The Irish are famous for many things like their St.
Patrick’s Day celebrations, love of Guiness beer, and we can’t forget the
accent! With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, we thought we’d explore
Irish funeral traditions.
The Wake
A wake used to be a very lively event, and for some it still
is. However, in recent years there has been a shift to making it a more somber
event. In years past, the wake would be held in a house. The deceased would be
laid down to rest, while stories were shared, laughs filled the air, and drinks
were all around! The body is not to be left alone at any time. A person,
usually a woman, sits nearby at all times.
Some traditions include stopping all the clocks in the house
at the time of death. Some believe this is an effort to help the dead pass on,
when they realize time isn’t passing. Others believe this was an effort to help
the doctor know when to declare an exact time of death when he arrived.
Anther tradition includes turning all mirrors and pictures.
It was said that a soul could get trapped in a reflective surface. Later they
would haunt the home. While this may sound hokey, this stemmed from a time when
there was an unhealthy interest in death. (Think Victorian era.)
Another common tradition at the wake would be to have every
male caller take at least one puff from a pipe to lift evil spirits from the
body. Some would place the pipe next to the deceased, even on their chests!
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