The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FUNERAL CUSTOM

IT IS A LEBANESE CUSTOM TO HAVE CHANTERS OR "MOURNERS"
AS THEY WERE CALLED, TO SING HYMNS AT THE SIDE OF THE
DECEASED AS PEOPLE PAID THEIR RESPECTS. HOWEVER,
THESE GROUPS WERE NEVER ORGANIZED OR PRE-PLANNED.
PEOPLE WOULD JUST SING WHATEVER THEY WANT WHEN THEY WANTED
AT THE WAKE. HOWEVER, SOME PEOPLE ORGANIZED THEIR OWN
"MOURNING" GROUPS AND THEY WOULD GO TO ANY AND EVERY
WAKE AND CHANT HYMNS FOR PEOPLE THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
AND THEY WOULD TAKE DONATIONS. THEY WOULD SHOW UP
EVERYWHERE AND THEY FINALLY GOT THE NAME OF "PROFESSION-
AL MOURNERS." IF NO ONE WOULD MOURN AT THE WAKE ON
THEIR OWN, THEY WOULD MOURN FOR MONEY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 11-17-1971