Mirrors covered, clocks stopped, no doors banging/loud noises, never leave the deceased alone in the house, window is always kept a little open in the viewing room. Two days' are normal before burial, in Ireland. This can be longer if relatives are attending from overseas
This will sound very morbid, but what about embalming? If not embalmed wouldn’t the body start to decay? I know, terrible question, I live in America and worked as a funeral coordinator and am familiar with death and Funeral practices in the USA.
@@tammymcc-n7652 It's very unusual for the deceased to be embalmed in Ireland. I am 47 years old and have never witnessed an embalmed body. Embalmers tend to be Funeral Directors who have an additional Embalming qualification, as opposed to being an Embalmer, first and foremost. I think it may be due to the Irish tradition of burying/cremating 2-3 days post death...👍
@Gaggy Mott, thank you for the reply. Very interesting! I’m Irish American. My Uncle was a Mortician and Funeral Director. He lived above a funeral parlor, as we called them. He let us go down and observe what he did to an extent. I was small. I do remember crawling into a coffin on the urging and daring of my cousins and siblings. I was never afraid. Once, we did get into terrible trouble. My Uncle was officiating a funeral down in the parlor below. Me and my siblings and cousins laid over the air grate above the parlor where the funeral was going on and we were making “scary noises”, like ghosts to scare those attending the funeral. My Uncle came up, and removed his belt. He whipped us but didn’t really hurt us. I became a Funeral Coordinator. I’m not afraid to die. While being an American, I credit that to my ancestors from Ireland. God Bless, stay safe.
@@gaggymott9159 that’s interesting. I wasn’t aware of that. I thought embalming was basically required if there was going to be a wake or funeral mass. Your comment is certainly news to me.
@@tammymcc-n7652 the wake is incase they are not dead, back in the day they made many mistakes and burried ppl alive, one week no embalmed. they shall wake or be gone after a week, keep digging keep looking. this video makes it so they are not in the kitchen but away from where life happens in the house, where the person lived their life. it must be in the main part of the house
I am Irish, and my grandmother had a very traditional catholic wake when she died; she was embalmed by the undertaker, and brought to her home where she was situated "in the parlour" as the video mentioned. All mirrors covered, clocks stopped, incense burning, body not left alone, family visiting, sandwiches and cakes in the kitchen, and the rosary chant. The body is not left alone, and someone , usually either direct family or, in our case, a niece, sat vigil with the body overnight before the funeral in the morning. This is to prevent spirits from inhabiting the 'empty vessel' - same reason why we cover the mirrors! At a catholic funeral mass, gifts are presented to the altar ; usually meaningful items. I carried the easel, as my grandmother painted. My brother and I were chuckling (and, of course, still crying) during the mass, as the priest coughed over an estranged cousin's speech. Traditional violin and flute were played on the graveside. After the burial, the attendants will go out for a meal, usually in a pub, with drinks- courtesy of the mourning family; hence why catholic funerals can become very expensive. The after-funeral meal is essentially a party. Overall, funerals are usually more akin to a family reunion than a morbid affair- unless of course, the death was particularly tragic or a child. The life is celebrated, and bonds are rekindled. Sad, but beautiful too.
Ann-Marie Villasana, My aunt wants to be waked at home, she is first generation. Her son thinks it creepy and will interfere with the house's resale value.
Mulan 121, There are a lot of people who don’t want to live in a place where someone has died. I think some people don’t want to be reminded that they too will die.
Thinderella EDwards But sure, hasn't every house had someone die in it, unless it was newly built? Also, anyone who's ever slept in a hotel has a big chance that someone died in that bed at some point. That's creepier to me.
When I was younger I thought everyone had bodies layed out in the house? I asked my friend where her grandma's body was and she looked at me like I was crazy 🤣
Where I live in rural co. Antrim this is still the irish way of death. Normally met at the door by a male member of the family and the women will be with the deceased. Normal greeting is "I am sorry for your troubles." literally hundreds can turn up for the wake. All mirrors covered. All clocks stopped. Many say they knew death was coming as they heard the banshee keening.
And a final touch is before the lid of the coffin is placed members of the family will kiss their darling mother as a last farewell. I have English friends who just do not get it.
typical now, back then it was one week in the kitchen with loved ones coming and going and drinking. the point was so they are not burried alive..and drink and laugh and yell and wake them up if you can!
My Black family members had a son who died in Ireland. He was a 'fame poet'. his wife had this kind of thing, His parents come from America and his mother told me something about this culture. Leah Tunkara
@Lalealyn well since you went to a wake and this didn’t happen it must never happen. If the wake is in the house, someone stays with the body. We did it for both my grandparents in the last few years.
Wakes were in homes all over the world - there wasn’t funeral directors as we know them now. All cultures have some form of traditions or a combination of them from either religion or the mother country. Not weird it’s wonderful their relatives took such care of them on death
Youll Donuttin, Up until not too long ago, if you were Catholic you could not be cremated. Now you can be cremated but you must still be interred in sacred ground.
Hi Rachel, could you please contact me, i have to learn more about this topic for a kine of big "memoire". Where did ou get all this knowledge about death and traditions? Please contact me!
we dont wash the body the funeral director brings them home with the holy beads wrapped on there fingers and whatever outfit youve choose for them, then ppl facebook a post such as-my sister will be home at 5 today, the 1st night of a wake is just for family and close friends, 2nd is anyone we buy a special mass card that the church takes the name of the person youve paid for prayers for, people dress up for wakes, some make up and nice clothes because when you get there its like a party gathering, theres irish food and party food usually in the kitchen, food is offered by lical businesses, theres a lot of tea and alot of drink consumed, theres usually music, a fight, and general chitchat of pure bullshit, everyone then plans an outfit for the funeral because of course thats an all day party event also sometimes with halls in social clubs booked and live music, at this you will get the drugtakers, sex 10 fights and uncontrollable laughter from one crowd uncontrollable sobbing from another, my advice is to brace yourself for a 4 day party of madness
@@thinderellaedwards1365it depends, more rural places normally have them in the house, I hate them and find them so intrusive. Some nosy people call just to see what the body looks like.
you can not leave the body alone, this is the most important part.
🤣🤣
Why?
Mirrors covered, clocks stopped, no doors banging/loud noises, never leave the deceased alone in the house, window is always kept a little open in the viewing room. Two days' are normal before burial, in Ireland. This can be longer if relatives are attending from overseas
This will sound very morbid, but what about embalming? If not embalmed wouldn’t the body start to decay? I know, terrible question, I live in America and worked as a funeral coordinator and am familiar with death and Funeral practices in the USA.
@@tammymcc-n7652 It's very unusual for the deceased to be embalmed in Ireland. I am 47 years old and have never witnessed an embalmed body. Embalmers tend to be Funeral Directors who have an additional Embalming qualification, as opposed to being an Embalmer, first and foremost. I think it may be due to the Irish tradition of burying/cremating 2-3 days post death...👍
@Gaggy Mott, thank you for the reply. Very interesting! I’m Irish American. My Uncle was a Mortician and Funeral Director. He lived above a funeral parlor, as we called them. He let us go down and observe what he did to an extent. I was small. I do remember crawling into a coffin on the urging and daring of my cousins and siblings. I was never afraid. Once, we did get into terrible trouble. My Uncle was officiating a funeral down in the parlor below. Me and my siblings and cousins laid over the air grate above the parlor where the funeral was going on and we were making “scary noises”, like ghosts to scare those attending the funeral. My Uncle came up, and removed his belt. He whipped us but didn’t really hurt us. I became a Funeral Coordinator. I’m not afraid to die. While being an American, I credit that to my ancestors from Ireland. God Bless, stay safe.
@@gaggymott9159 that’s interesting. I wasn’t aware of that. I thought embalming was basically required if there was going to be a wake or funeral mass. Your comment is certainly news to me.
@@tammymcc-n7652 the wake is incase they are not dead, back in the day they made many mistakes and burried ppl alive, one week no embalmed. they shall wake or be gone after a week, keep digging keep looking. this video makes it so they are not in the kitchen but away from where life happens in the house, where the person lived their life. it must be in the main part of the house
I am Irish, and my grandmother had a very traditional catholic wake when she died; she was embalmed by the undertaker, and brought to her home where she was situated "in the parlour" as the video mentioned.
All mirrors covered, clocks stopped, incense burning, body not left alone, family visiting, sandwiches and cakes in the kitchen, and the rosary chant. The body is not left alone, and someone , usually either direct family or, in our case, a niece, sat vigil with the body overnight before the funeral in the morning. This is to prevent spirits from inhabiting the 'empty vessel' - same reason why we cover the mirrors!
At a catholic funeral mass, gifts are presented to the altar ; usually meaningful items. I carried the easel, as my grandmother painted. My brother and I were chuckling (and, of course, still crying) during the mass, as the priest coughed over an estranged cousin's speech. Traditional violin and flute were played on the graveside. After the burial, the attendants will go out for a meal, usually in a pub, with drinks- courtesy of the mourning family; hence why catholic funerals can become very expensive. The after-funeral meal is essentially a party. Overall, funerals are usually more akin to a family reunion than a morbid affair- unless of course, the death was particularly tragic or a child. The life is celebrated, and bonds are rekindled. Sad, but beautiful too.
My Irish immigrant grandfather was waked at home in NJ back in 1959. His wake is one of my first memories at age 2
Ann-Marie Villasana, My aunt wants to be waked at home, she is first generation. Her son thinks it creepy and will interfere with the house's resale value.
Thinderella EDwards Why would it reduce the value of the home?
Mulan 121, There are a lot of people who don’t want to live in a place where someone has died. I think some people don’t want to be reminded that they too will die.
Thinderella EDwards But sure, hasn't every house had someone die in it, unless it was newly built? Also, anyone who's ever slept in a hotel has a big chance that someone died in that bed at some point. That's creepier to me.
Irish wake
When I was younger I thought everyone had bodies layed out in the house? I asked my friend where her grandma's body was and she looked at me like I was crazy 🤣
Where I live in rural co. Antrim this is still the irish way of death. Normally met at the door by a male member of the family and the women will be with the deceased. Normal greeting is "I am sorry for your troubles." literally hundreds can turn up for the wake. All mirrors covered. All clocks stopped. Many say they knew death was coming as they heard the banshee keening.
I’m not even Irish. Why am i even here? But great video though. Now I know what to do if I ever go to an Irish funeral.
just drink and eat a bowl of stew and have a bit of craic
get pissed drunk. eat a hape and sing along. oh we love a good funeral haha
And a final touch is before the lid of the coffin is placed members of the family will kiss their darling mother as a last farewell. I have English friends who just do not get it.
typical now, back then it was one week in the kitchen with loved ones coming and going and drinking. the point was so they are not burried alive..and drink and laugh and yell and wake them up if you can!
My Black family members had a son who died in Ireland. He was a 'fame poet'. his wife had this kind of thing,
His parents come from America and his mother told me something about this culture. Leah Tunkara
What if you open the window and they don't want to go?
They do beleive me
No mention of sleeping with the body?
Can't leave them alone at night.
very true body cant be left alone
Why can’t the body be left alone?
@@tammymcc-n7652 bad luck
@@tammymcc-n7652 Robbers
@Lalealyn well since you went to a wake and this didn’t happen it must never happen.
If the wake is in the house, someone stays with the body. We did it for both my grandparents in the last few years.
Wakes were in homes all over the world - there wasn’t funeral directors as we know them now. All cultures have some form of traditions or a combination of them from either religion or the mother country. Not weird it’s wonderful their relatives took such care of them on death
🏴🔱🇮🇪🔱👩🏿🦰🔱💪🏿👨🏽🦰🤳🏿🔱🇨🇮🔱🏴
😍
2:30 whaaaaat are thooosssseeeeeee
Shoes
slayerking something that you can’t afford
Titanic engine ☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️
I was Wondering, how long are the bodies kept on in the wake house ?
The lady Tea King. Normally 2/3 days
depends on wheather there gona be buried or burned but yea usually 2/3
The lady Tea King. Buried on the third day
The lady Tea King. Can be kept for a day, 2/3 days, or a week or two. Just depending on what the family wishes for.
Youll Donuttin, Up until not too long ago, if you were Catholic you could not be cremated. Now you can be cremated but you must still be interred in sacred ground.
Why did you cover the mirrors?
So the spirit won’t get trapped in the mirror
Rebecca, I remember asking my gran and she just said "That's what we do, and what you and yours will do too."
Superstition and Fear
So the spirit of the deceased cannot see themselves and think they are still alive.
👍
Hi Rachel, could you please contact me, i have to learn more about this topic for a kine of big "memoire". Where did ou get all this knowledge about death and traditions? Please contact me!
Is she alive?
Why lad? Do you fancy her?
we dont wash the body the funeral director brings them home with the holy beads wrapped on there fingers and whatever outfit youve choose for them, then ppl facebook a post such as-my sister will be home at 5 today, the 1st night of a wake is just for family and close friends, 2nd is anyone we buy a special mass card that the church takes the name of the person youve paid for prayers for, people dress up for wakes, some make up and nice clothes because when you get there its like a party gathering, theres irish food and party food usually in the kitchen, food is offered by lical businesses, theres a lot of tea and alot of drink consumed, theres usually music, a fight, and general chitchat of pure bullshit, everyone then plans an outfit for the funeral because of course thats an all day party event also sometimes with halls in social clubs booked and live music, at this you will get the drugtakers, sex 10 fights and uncontrollable laughter from one crowd uncontrollable sobbing from another, my advice is to brace yourself for a 4 day party of madness
I haven't been back to Ireland for nearly ten years, are funeral homes becoming more popular or are people still waking their dead in their homes?
@@thinderellaedwards1365it depends, more rural places normally have them in the house, I hate them and find them so intrusive. Some nosy people call just to see what the body looks like.