What an insightful read. I always watched these vocal funerals in the Middle East (news) thinking it was over the top. I did not know the history of these Gaelic mourners. I will always remember seeing on TV the burial of a little boy who was killed in the 80s (very famous murder case in France) and seeing the mother shouting and crying. It made the news headlines and shocked a lot of people and media. I think with restraint we’ve made death taboo… and that’s a shame
I lived on a remote Pacific island for two years and the old matriarch of the family I lived with died. A large group of women gathered in a big room around the body and wailed over it while the men remained outside and prepared the coffin. A feast for the entire community was held and high-ranking men made speeches about her. It was quite a powerful and moving experience, but also grounded and visceral because the body was on display and not preserved, and was then buried in the ground nearby. I've never forgotten it even though it happened over forty years ago.
Thanks Carre - every day is a school day! Growing up on the Middle East I witnessed lots of vocal outpouring of grief at funerals - very different from our British (stoic) funerals - I know you spent time in NOLA - I’ve never been but the celebratory nature of funerals where there’s a party with lots of music has always appealed to me!
I’d would love to hear more about Middle Eastern funerals…NOLA definitely gets loud and musical around death. Historically, Irish wakes were lively too. For the first 24hrs after death, the body wasn’t left alone. So people would take turns spending time with it all day and night. Friends, family, and community members would gather in the room with the deceased and drink whiskey or play cards. At some wakes, a hand of cards is dealt (including a final hand for the dead body). It’s a lively social event for a lively community send-off. Some of these traditions are still a thing. Maybe I’ll do a more in-depth essay about it for DDD someday.
What an insightful read. I always watched these vocal funerals in the Middle East (news) thinking it was over the top. I did not know the history of these Gaelic mourners. I will always remember seeing on TV the burial of a little boy who was killed in the 80s (very famous murder case in France) and seeing the mother shouting and crying. It made the news headlines and shocked a lot of people and media. I think with restraint we’ve made death taboo… and that’s a shame
I lived on a remote Pacific island for two years and the old matriarch of the family I lived with died. A large group of women gathered in a big room around the body and wailed over it while the men remained outside and prepared the coffin. A feast for the entire community was held and high-ranking men made speeches about her. It was quite a powerful and moving experience, but also grounded and visceral because the body was on display and not preserved, and was then buried in the ground nearby. I've never forgotten it even though it happened over forty years ago.
What a beautiful experience. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Carre - every day is a school day! Growing up on the Middle East I witnessed lots of vocal outpouring of grief at funerals - very different from our British (stoic) funerals - I know you spent time in NOLA - I’ve never been but the celebratory nature of funerals where there’s a party with lots of music has always appealed to me!
I’d would love to hear more about Middle Eastern funerals…NOLA definitely gets loud and musical around death. Historically, Irish wakes were lively too. For the first 24hrs after death, the body wasn’t left alone. So people would take turns spending time with it all day and night. Friends, family, and community members would gather in the room with the deceased and drink whiskey or play cards. At some wakes, a hand of cards is dealt (including a final hand for the dead body). It’s a lively social event for a lively community send-off. Some of these traditions are still a thing. Maybe I’ll do a more in-depth essay about it for DDD someday.
We should seriously go to the west coast of Ireland and do the Keening training
100% YES
Very essential topic, and very interesting to read, thank you very much!
This is good..
Thank you 🙏