Everything Irish-Blog Marathon

Just got off the phone with my mom (my weekly check in to say I'm still alive-goes on for a good hour), where she proceeds to talk about what all Irish mothers talk about the weather, the siblings, and funerals.

Mom acually mentiond a busy week of attending funerals.

What is involved in an irish funeral/Irish Wake?

The traditional Irish Wake was commonplace around Ireland up until about the 1970's, and while it still takes place today it is less common than it once was. This was the process of Laying out the body of a departed relative in the house where they lived and /or died. All of the family and quite a few of the deceased's neighbours and friends would gather at the house. The body was usually in a coffin in the parlour of the house or living room.

There would be lots of food and plenty of drink to be consumed. People would come and socialise and remember the departed person's life.
This wasn't a time for tears (deletetion), it was more of a party than a funeral.
It was the traditional Irish way of celebrating one's life and ensuring that they had a good send off. A proper Irish Wake is worth the time and effort required to return to the old customs. It is hard to imagine a passing being complete without one!

The Wake is the period of time from death until the body is conveyed to the care of the church which is generally the evening before the day of burial.

This is still comonplace in rural Ireland today.

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