Wake is a rather complicated funeral tradition found in most cultures. On the day of the commemoration, a treat takes place, as a memory of the deceased, both on the day of the funeral and on certain days later.
In some nationalities, sacrifices are used at the grave, which are then used as food. Other customs say holding trisens (military fun) at the burial site. This tradition was distributed among the Slavic and Germanic tribes, among the ancient Greeks. In other places, the deceased was escorted by mourning processions and crying.
We have a common Christian tradition of holding commemoration. According to the Orthodox canon, a wake should be held three times: on the day of the funeral, on the ninth day, and also on the fortieth. They consist in a memorial meal. The same practice is in many religions. The meaning of this ritual is very deep. Believing in the immortality of the soul, people celebrate the approach of the deceased to God, while at the same time paying tribute to him as a good person. No wonder it is customary either to talk about the deceased well, or not to speak at all.
The process of commemoration includes prayers for a person who has left the earthly world. In general, all actions on such rituals have a deep meaning, even the menu of the meal was not chosen by chance.
So how to conduct a funeral?
- Before the meal, the prayer "Our Father" must be read. This is a necessary minimum, since it is desirable to make a lithium and sing the 90th psalm (for this, the so-called "singers" are invited). In the process of commemoration, it is necessary to remember the deceased, and, only his positive qualities and actions, obscene expressions, laughter, jokes, drunkenness are prohibited.
- The menu is undesirable to make saturated. Quite the contrary - modesty and simplicity are necessary, since an abundance of dishes does not benefit the ritual process itself. The first dish, which can not be dispensed with, is the so-called kutia - porridge made from whole grains of millet, or rice, seasoned with honey and raisins. Moreover, it must be sprinkled with holy water, or consecrated during a memorial service. Kutya is a symbol of eternal life in Christ.
- Particularly strictly necessary to approach the preparation of the menu during Easter, since during it you need to be limited in food. And in general - commemoration does not exist for a feast, but as an occasion to remember the deceased.
- If the commemoration falls on weekdays during Lent, they must be postponed until the weekend, because these days the post is the most strict.
- Men at the wake should be bare-headed - women on the contrary. All those present can attend the funeral on the day of the funeral, as this is the time of farewell to the deceased. On the ninth day, the relatives of the deceased gather. And on the fortieth - all who wish to remember the deceased.
Related article
Why you can’t put bread and water to the deceased
