Merrymaking was a common part of the traditional Irish wake and was a part of the grieving process, according to an article in the Irish Independent. Pagan ritual was a huge part of it and much of the carrying-on was frowned upon by the church.
Storytelling, mischief making, and games were all part of the send-off and eased the suffering for the deceased's family.
According to the article, the custom "most likely has its roots in the ancient Jewish custom of leaving the burial chamber unsealed for three days with relatives returning during that time to check for any signs of life.
"As in other Celtic countries, Irish mourners adopted the custom as a way to keep vigil over their dead until the time of burial, and it evolved into an occasion of sadness and merriment."
Lewd songs, pranks, and games with names like "Priest of the Parish" and "Hide the Gulley" were commonplace at wakes up until the mid-1900s.
Even contests of strength, which included lifting the corpse, was common. Also common was hiding under the corpse’s bed and shaking it when someone walked in scaring the daylights out of them
These activities, which originated in pagan culture, were severely frowned upon by the church, which tried to stamp out the custom but action was only taken when a wake turned particularly scandalous.
According to the Independent, the wake began when neighbor women washed the body of the deceased. It was then covered in white linen adorned with black or white ribbons.
"Custom dictated that crying could not begin until after the body was prepared, for fear that evil spirits would be attracted which would take the soul of the deceased.
"Female keeners were often hired, and they wailed and cried and recited poetry lamenting the loss of the loved one, with the mourner at the head of the bed striking the first note or wail."
While wakes are still held in the more rural parts of the west of Ireland, funeral parlors have sprung up across the country in the past few decades.
12 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.pilib04 | Oct 18, 2012, 01:04 PM EDT
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.
pilib04 | Oct 18, 2012, 01:00 PM EDT
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.
pilib04 | Oct 18, 2012, 12:57 PM EDT
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.
johnshiel | Oct 16, 2012, 10:37 AM EDT
might there be a market in america for traditional irish wakes, as a competing alternative to our current funereal choices?
sidhemajik | Oct 15, 2012, 08:32 AM EDT
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.
IrelandNorth | Oct 15, 2012, 06:45 AM EDT
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.
PatriciaMarya | Oct 14, 2012, 08:45 PM EDT
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!
Proud Canadian2 | Oct 14, 2012, 08:01 PM EDT
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.
Murph46 | Oct 14, 2012, 04:08 PM EDT
I don't recall any lewd songs!
Curitiba | Oct 14, 2012, 02:05 PM EDT
Good one, Tayandcake!
lokionline | Oct 14, 2012, 01:21 PM EDT
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.
TayandCake | Oct 14, 2012, 11:32 AM EDT
The old world eh, and now we got "progress". Progress to nothingness