The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FUNERAL CUSTOM--NEGRO AND POLISH

THE INFORMANT, A LIFE-LONG FRIEND OF MINE, AND A
SUCCESSFUL SUPERVISOR IN PUBLIC UTILITIES WAS
COMMENTING ON THE WAY HE WAS LATE FOR OUR MONTHLY
BRIDGE GAME. IT SEEMS THAT ONE OF THE MEN AT THE OFFICE,
A SUBORDINATE, HAD DIED AND HE REPRESENTED THE COMPANY AT
THE FUNERAL PARLOR. MERELY IN PASSING, HE SAID THAT HE
SAW SOMETHING AT THE FUNERAL PARLOR WHICH REALLY SHOCKED
HIM. THE DECEASED WAS A NEGRO AND MY FRIEND HAD NEVER
ATTENDED A NEGRO WAKE BEFORE. WHAT BOTHERED HIM THE MOST
WAS THE NEGRO CUSTOM OF KISSING THE DECEDENT BEFORE THE
LID ON THE CASKET IS CLOSED. HE TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN
BEING PRIVY TO THIS STRANGE "FOLKWAYS," KNOWING THAT
WE, HIS FRIENDS, HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR
SITUATION. HOWEVER, I FELT IT MY DUTY TO INFORM HIM
THAT THE KISSING OF THE DEAD BODY WAS NOT EXCLUSIVELY
A NEGRO CUSTOM. IN MY FAMILY WHEN WE ALL LINE UP FOR
A LAST LOOK AT THE DECEDENT, WE AT LEAST TOUCH THE HAND
OF THE BODY AND SEVERAL IF NOT MANY MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY
KISS THE FACE OR THE HAND. THIS PRACTICE HAS BEEN
DISCOURAGED IN MORE RECENT YEARS BUT FUNERAL DIRECTORS
ARE REALLY POWERLESS TO PREVENT IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00-00-1960