The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FAMILY CUSTOM AT DEATH

WHEN MY PATERNAL GRANDMOTHER DIED IN APRIL, MY UNCLE'S FAMILY
SENT AN AZALEA BUSH TO THE FUNERAL HOME. MY UNCLE TOLD ME THAT THEY
SEND AZALEAS FOR EVERY DEATH IN THEIR FAMILY. WHEN MY UNCLE WAS A
BOY, HIS BELOVED YOUNGER BROTHER DIED TRAGICALLY. HE BURIED
HIS BROTHER WITH HIS OWN HANDS UNDER AN AZALEA BUSH. EVER SINCE
THEN, AZALEAS HAVE MEANT SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL TO HIM AND HIS
FAMILY NEVER FAILS TO SEND THEM.

Submitter comment: MY UNCLE IS VERY TACITURN AND RETICENT; CONSIDERING THAT FACT
AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH HE TOLD ME THIS, I DID NOT ASK
FOR DATES, PLACES OR DETAILS. BUT I DID NOTE THAT HE HAD TEARS IN
HIS EYES AS HE TOLD THIS TALE.
I KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT MY UNCLE'S BACKGROUND. I DO NOT KNOW
WHERE HE WAS BORN AND GREW UP, HIS ETHNIC BACKGROUND, OR
THE PLACES HE HAS LIVED BEFORE 1972.

Where learned: IOWA ; ESTHERVILLE

Keyword(s): FLOWERS