Help - identifying photograph - religious?

[LancsNorris986]

Hi,
The photograph below shows my grandmother and her sister as young girls.
What puzzles me is as to why they are both dressed in white dresses and both  have their hands chained together.
Does anyone know whether this has some religious significance at all. 
Thanks

[oldtimer]

Very odd!

They look too old to be taking their first communion, and if they were, that wouldn't account for the chains I shouldn't think. 

Some kind of theatrtical production perhaps?

[LancsNorris986]

Hi 'oldtimer'
Thanks for replying.
It's definately not part of a catholic communion (having gone through it myself).
I did wonder whether it had something to do with women's rights.

[oldtimer]

Hi

That is an interesting idea.

It will be interesting to see what other RootsChatters come up with.

Judy

[Subaru]

Bridesmaids maybe?

Are you sure their hands are chained together?  Maybe they're rosary beads.

[patrexjax]

Perhaps dressed for a confirmation ceremony in the RC church?  Pat

[Viktoria]

I cant make out the far girl`s hands very well but the nearest girl looks as if she is wearing bracelets on each wrist, Rosary beads would hang down with the Crucifix showing I think, Lovely grls though. Viktoria.

[Humpty707]

zooming in on the girl on the left, I think she does have the rosary beads hanging down

[Plummiegirl]

Add my tuppence.  They are both of an age for Catholic Confirmation.  It does look like they are both carrying rosary beads intertwined, if you look carefully you can see beads hanging down on both.  And the white dressses & no veil would be right.