# Necco Wafers as Communion Hosts **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 17, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-wafers-as-communion-hosts/638055 "2012-10-17T20:03:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![\_Olive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/4af34b/32.png) [@\_Olive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Olive)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-wafers-as-communion-hosts/638055/21 "2012-10-18T10:13:00Z")
You played church? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-wafers-as-communion-hosts/638055/22 "2012-10-18T10:36:01Z")
I wasn’t Catholic, but some of my best friends were. I loved to play Church; they put up with it long enough to get me to play House with them later. I made them show me how Communion worked, and yes, we used Necco wafers to play Communion. I got to be the priest, of course. In fact, I recall walking a mile to the store and buying Necco wafers out of my own money, just for the game of Communion. I never ate the things otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-wafers-as-communion-hosts/638055/23 "2012-10-18T11:03:19Z")
I never saw Necco wafers as a kid - maybe they don’t have them in Canada? We could buy [these](http://www.gourmandises-dragees.fr/309-663-large/bonbons-hostie-.jpg) at the candy store, though, and they were made of the _exact same stuff_ as the Body of Christ. Honestly, I would not be surprised if the official white church Hosts were made at the same factory and just stamped with something being sent off to the church. We even called them “bonbons hostie”, of “host candies”, which was a lot of fun for a French Canadian kid, because it meant we could ask for them over and over and it wasn’t really swearing, so parents couldn’t get mad! You could buy that same stuff at candy stores as plain flat wafers (colors or white) and as flat sheets, both of which were very handy for cake decorating. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-wafers-as-communion-hosts/638055/24 "2012-10-18T13:45:34Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I didn’t see the Catholic requirement when I posted, but we used all sorts of cookies when playing church as kids. Sure, unlike Catholics, we don’t have communion every Sunday, but it was our favorite part, so we always played it. > > I notice someone above saying they are white disks. Not the ones I remember. They’re always rectangular, come in pairs, with cream between them. Necco wafers aren’t wafer cookies. They aren’t cookies at all - they’re little flat discs of pressed confection. Almost exactly the same size as a host. The only palatable flavor is chocolate. **DummyGladHands** - Oh, ick. That’s awful. StG ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-wafers-as-communion-hosts/638055/25 "2012-10-18T13:53:18Z")
No 1. I _HATE_ Necco Wafers 2. Communion hosts are much more like the _Flying Saucers_ candies. We used those as “play” communion wafers [Yahoo Image Search](http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoKiPCYBQp20AqBWJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimage%26va%3DFlying%2BSaucers%2Bcandies%26fr%3Dyfp-t-701%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D1&w=1600&h=1200&imgurl=3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-ccD25KFXbjs%2FTimdABplm3I%2FAAAAAAAABRs%2FKVTo1PkOgOY%2Fs1600%2FPenny%2BCandy%2B08%2BSatellite%2BWafers.JPG&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fmonsterdad69.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fresurrecting-past-satelliteflying.html&size=117.4+KB&name=)…+DAD%3A+Resurrecting+The+Past%3A+Flying+Saucer%2FSatellite+Wafer+Candy&p=Flying+Saucers+candies&oid=0daabc2e384e9d57e714e27e101bee57&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-701&tt=…%2BDAD%253A%2BResurrecting%2BThe%2BPast%253A%2BFlying%2BSaucer%252FSatellite%2BWafer%2BCandy&b=0&ni=21&no=1&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=12fqssvuk&sigb=13khase4m&sigi=13cfd73aq&.crumb=G.kSrW0OssH [http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;\_ylt=A0PDoKiPCYBQp20ArhWJzbkF;\_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F\_adv\_prop%3Dimage%26va%3DFlying%2BSaucers%2Bcandies%26fr%3Dyfp-t-701%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D7&w=500&h=334&imgurl=usa.stockfood.com%2Fimages-pictures%2FFlying%2520Saucer%2520Candy%3B%2520Broken%2520Open-688215.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.viewgoods.com%2Fgeneral%2Fflying-saucer-candy.html&size=25.8+KB&name=Flying+Saucer+Candy+-+reviews+and+photos.&p=Flying+Saucers+candies&oid=adc6b8d140d54b6ce8a40e8ac338d04f&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-701&tt=Flying%2BSaucer%2BCandy%2B-%2Breviews%2Band%2Bphotos.&b=0&ni=21&no=7&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11po4nh3h&sigb=13k4u34nb&sigi=12l58a34b&.crumb=G.kSrW0OssH](http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoKiPCYBQp20ArhWJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimage%26va%3DFlying%2BSaucers%2Bcandies%26fr%3Dyfp-t-701%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D7&w=500&h=334&imgurl=usa.stockfood.com%2Fimages-pictures%2FFlying%2520Saucer%2520Candy%3B%2520Broken%2520Open-688215.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.viewgoods.com%2Fgeneral%2Fflying-saucer-candy.html&size=25.8+KB&name=Flying+Saucer+Candy+-+reviews+and+photos.&p=Flying+Saucers+candies&oid=adc6b8d140d54b6ce8a40e8ac338d04f&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-701&tt=Flying%2BSaucer%2BCandy%2B-%2Breviews%2Band%2Bphotos.&b=0&ni=21&no=7&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11po4nh3h&sigb=13k4u34nb&sigi=12l58a34b&.crumb=G.kSrW0OssH) > **[Goodbye from OldTimeCandy](https://oldtimecandy.com/satellite-wafer.htm)** > **[Satellite Wafers Candy Flying Saucers](http://www.retrocandyonline.com/sawaflsanoca.html)** > > Satellite wafers are a disc shape candy wafer filled with little balls. The shape of satellite resembling a UFO and are often known as flying saucer candies. > > > These are definitely a nostalgic candy from the 50s. When you take a trip down > memory... > [@](#): > > Many customers also refer to these as tasting like communion wafers. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-wafers-as-communion-hosts/638055/26 "2012-10-18T14:00:19Z")
Instead of the Body of Christ, how about a bride of Christ; specifically their [farts?](http://sweets.seriouseats.com/2009/11/pet-de-soeur-french-pastries-nuns-farts-canada-montreal-em-cafe.html) ---
**Author:** ![kath94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/67e7ee/32.png) [@kath94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kath94)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-wafers-as-communion-hosts/638055/27 "2012-10-18T15:05:38Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > I never saw Necco wafers as a kid - maybe they don’t have them in Canada? > > We could buy [these](http://www.gourmandises-dragees.fr/309-663-large/bonbons-hostie-.jpg) at the candy store, though, and they were made of the _exact same stuff_ as the Body of Christ. Honestly, I would not be surprised if the official white church Hosts were made at the same factory and just stamped with something being sent off to the church. We even called them “bonbons hostie”, of “host candies”, which was a lot of fun for a French Canadian kid, because it meant we could ask for them over and over and it wasn’t really swearing, so parents couldn’t get mad! > > You could buy that same stuff at candy stores as plain flat wafers (colors or white) and as flat sheets, both of which were very handy for cake decorating. Those are flying saucers, and I agree that they have absolutely no taste. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-wafers-as-communion-hosts/638055/28 "2012-10-18T16:30:21Z")
Being Jewish, I never knew of this, but it must explain the aura around the Necco plant down the street from MIT which I used to walk past on the way to the grocery in Central Square. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-wafers-as-communion-hosts/638055/29 "2012-10-18T16:47:08Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > I don’t know what a Necco wafer is, but we certainly played “mass at home” with the local variety of wafer. I don’t know what Necco wafers are either, but we used either regular old crackers or white bread cut or torn into reasonably host-shaped circles and then mashed flat. It was always fun finding the most chaliced-shaped vase in whatever household we were playing Mass in. The more elaborate the better. Carnival glass is great. I remember reading in _Growing Up Catholic_ that Cannon towels were the _only_ acceptable altar linens for play Mass. Get it? _Canon_ towel? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![toast\_pakora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ec8ea/32.png) [@toast\_pakora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toast_pakora)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-wafers-as-communion-hosts/638055/30 "2012-10-19T17:53:11Z")
> [@](#): > > I never saw Necco wafers as a kid - maybe they don’t have them in Canada? But you had _Canada Mints_, no? Same thing only thicker, and fewer flavors. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-wafers-as-communion-hosts/638055/31 "2012-10-19T17:56:09Z")
> [@ministryman](#): > > Not a Catholic, but I’d rather eat a bowl of communion wafers than 1 Necco candy. +1 Necco wafers are _nasty_. ETA: When I was an altar boy, I used to eat handfuls of unconsecrated wafers from the Church’s storage room right before Mass. I was hungry, and you’re not supposed to eat an hour before (or after) you take communion! ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-wafers-as-communion-hosts/638055/32 "2012-10-19T21:19:52Z")
No. I can remember though being so f’ing hungry during mass that I would take part in communion simply to get something in my stomach. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necco-wafers-as-communion-hosts/638055.md?page=1)