The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

IRISH AND POLISH FUNERAL CUSTOMS

BOTH SIDES OF MY FAMILY HANDLE FUNERALS ESPECIALLY
POST FUNERAL ACTIVITY IN THE SAME MANNER. THE FUNERAL
IS ALWAYS FOLLOWED BY A SEMI-FESTIVE BANQUET WITH PLENTY
OF BEER AND LIQUOR. REGARDLESS OF THE AGE OF THE
DECEASED OR THE MANNER OF DEATH, IT IS ALWAYS THE SAME.
THE BODY IS NO LONGER LAID OUT AT HOME THOUGH AND THE
BANQUET HELD IN A RENTED HALL. FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, I
SUPPOSE, UNTIL EVERYBODY GETS THERE, WE DO NOTHING BUT
DRINK. THEN WE EAT, USUALLY THE SAME FARE WE WOULD
FIND AT A WEDDING. LATELY CATERERS HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED
FOR THE FOOD, WHEREAS WOMEN OF THE FAMILY OR NEIGHBORS
USED TO FURNISH THE FOOD. THE LAST FUNERAL I ATTENDED
WAS A 9:00 A.M. MASS. WE GOT TO THE HALL ABOUT 11:00
A.M. WE LEFT THE HALL AT 5:30 P.M. WE SPENT THE
AFTERNOON AS IF WE WERE AT A WEDDING, EXCEPT THERE WAS
NO DANCING. IF THERE HAD BEEN DANCING, THERE WOULD
HAVE BEEN NO WAY FOR AN INTRUDER TO KNOW WE WERE HAVING
A FUNERAL BANQUET.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE

Date learned: NOT GIVEN