[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: question on British funeral practices

[Silverthorne]

bluesqueak:

It's a language thing. 'Wake' in British (and Irish!) English 
means 'traditional Irish funeral'. In American English it seems to 
mean either the vigil or the party, I'm not quite sure. But in a 
British WW set fanfic, it would be the use of the *word* 'wake' for 
anything other than a traditional-style Irish funeral that would 
sound odd. 


Silverthorne:

Have to agree with Pipsqueak here--like much of the English language, once the word got over 'here', it got a bit corrupted, I think--mostly because in America, people often 'borrow' traditions from just about any culture, regardless of their own ethnic backround--we've probably had more Non-Irish 'wakes' than the Irish have had traditional ones...lol.

And, for our friends across the pond--the way I understand 'Wake' (in the American way, that is--the Irish version I suspect is MUCH different)...it's usually typified by a funeral (the viewing, church service and graveside service) that focus more on the 'good' times--people are encouraged to share stories, laugh about things that had happened between them and the deceased, and, yes, celebrate and throw a party best they can after the graveside service (as opposed to sitting in the church or at the deceased house and mourning...). 

Most people that I know (including myself) that have asked for a wake style funeral in their wills include things such as 'play my favorite music, try and have fun, and enjoy yourselves as much as you can'. Bascially, we're trying to ask that our loved ones don't feel miserable, but rather focus on the happy things--and to remember that it's all right (normal, part of the cycle, etc...) that we've gone...

Yeah, twisted, I know. ^^. Then again, I think that's normal for folks over here...lol. Twisted, weird and repressed compared to most of the rest of the world.

But hey, gotta love it anyway..;)

Anne/Silverthorne 
(Who, oddly enough, is Irish on Mom's side, Scottish on Dad's, and not much else....lol)


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