The Lutheran Church of Denmark launched a campaign for a poorer Confirmation. “When parents spend a lot of money for their children’s Confirmation, this clearly means that they see it as an important day. But it’s not the material things that make it great. It may be lived moderately and become a great day”, explains pastor Lone B. Pedersen of Østbirk, who started to collect second-hand clothes from the ceremonies and lend them out. The average amount of money that is spent nowadays by a Danish family for their children’s Confirmation is about 2,500 euros, including the dress, the party and the gifts, almost like a small wedding. News tell about cars or helicopters being hired to take the children to Church. Children are well aware if their parents have the money for the party or not and sometimes they would rather not take Confirmation at all to make things easier for their families. And that must not be the reason young people are put off Confirmation, which is for everyone”, Loren b. Pedersen explains. Other initiatives are spreading in this respect. In Næstved, Betina Vikene has opened a Facebook group that lends Confirmation dresses for 25 euros. In some parishes, there is an office that lends money to families that have problems paying for their children’s Confirmation. A charity catering service, Børn og Unges mærkesager, has also been set up to make 3-course meals for 25 guests, with food donated by sponsors and cooked by volunteer chefs.