 |
Funerals |
. |
|
|
A
funeral of the 1960s
|
| . |
| Meantime,
outside the house, people gathered and talked about the illness,
the family reactions, and the last will and testament. |
| In
the evening, after having recited the rosary, everyone retired.
The next day, after a brief church ceremony, accompanied by a retinue
of relatives and friends, the body was carried to the cemetery. |
| The
women of the immediate family, wrapped in their black shawls and,
supported by friends, continued their weeping and wailing along
the way, while the other women carried on a conversation among themselves. |
| The
actual funeral took place after three days, during which the family
continued to receive condolence visits. The house door remained
open, and, visitors, upon entering, uttered the ritual greeting
“Jesus and Mary”, sat down in silence, stayed still
for a certain length of time, and finally, uttering the same formulaic
greeting, took their leave. |
| During
this period of mourning, the closest relatives provided the family
with food. At a certain time, one at a time, they the brought the
“comfort food.” This was an expensive commitment and
a considerable sacrifice for people who were extremely poor. |
| The
condolence visits ceased after three days, but were resumed on the
Sunday following the death, at which time the family with relatives
and friends went to church to attend a mass of intercession, after
which they all returned home. |
| Once
more there was weeping and wailing, which gradually calmed down
as the hours wore on. All day long there was a constant coming and
going of people who came to pay their respects. |
| After
these rituals were done with, visits to the cemetery were rather
infrequent, with the exception of All Souls Day. |
| In
the past, everyone made plans for their own death and that of their
dear ones. The “Fund of the Dead” collected from its
members considerable sums of money for masses and funerals. |
| Every
week one of the “brethren”, carrying a small box in
the shape of a skull, went from house to house to collect dues. |
|
|
