General Chat

I remember in the early 1970's when my uncle died. My Grandma asked whether Aunie was having him back home - that meant an open coffin in the front room until the funeral. When she said not because there were little children to think of Grandma was furious. I did go and see my sister in the chapel of rest and really wished I hadn't. That was the way I remembered her for ages. I've always refused to see anyone after death now. I'd rather remember them as they were alive.

Are threre any other strange customs apart from funereal ones.ARE HISTORIC CUSTOMS STILL KEPT ALIVE WHERE YOU LIVE

Neighbours of mine had a funeral about 3 years ago, the coffin was open in the house until the cars were just about ready to go, then the undertaker went in and sealed it and the pallbearers carried it to the car. Everyone was in floods by this time. Maz. XX

Gwyneth, This does still happen in Wales, or did at the last family funeral we had about 15 years ago. The service was carried out in the sitting room and then men only went to the cemetary. My husband's aunt (daughter of the deceased) insisted on going as well as she had been kept back from the previous funeral of her father and had no intentions of doing so that time. It was frowned upon and still gets mentioned at family gatherings. My daughter in law has lost both ofher parents in the last 3 years and all have gone to the burial if they have wanted to. Those too were in a Welsh Village. Jacky

I had no idea that Welsh funerals were men only.I wonder why that was-Rose

Hi, Gentlemen only funerals used to be the custom in my Welsh family. It was relaxed in the late 60s and women were allowed at the service but not at the graveside/crem. The most recent funeral in the family was attended by women and older children and all went on the the crem. Quite a change from the time when I was not allowed to attend my grandmother's funeral. Gwynne

A Catholic friend of mine went to her cousin's funeral back in Ireland only a few years ago and the coffin was laid out - open - in the house. My grandad was also a staunch Catholic and requested in his funeral requirements that his body lay in the open coffin in the Cathedral for the night prior to the funeral mass. Up until this time, his coffin was open at home. Friends and family did 'shifts' in the Cathedral so that he wasn't alone. Got me weepy now! Mandy x

When my gran died in 1965, my mum travelled to Wales for the funeral, in the little village. She didn't attend though as the funeral was 'Gentlemen Only', the menfolk of the village carrying Gran from her home to the village church and burial, while the women all stayed behind making sandwiches etc. I think Mum would have liked to have gone to her mother's funeral, but is not one to make a fuss and stand up to what was expected. I don't know if this still happens anywhere in Wales though.

Iam nudging as some interesting comments may be added

The funeral threads have set me thinking about strange customs.My friend Anne died and her husband had her coffin open for an afternoon on his patio.Anyone who wanted to go anf pay respects went along. Another man had his wife lying in state in her bedroom inthe 50 in a village where I lived. Are any other old customs still being kept alive around the counrty?-Rose