The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

When one dies in Greece, the body is taken to the deceased
person's home and there the wake takes place. At some point during
the wake all the women close to the deceased gather around the body
of the deceased and make up songs describing his/her life and his/her
accomplishments. These songs are known as "Merologie" - meaning
"words of fate." The songs sung all have rhyme and meter although
there is no prescribed rhyme scheme or certain meter used but rather
any that the singer chooses to use. One would sing her song first and
then the next in chronological order around the circle. If one
disagrees with what is being said, she gracefully interrupts and
sings what she thought of the deceased. This used to be widespread
but now takes place only in small towns of Greece for the most part.

Where learned: GREECE

Date learned: 00001947CA