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In the 1900's there were many different wake and burial customs, most of which were flavoured with a wealth of old Irish traditions. There were numerous customs as to how one should dress, act, and speak. As well, there were a wide variety of beliefs and superstitions which colour the whole topic of death and burial. Here are some of these beliefs surrounding the topic of death which I have gathered from readings in Opportunities for Youth Summer Project '731. According to local residents, many of these beliefs no longer exist. However, the ideas governing them are basically still present.
Foreshadowing of Death
One sign which supposedly foreshadowed death was that of a woodpecker pecking at a house. Also, according to the older citizens, whoever the cat looked at first after washing his face would be sure to die. Here is story told by a mother of how a sign foreshadowed her two children's deaths:
One Wednesday evening she was going out to the cellar behind the house for some potatoes when she noticed two lights shining through some nearby trees. One seemed about a foot high, the other about two feet high. She first believed it was a neighbour, but realized afterwards that this was not the case.
The following Friday her youngest child, a ten month old boy became ill. Throughout the weekend his condition became worse and he died that Sunday. A year later in December the woman's six year old daughter died in practically the same way. She had taken sick on Friday and had died that Sunday evening.
The mother claimed that the two lights were tokens of the children's deaths and the fact that one light was taller than the other signified the fact that one child was older than the other.
Death Customs
Neighbours and relatives usually stayed with a dying person at all times. In the sick person's room there was a crucifix, two candles and a small bottle of holy water on a table close to the bed. As a person was dying, a lighted candle was placed in his hand. The belief was that this would light his/her way to heaven.
When a person died, all the doors in the house were opened so that the person's soul could "depart". The corpse was dressed in a habit which was a long loose gown, usually made of cotton. It had a high neck and white ribbon on the sleeves. These ribbons held the sleeves in tightly to the wrists. There was a large white hood attached at the back. On the upper left corner there was a badge of the Sacred Heart.
It was very common for neighbours to lend a hand in whatever had to be done at such a time. They would help wash and dress the corpse, stay up at night to 'watch over' the dead person, prepare food for the family of the deceased, clean house, etc. As well, men in the community would help dig the grave. This was usually done on the morning of the third day, the day of the burial. A grave was never left open overnight because of the fear that "someone would follow" - that is, fear that someone else in the family would also die.
1Placentia Historical Society. (1973). Opportunities for Youth Summer Project '73.
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This Page is part of a Historical and Cultural Web Site created by students of Laval High School, Placentia, NFLD (A0B 2Y0) Updated Feb/2000 |
