The truth about the Irish wake: lewd songs, pranks were part of the tradition

By the by, just because you wake the person at home doesn't mean you are saving money. You still have the body embalmed, newspaper ads, use of hearse to transport body from embalmers to home and from home to church/cemetery. Also, our funeral home directors were at the house during the wake(s). I doubt there is any savings. You have all the costs. Just the comfort of being in your home or for the deceased, of being waked in your home.

Proud Canadian, I guess it is what you are used to. We don't believe that the soul has left the body until an hour after "death." It's comforting not to have to leave the body at the funeral home after calling hours. But you are probably right, it's what you are accustomed to.

All of our wakes for my grandparents, aunts and uncles and my parents were at home. Made for interesting mix. Of course, food and alcohol were present, as was the customary singing. It is well known that the devil always comes out for weddings and wakes. The Rosary was also led by the priest, generally, early on.

might there be a market in america for traditional irish wakes, as a competing alternative to our current funereal choices?

There is no getting away from the fact that death is a part of life. So sorry to hear the church squashed such a vital part of the death process. It sounds like the traditional Irish wake was a great way to deal with the loss and yet move on with life.

Yes indeed! Professional keening was very effective therapy at uncorking the more reluctant mourners, and a damn sight cheaper and more abbreviated than professional psychotherapy. (A bit like those yodelling Palestinian women someone mentioned recently in another context). As Jamaican reggae artist Bob Marley (and the Wailers!) once said - "... no woman no cry!" My own mother, (Lord rest her!) used to say we were 'wailing like banshees' (ie bean sí's/female fairies) when we were young and making a fuss about something insubstantial. That of course was at a time when people were more common sensical and before academic intelligence set and professionalism in.

So wonderful. Just saw a wonderful one-man show at the Irish Arts Center and the actor/playwright did a wonderful take on two village people who would get all dressed up in their Sunday Best, sit in the first row and cry like mad even though they had no idea who the deceased was! I love the strength and the breadth of the Irish humor and so glad it is in my national heritage - it serves me well in hard times!

When I was over to Ireland two years ago, I witnessed my uncles wake, it was quite a thing. I don't think that I have ever seen so many people come through a house. Thank God this was a dry wake(coffee and tea) with lots to eat. It was a little morbid, the thought of a body lying in state in the living room but at the same time it was great that so many people were able to say a last goodbye to him. Like lokionline said a wake is most effective.

I don't recall any lewd songs!

Good one, Tayandcake!

The Wake served as a psychological therapy for the grieving family. The church and contemporary funeral services seek the same. Which is(was) more effective? I would choose the wake over the current alternatives any day.

The old world eh, and now we got "progress". Progress to nothingness