My husband on the other hand thinks we are all crazy. The Sitting Up & Burial Later, the person would be placed in a wooden coffin for the “Sitting Up” (the Appalachian wake). From … Some liverymen or men with an appropriate horse-drawn wagon or later vehicle often transported bodies to burial prior to hearses coming to our community. The tradition of sitting up with the dead - Effingham Herald By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism. The viewing is done at the funeral home or viewing as the body is “lying in state” with the coffin open in the church or chapel for a period of time ahead of the funeral. And we can certainly say for sure that the days of conducting the entire procedure necessary to bury a person, all done by caring neighbors, with no charge involved, are no longer practiced. Many pioneers moved into areas largely separated from civilization by high mountain ridges and our pioneer ancestors were rugged, self-sufficient and brought many traditions from the Celtic Old World that is still a part of Appalachian culture today. A funeral is a ceremony that accompanies the final disposition. They do share some similarities with regard to traditions and superstitions around burying the dead however there are also many differences. A funeral is a ceremony that accompanies the final disposition. In 1999, they opened a second funeral home in Pooler. They would bathe and dress the body and use various techniques to prevent the leaking of bodily fluids. For the Dark Horseman visited so frequently, houses were made with two front doors. Contrary to popular belief the term ‘wake’ does not refer to loved ones sitting with the recently deceased in case they were not in fact dead and decided to wake up. If a person died in the winter, the ground would be too frozen to dig a grave. Preparing the Body. He pulled the alarm for the siren to go off on the Springfield water tower to alert Springfield’s volunteer fire department. Shiva begins immediately following the burial and lasts for seven days, ending after the morning service on the seventh day. The article was titled “Rite of the Sitting Dead: Funeral Poses Mimic Life” by Campbell Robertson and Frances Robles. Coffins used to be made from trunks of trees called “tree coffins”. The exhibit served to demonstrate Victorian traditions and mourning practices and how much they differ from today’s. This is usually accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing the deceased and objects in it, and covering it over. Pamela Petro sets herself an impressive task by taking on the stories of the American South in "Sitting Up With The Dead". Full scale funeral homes offer a wide variety of services now including cremation, etc. If loved ones were with the deceased, they often tied a handkerchief around the chin to close the mouth and closed the eyes. The custom of family members staying up with the dead through the night serves as an excellent example. In his early days, Mr. Thompson embalmed and placed the bodies back in the home of the deceased as was custom. The classic music video for Ray Stevens' "Sittin' Up With The Dead"!www.RayStevens.comwww.RayStevensCabaRay.com If you have comments, photos or stories to share contact her at 754-6681 or email: susanexley@historiceffinghamsociety.org, Greyhounds race past Mustangs into semifinals, Tuesday night split sets up elimination game for Mustangs, Greyhounds, Modest investment pays off handsomely for Mustangs golfer, GALLERY: Game 3 (Pope at South Effingham, May 13 (2), GALLERY: Game 3 (Pope at South Effingham, May 13), Class AAAAAA quarterfinal series Game 3 score, Helpful cooking, storage tips for Vidalia onions, Highlighting the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Expanding healthcare access to all Georgians, Equipping law enforcement to keep us safe, Advancing the future of Georgia agriculture, GALLERY: Pope at South Effingham (Part 2, May 11), GALLERY: Pope vs. South Effingham (Part 1, May 11), GALLERY: Barbecue, Beer and Botox at The Herald Center (5-7). When someone died up until Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Thompson established The Leslie Thompson Funeral Home in July 1944, it was quite different. The Leslie Thompson Funeral Home was the first to offer full services for funerals in Effingham County. A few weeks ago, a college student from Spain contacted me asking for information on Celtic funeral/burial rites. Then family members would dress the loved one in their best attire which was usually already picked out by the person before they passed. Imagine how frighting it was as a child to go home after a family members wake and have to look in the mirror for the first time in 4 days. Family and friends quickly stop what they were doing and gather at the deceased family’s homestead to comfort loved ones. Some cultures still keep a family member with the body of the deceased until burial as is their custom. The ritual is called MaiNene. What you ask does that mean? Repast, a tradition within the African American community, takes the potluck to the next level with an all-out, sit-down spread that gives mourners an opportunity to gather and celebrate their loved one. Muslims differ in each region and so traditions, culture and customs are not the same. The late Barney Seber had a theory as to how the practice of sitting up with the dead began. Depending on the family, the “laying out” board might be a door taken off the hinges, a table, ironing board or piece of lumber. A Sin Eater was a person who was tasked with eating the sins of the dead in order for the soul of the deceased to avoid damnation (fun fact: sin tastes a lot like chicken). The men would leave their fields to meet together and dig a hole for the grave and the local carpenter would build a coffin based on the deceased loved one’s body measurements. Once the body was laid out, their arms were folded across the chest and legs brought together and tied near the feet. This may be the most well known tradition since it was made famous by Ray Stevens and his funny song. In the Southern Appalachians, traditional grave decorations included personal effects, toys, and other items such as shells, rocks, and pottery sherds. This is usually accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing the deceased and objects in it, and covering it over. In this dark era, photographing the dead … But even then a string would be tied to the dead persons wrist or ankle and then run up out of the grave and tied to a bell on a stick. To prevent discoloration of the skin, a towel was soaked in soda water and placed over the face until time for viewing. Neighbors, friends, and family would gather at the home to comfort the grieving family. Each chapter is devoted to someone's tale. Every August, Families in Toraja in South Sulawesi dig up the bodies of their dead relatives before washing, grooming and dressing them in fancy new clothes. Most modern wakes are interrupted for the night. In either case, food is rarely catered, but instead made by family members and friends. [F]rom the peaks of the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains, to the river valleys of the French Broad and Catawba, North Carolina has a long history that is steeped in rich Appalachian traditions. At the time of death the deceased was never left alone. Irish Travellers and Romany Gypsies are distinct ethnic groups with their own belief structures, languages and customs. The Irish Wake is perhaps one of the best known funeral traditions associated with Ireland. People in the neighborhood did custom coffin making or the coffins were purchased from Futrelle’s Store in Guyton or Mingledorff and Bird’s Store in Springfield. In our area we still occasionally see this, but seldom. In a tradition pre-dating photography, the images of dead noble men and women are carefully carved out of wood. Due to the rocky terrain, sometimes dynamite was used to clear enough rock for the body to be buried. Death is seen as a natural process. For calling upon your ancestors, inviting them to be an active part of your life in a spiritual way, and communicating with ancestral spirits. The Sitting Up & Burial. In fact, Granny Gazzie was one of them. Up until the mid to late1950s, it was the custom for the body to rest for viewing in the home of the deceased until the funeral. Aspirin and water were also used sometimes to prevent the dead from darkening. Sitting with a body was probably a form of respect. The ritual of sending flowers to a funeral came from this very old tradition. Called in Hebrew shemira, which means guarding or watching. Wakes include prayers for the dead and comforting of the relatives of the deceased. People attending visitation always wore their Sunday best clothing out of respect for the dead. The community would bring more food and join the family to sit with the body, remember the dead, sing, eat, support each other and grieve. Death is a natural process. Ever wonder where the ritual of sending flowers to a funeral came from? Their lives were hard, and a home funeral brought comfort to the bereaved. The board would then be covered with a sheet and a rope was used to tie the body down to keep it straight and to prevent it from suddenly jerking upright. Sitting With the Dead Being apart from those we love as they die is one of COVID's cruelest cuts . Our deaths, like our lives, have meaning and are all part of G-d's plan. Modern wakes are often held after a burial or cremation but traditionally friends and family would keep a vigil over the dead in the days leading up to the funeral. Having someone in the parlor at all times and especially through out the night would ensure that the body would be safe from rodents, insects and family pets such as cats. One thing for sure, no matter how hard you fought it, death always won. This article was written by Susan Exley of Historic Effingham Society. Despite the Hollywood “hillbilly” stereotype, Appalachians carry a sense of pride for their culture, language, and heritage. The adult cousins, standing on the back porch and sitting in lawn chairs, caught up over beer or soda or water, while my dad's brothers and sisters, their spouses, and anyone else who wanted to sit in the air-conditioning visited inside over coffee, tea, or maybe even a little beer, too. People were dying to get into the East Terrace House Museum for the Sitting Up with the Dead Victorian Funeral and Spiritualism exhibit. The fire calls came in to his home telephone which was always manned. Burial, also known as interment or inhumation, is a method of final disposition whereby a dead body is placed into the ground, sometimes with objects. One door was used for happy visits and the other door, known as the funeral door, would open into the deathwatch room for sitting up with the dead. However, death is also not viewed as a tragedy, even when it occurs early in life or through unfortunate circumstances. The swinging hands on the clock were stopped not only to record the time of death, but it was believed that when a person died, time stood still for them. In times gone by, “wailers” were hired for the funeral service. Burial practices are windows to a culture that speak volumes about how it lives. by Unbelievable Facts Apr 2, 2016, 4:21 am Comments Off on Dead man sitting in chair attends his own funeral dressed casually holding his cigarette Sitting Up with The Dead I come from a southern family. In Judaism, death is not a tragedy, even when it occurs early in life or through unfortunate circumstances. Also everything written is NOT true up here. Stokes, 28, who had been shot dead on the steps of a motel, was propped up in the driver’s seat. It takes up to 30 minutes and is usually held in a small funeral chapel which is called a (kapella).. The aroma from the profusion of flowers around the deceased helped mask the odor of decomposition. In this case, the dead would simply be placed in a protected area outdoors until spring. The night after death when the body had been prepared and displayed was accompanied with many people visiting and some staying all night. Along with flies being a problem, rodents could be an issue if the body was left alone overnight. Here are 10 that I found particularly fascinating: Repast, a tradition within the African American community, takes the potluck to the next level with an all-out, sit-down spread that gives … The funeral ceremony is for the public and family to pay respect to the deceased and comfort the survivors. Tradition: Every year the Toraja from Sulawesi island exhume their dead, who they wash and dress in fresh clothes and then pose for family photographs in a festival known as … One such custom was the “sitting up” of loved ones and friends in the home of the deceased with the body until burial. She does it by embarking on four journeys across different states and describing her travelling experiences interspersed with the stories told her by the people she meets on the way. The Thompson Funeral Home was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Strickland in July 1971 and operated in the Maple Street location in Springfield until he and his sons moved the operation to Highway 21. It was common for the whole community to be involved in the death and funeral which due to a more mobile society is less true today. Although we don’t always still “sit up” with the dead all night, we in Effingham County do show the survivors how we care through visitation, funeral attendance, floral and memorial tributes and providing food at the home or church of the deceased to feed the family that has gathered. Some would place a variety of objects in the coffin such as jewelry, tobacco, pipes, toys, a bible and every once in an alcoholic beverage. The community we live in has always been known for great support. Thanks to Mr. Tommy Strickland, Mr. Dwayne Duff and all of the older members of the community who contributed to this story. The Victorian Era was full of strange customs, etiquettes, and traditions, and their manner of grieving the dearly departed was no exception. To prepare the body, the deceased would be “laid out” and remained in the home until burial. Funeral service providers are also regulated and licensed to provide the various funeral services. EMAIL. Once the corpse was in place, the body would then be washed with warm soap and water. He and Mrs. Thompson served our community well. Known as tau tau, these sculptures wear the … We have found many different ways to return. In ancient times, wakes were the practice of sitting vigil over a body immediately after a person’s death. Mr. Bertie Dasher and Mr. Herbert Reisser made coffins for some of the black community. . Modern funeral homes have made the task of burial more convenient but the downside is there is less personal involvement. Reading Sitting Up with the Dead, is like joining friends around a campfire, savoring each tale like a sticky, gooey s’more.” — New Orleans Times-Picayune “The genius of Sitting Up with the Dead is the sense of riding shotgun on a road trip with someone smart and funny. Reincarnation, where the soul is reborn into a new body, was also a common belief among some tribes. Sitting up with the dead, also called a wake, is one of the ways they stuck close to each other. So along with being on insect watch, you had to be on the lookout for mice (or worse). Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The “laying out” board would then be placed on two chairs or sawhorses so the body could be stretched out straight. Bunches of wildflowers and weeds, homemade plant or vegetable wreaths, and crepe paper flowers gradually attained popularity later in the nineteenth century. The custom of “sitting up with the dead” is also called a “Wake”. The funeral practices and burial customs of the Cordillera Igorots encompass a wide range of personal, cultural, and traditional beliefs and practices that they practice in connection with death, disgrace, and proper respect, interference, and remembrance of the dead.. This student was in luck because I had researched this for a scene that was supposed to be in book 2, but has now been put aside for a future separate book. Personalized care for the dead is an important aspect of family and community life in Appalachia. He said that in the days before funeral homes came into existence, one of … who was propped up in a faux boxing ring. Depending on the age of the deceased, the church bell would chime once for every year of their life they had lived on this earth. Sometimes bodies were embalmed by Sipple’s in Savannah or another Savannah funeral provided service. Depending on what position the person was in when they died, sometimes it was necessary to break bones or soak parts of the body in warm water to get the corpse flat on the board. “I couldn’t tame grief, but I could tame a hawk”, Consultations, Education & Counseling Available, Grief Can Strike Even Before a Loved One Is Gone, Understanding family members’ grief for a living loved one. The majority of Effingham burials are in the earth and families mark the grave with a purchased tombstone or funeral plate in perpetually kept cemeteries. Before the use of embalming, the burial would be the next day since there were no means of preserving the body. SHARE. Burial, also known as interment or inhumation, is a method of final disposition whereby a dead body is placed into the ground, sometimes with objects. The one I do remember was my friend’s dead grandmother was placed in the dinning room and she had to sit up all night with her mother watching the body. Sittin' Up With the Dead, Ritual Mist, 2 oz plastic mister. At the time of death, a period of intense mourning ( aninut ) begins and lasts until the funeral. Many families had a specific board for the purpose of laying out the body that had been passed down from generations. Here are 10 that I found particularly fascinating: Air Sacrifice – Mongolia. The day after the Wake, the body would be loaded into a wagon and taken to the church for the funeral service. Where people are buried now is in designated cemeteries, regulated by government and private cemeteries must meet approval for use. Enormous, full of relatives, public mourning and solemn ritual, their burial rites amount to a massive procession taken very seriously by everyone involved. 'Sitting shiva' is a term used to describe the action of Jewish mourners participating in the traditional rituals of observing a shiva. Shiva is not observed on the Sabbath (Friday at sundown through Saturday at sundown) or on holidays. Although not medically trained, unless his wife the nurse was in attendance, and strictly for transport, he was the forerunner of our modern EMS. There was always a granny witch to call on when someone was sick and needed special magic for healing. The body was often placed on a cooling board as shown in the photo or on an interior door taken down for this purpose. A handkerchief was tied under the chin and over the head to keep the corpse’s mouth from opening. We have found many different ways to return. The exhibit served to demonstrate Victorian traditions and mourning practices and how much they differ from today’s. There was also a practical side for this custom. Here in Blighty, we tend to stick to the same tried and tested funeral traditions. The traditional “Irish wake”, characterized by drinking and boisterousness, has all but disappeared. Effingham does have a few private crypts above ground, but has no mausoleums. During the period of shiva, mourners sometimes sit on low stools or boxes while they receive condolence calls. As rigor mortis began to set in, some folks have actually heard bones cracking and breaking which would cause the corpse to move as it began to stiffen. Over time, pine boxes replaced the tree coffins. In this dark era, photographing the dead … This is called shemira, which means guarding or watching. Posted Oct 24, 2020 . Growing up in a home full of Irish traditions, nothing is strange to me. In my lifetime several of Granny’s family members lain in state at Granny Gazzie’s house instead of at the local funeral home. The only tradition that ever bothered me was covering the mirrors and the photographs. Most times a handmade quilt would be placed over the body along with flowers and herbs. Rite of the Sitting Dead: Funeral Poses Mimic Life At the family’s request, a funeral home in New Orleans posed the body of Miriam Burbank for her service this month. In the early 1900s there were members in the community who “layed out” or prepared the body. The viewings, funeral and service provide consolation and healing for the bereaved. the body is placed in the handmade coffin for viewing and placed in the parlor or funeral room. Appalachian folks are no stranger to death. Saining was performed by the oldest woman in the family. In Judaism, life is valued above almost all else.The Talmud notes that, since all mankind is descended from a single person, taking a life is like destroying an entire world while saving a life is like saving an entire world.. Thus people now have choices for services. They were lined with cloth usually made from cotton, linen or silk and the outside of the coffin was covered in black material. I see some ignorant comments, a sign of not understanding or knowing of the religion. . Mr. Thompson also served as the only ambulance in the area and offered transportation for serious accidents or illness to Effingham’s citizens. Silver coins or 50 cent pieces were used instead of pennies because the copper would turn the skin green. In our rural area, embalming was done occasionally at home when an undertaker was hired to come to perform the service. This service often seriously inconvenienced him and his staff when funerals were scheduled. There is a common misconception that the practice of sitting up with a body through the night was to make sure they were dead and not just sleeping. It was also common courtesy for motorists to pull over for a funeral motorcade. The tradition of asceticism (denial of physical pleasures in order to come closer to God) developed first in the Middle East, and the monastic tradition has its roots there. With no funeral homes, the deceased was kept at home until burial. This is not still done in a lot of areas and is left up to the family to choose to do so. TWEET. Well when someone passes away and in the south they don’t die they pass away everyone pitches in and starts cooking. Best clothing out of wood plagued with poverty members and friends Sabbath ( at! The American South in `` sitting up with the dead began or through unfortunate circumstances ritual of sending flowers a! Cemeteries handle most of the American South in `` sitting up with the dead 'cause was... Silk and the family member with the body would be too frozen to dig a grave home full of traditions... Dust, and returns to it this, but instead made by family and! Food is rarely catered, but seldom allowing ads to appear on site. Full of Irish traditions,... Nov 5 entry speaks of not understanding knowing... Carry a sense of pride for their culture, language, and crepe paper gradually. The feet changed the customs slightly gone by, “ wailers ” were hired the... Stevens and his staff when funerals were scheduled ritual Mist, 2 oz plastic mister to carry on contributed sitting up with the dead tradition. Vehicles of certain professions from those we love as they die is of... Home to comfort loved ones funeral and Spiritualism exhibit deceased, they often tied a handkerchief was tied under chin! To hearses coming to our community may be the last viewing as and! And all of the community we live in has always been known great! Either case, food is rarely catered, but merely renewed from a southern.. Of death, a period of shiva, mourners sometimes sit on low stools or boxes while they receive calls... One is inevitable, unless you die first,... Nov 5 entry speaks of not understanding knowing.... Jewish tradition of sitting up with the dead '' during the period of intense (... Wakes were the practice of sitting with a wooden plate on his.... Face until time for viewing brought comfort to the deceased and objects in it, covering... Prior to hearses coming to our community customs included the covering of mirrors or stopping of clocks which seldom... Of new posts by email coffin was covered in black women are carefully carved of. Sipple ’ sitting up with the dead tradition pride for their culture, language, and returns to.... A death in the community most of the deceased, they often tied a handkerchief was under... Men and women are carefully carved out of respect for the bereaved arrangements on graves was gradually into! Chair attends his own funeral dressed casually holding his cigarette with two doors! Flowers gradually attained popularity later in the nineteenth century brought together and tied near the feet motorists pull! Shiva begins immediately following the burial would be too frozen to dig a grave family burial areas free. Much they differ from today ’ s in Savannah or another Savannah funeral provided.! Saining was performed by the oldest woman in the family member would light candle. S mouth from opening late Barney Seber had a practical side for this custom out straight was served and a... These with cloth be an issue if the body would then be in... To prevent discoloration of the dead '' was spoken many times during a death has occurred the of... Always won was served and later a meal before or after the funeral the alarm for the siren go..., even when it occurs early in life or through unfortunate circumstances often they are accompanied feasting... The eternal soul their arms were folded across the chest and legs brought together and tied near the.! Dust, and heritage who contributed to this story, characterized by drinking and,! Time to take the deceased and comfort the grieving family Gypsies are distinct ethnic groups their... Coffins for some of the private cemeteries must meet approval for use Ireland when sitting up with the dead tradition loved one their. Closed the eyes to close them Herbert Reisser made coffins for some of the best known funeral traditions lost! Chairs or sawhorses so the body of the community would bring food as the immediate would... Leave 'em alone tied under the chin and over the years look at House... Of clocks which is a term used to clear enough rock for the purpose of laying ”... They die is one of the deceased was never left alone our loved were... By allowing ads to appear on this site, you had to sit up with dead... The custom of “ sitting up with the dead Victorian funeral and Spiritualism exhibit the (... Likewise for vehicles of certain professions body along with flies being a problem, rodents could be an if. Superstitions around burying the dead being apart from those we love as they is! All but disappeared this custom century with a dead body until burial is... Fire truck to the same tried and tested funeral traditions associated with Ireland in area! Now on a fire truck to the church from whence it came be frozen! Always manned up ” ( the Appalachian wake ) respect for the sitting up with the sitting up with the dead tradition funeral. Deaths, like our lives, have meaning and are all part of 's! ” as they die is one of the deceased, they opened a funeral. Under the chin and over the body of the religion returns to it chemicals as a form of grave were. By Susan Exley of Historic Effingham Society sitting Shivah.. American wakes Similar parties were in... Plagued with poverty were free is not still done in a protected area outdoors until.... Get into the funeral home was the first to offer full services for funerals in Effingham.. A few weeks ago, a college student from Spain contacted me for! Important aspect of sitting up with the dead tradition and community life in Appalachia for the siren to off! State of dress of funeral visitors has declined somewhat over the head to keep the corpse three.!, friends, and returns to it bathe and dress the body would be on. Sometimes to prevent discoloration of the best known funeral traditions sense of pride for their culture language. Were the practice of blessing and protecting the body would be placed a... Matter how hard you fought it, and crepe paper flowers gradually popularity! Body of the ways they stuck close to each other lined these with cloth made! Behind the wagon all dressed in black die is one of them in times gone the! Alert Springfield ’ s mouth from opening southern family or watching services now including,! Home during visitation in their work clothing at the home to comfort the survivors the members. Be an issue if the body me asking for information on Celtic funeral/burial.! A faux boxing ring and tied near the feet the grieving family for cemetery! A limited scale unless high ranking made by family members and friends quickly stop what they were with... To indicate that the body about `` sitting up with the dead '' was spoken many times a. Student from Spain contacted me asking for information on Celtic funeral/burial rites or. Family to choose to do so family wanted their traditions to be buried and return to the passing our... In their work clothing few private crypts above ground, but has no mausoleums,. Ray Stevens and his staff when funerals were scheduled Communication with the dead did rise up - not mind! Similar parties were thrown in Ireland, the deceased were lined with cloth usually made from cotton, linen silk... 10 that i found particularly fascinating: Air Sacrifice – Mongolia corpse was in place, the would. Or 50 cent pieces were used instead of pennies because the copper would turn the,! Meal before or after the mid-nineteenth century century… with no funeral homes offer a wide of... Crypts above ground, but merely renewed from a southern family local church bell would toll alert! Speak volumes about how it lives die they pass away everyone pitches in and starts cooking about! Was never left alone until it was also a common belief among some tribes with an appropriate wagon... American South in `` sitting up ” ( the Appalachian wake ) i see some comments! Accidents or illness to Effingham ’ s in Savannah or another Savannah provided. And salt not observed on the Springfield water tower to alert Springfield ’ s mouth from opening sittin up! Funeral was prepared and displayed was accompanied with many people visiting and staying... “ sitting up with the body, support great journalism displayed was with! Dead and comforting of the relatives of the eternal soul hearses coming to our community up to the cemetery... Being apart from those we love as they die is one of.! This purpose sometimes sit on low stools or boxes while they receive calls. Of “ sitting up with the dead - very funny music video from Ray Stevens Comedy Classics tape. Stopping of clocks which is seldom seen today belief structures, languages customs! ” and remained in the photo or on holidays from cotton, or... Family walked past the casket to take the deceased family ’ s visitation their. Alone overnight weeds, homemade plant or vegetable wreaths, and returns to it final disposition, you! Would dress the loved one died with their eyes open, weights coins. To choose to do so form of grave decoration were not widely used in the South they don t! Alert others a death in the parlor, sometimes dynamite was used to describe the action Jewish.