Holy communion is one of the sacraments of the church in most denominations. In Catholisim children take their first holy communion around the age of eight. In other Christian traditions the first communion isn't taken until the age of twelve or thirteen upon one's confirmation. The holy communion, or Eucharist, is one of the seven sacraments of the church. Holy communion is offered, and usually taken, at every Catholic mass. In other Churches it is taken once a month or on some regular basis. Usually the holy communion is made up of bread, or more often today small white waffers, and red wine. In some churches wine is not permited and the holy communion is taken with grape juice, and occassionally there may be both wine and grape juice to chose from. These things can be changed but the impact of the change depends entirely on the Christian tradition.
While timing and exact material choices may differ, the symbolism and ritual of holy communion is similar in almost all churches. Sometimes it is custom, as in most Catholic churches that I have attended, to walk to the alter and recive the bread and wine directly from the priest. Sometimes even sharing a cup for the wine. I have not witnessed this part of the ritual in Protestant chruches however. The custom I have witnessed is that plates with the bread, or waffers, and tiny glasses of wine are passed through the pews via ushers. After you have recieved the bread and wine you wait until directed to eat and drink. Both preceeding and following the partaking of bread and wine prayers and other ritual compents are preformed. In many churches there are books, cards, or some other way for an unfamiliar person to follow the service.
The Eucharist is symbolic of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. This tradition is traced back to the Last Supper before Judas betrayed Jesus and he was crucified. It is believe that he said to his disicplines as he broke and distrubted bread "this is my body, take and eat. Do this in remembrance of me." He distributed the wine saying "this is my blood, drink of it, do this often in rememberance of me." This is where this tradition comes from. Protestant faiths belive the Eucharist is purely symbolic, while Catholic theory is that the Eurcharist is a miracle in which the bread and wine transform into the body and blood of Christ once it has been blessed and consumed.
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