**NOTE** I just posted this morning but somehow it ended up in the Infectious Disease category and I had placed it in Traditions/cultures
I am of partial Irish decent. Himself is no longer living. My eldest sis is turning 50 and "joked" about instead of having a big surprise bday she wanted an Irish wake. I have a ton of ideas already, all in keeping with a true Irish Wake, but without help from Himself I am a little lost. Can anyone give me GOOD, reasonable ideas? I want to have the coffin filled with pictures of her. I don't know if I should teach her kids to keen or not (some attending won't understand the keening part but I think her kids would think it cool they are in their 20s). Thanks.
PS - NO one under 21 will be at this party so don't worry about "scaring" any little ones.
2007-01-23 03:20:19 · 3 answers · asked by Mickey 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Himself is a title given to the head of the household (my dad in this case).
Keening is a type of sing-songy mourning that people do over the casket.
2007-01-23 03:40:20 · update #1
She has to dress like she was dead, and they could pour whiskey in her, check her pockets, steal her rings, whisper things in her ear they pretend they are sorry about, and see if they can say things aloud to "bring her back to life", and generally drink and play good music. They say they sometimes used to lose the body on the way to the churchyard because they were too drunk. I've heard of a rupture in my family tree long ago because they sat the grandfather up in his coffin well into the wake and threw potatoes at him to knock his tobacco pipe from his lips (even his widow joined in), but she might not want to go for that. And she could get drunk, walk around in her burial shroud like a banshee, and make "confessions" to guests, sort of like "truth or dare". (This is starting to sound fun). And they could speculate about what killed her. (Hopefully not what killed Catherine The Great?)
2007-01-23 03:28:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
O.K., I need some help with some of this. I am of Irish descent, but have never been to a traditional Irish wake.
Who is "Himself"? Your spouse? Her spouse? Parent?
What is keening?
I think, as long as you keep it light and fun, your sister should enjoy it.
Line up people willing to make testimonials! Besides liquid refreshment, have lots of good things to eat.... snacks and the like.
Are you planning on using a "real" coffin or casket? That could be expensive. Maybe, have a large box done up as one and cover it with cloth.
2007-01-23 11:32:51 · answer #2 · answered by Lizzie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1-Put a tricolor on the casket
2- Get a few lads in ski masks and berets to fire a salute with pistols over the casket.
3- Maybe a piper to play a dirge or two....
2007-01-26 10:34:00 · answer #3 · answered by seamac56 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋