealth, happiness, children and a long life!

The true start of Jordan Almonds was in the 15^th Century, when the sugarcane was introduced to Europe. During important marriages, such as the wedding of Lucrezia Borgia to the Duke of Ferrara, enough of the candied almonds were laid out at the banquet for all the guests to eat approximately 260 pounds.