Communion cup facts for kids
A communion cup is a special small cup used in some Christian church services. It's a bit like a tiny chalice, but it's meant for just one person to use. These cups are usually very small, sometimes as tiny as a thimble or a small drinking glass. They can look like miniature versions of larger church cups or simple small beakers.
These individual cups are used to share consecrated wine during a church service called Holy Communion. Many different Christian churches use them. Sometimes, they are used all the time. Other times, they are used only for a short period, like when many people are sick.
Some churches, like the Catholic Church, do not usually offer wine during communion. Or, they might dip the bread into the wine instead. In these churches, communion cups are not typically used.
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Why Use Individual Communion Cups?
Individual communion cups became popular for an important reason: keeping people healthy. Before these cups, everyone often drank from the same large cup. During times when many people were sick, this could spread germs.
In countries like Norway and Denmark, churches started using communion cups to help stop the spread of sickness.
Norway's Story
In the Church of Norway, people used to share wine from one large cup. But in the late 1890s, a serious illness called tuberculosis was spreading. To fight this, individual communion cups were introduced. The Norwegian Women's Sanitation Association helped a lot with this. They worked to get these new cups for many churches.
However, not everyone agreed with the change. Some people wondered if it was still a true communion if everyone didn't drink from the same cup.
Denmark's Story
The Church of Denmark started using communion cups a bit later. They were first approved in 1909. But they became much more common after the First World War. At that time, both tuberculosis and the Spanish flu were making many people sick. The individual cups helped keep people safer.
Communion Cups in North America
Churches in North America also started using communion cups in the 1890s. Just like in Scandinavia, the main reason was to improve hygiene. People were worried about sharing cups during times of illness.
Newspapers at the time even wrote headlines warning about the dangers of sharing a single cup. This new practice also caused some debate. People discussed whether it was the right way to perform the church service. But over time, individual communion cups became a common and accepted practice in many churches.
