does any one know what the pourpose is?
2007-07-14 12:51:01 · 15 answers · asked by gibson8026 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Hmm... tricky one, this.
At first glance, it would appear to be a variant of the old custom of placing coins upon the eyes of the deceased. I won't say that I think this myself, though. With the coin on the surface of the grave, rather than in the possession of the deceased, it would not qualify as payment to the underworld—and a single coin wouldn't suffice either.
It appears to be very obscure, as it does not appear in my regular sources on superstitons and folklore.
What I *do* find attributes the act to paying the deceased who has been interred for an amount of earth (about 2 ounces) taken from the grave. In this case, the penny is paid to placate the deceased for disturbing the grave.
2007-07-14 21:25:11 · answer #1 · answered by Dragosani 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good fortune for the afterlife, some cultures put pennies over the eyes of deceased before they are buried for a safe journey.(Also some believed that the journey was made by boat the coins were used to pay the ferryman) Hence the song Don't pay the ferryman-until you get to the other side)some use fruit on graves, but not many graveyards will allow any food to be left and will take it away. The idea of leaving things on graves adapts from Egyptian culture whereby they were buried with personal items in tombs,people are allowed to place small items within a coffin of a person to be buried.
2007-07-15 00:08:41 · answer #2 · answered by kymm r 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The meaning is going to depend upon the person that left the penny and their culture. Some people will leave a penny on someones grave - particularly someone of some significance - as a means of leaving a token of thanks to that person. This is the same realm as leaving flowers or other tokens on a grave.
However, as others have pointed out, it can also be related to having penny for the ferryman if it is on a recent grave although traditionally the penny is left on the person as opposed to their grave.
2007-07-14 22:56:07 · answer #3 · answered by Rob 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To put a penny on someone's eyelids, who just died, is referred to as 'to pay for the journey unto the next world'
To pay the ferryman. All dead persons have to pay the ferry in order to get to where the living think they dead have to be. It's daft really but then people are gullable enough to waste money on such things as beliefs without ant real proof of existance.
As a reminder- 'he whoever should return has already paid the price of sin' I wonder who made this statement?
2007-07-14 19:56:08 · answer #4 · answered by upyerjumper 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
the Catholic ( or at least irish Catholics) believe you put SILVER on the eyes of the dead so they have money to pay the toll to the ferrymen on the river of styx, so they cna get to heaven.. although throughout the years it became a penny. probably due to our economics... people could only afford a penny! Anyways, that's what Irish Catholic (Murphy)grandma says.
2007-07-14 23:44:08 · answer #5 · answered by Mandy H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's just like the whole putting coins on someone's eyes with they die, it's so they can pay the toll across the river to get to the underworld.
Came from Greek mythology.
2007-07-15 17:55:28 · answer #6 · answered by Ruth 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's to pay the ferryman to carry the souls of the deceased across the river Styxs.
2007-07-14 20:10:34 · answer #7 · answered by Máiréad 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
hmm, never heard of that 1 before. I'll just say
to pay the ferryman to bring them across the river Styxs since everyone else did
2007-07-14 22:16:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
For Caron the boatman, fee for ferrying the deceased across the river Styx.
2007-07-14 19:56:01 · answer #9 · answered by dr.pepper106 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's to pay the toll to cross the river Sticks to Hades.
2007-07-14 19:56:56 · answer #10 · answered by spacediva70 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋