A Hielan Funeral.....

[DavidWW]

Copied from a post on the ScotsOrigins DG............



Considering transport, local feelings about the practice at the time (1908)
and the cost I would doubt cremation was even a consideration or option.

Even until the late 1960 ties, in Inverness any way, and all over the
Highlands, and I presume in the south also, unless the person died in the hospital
and even then, most people were laid out in the home. in their bed and
visitation took place from there. The local cabinet maker provided the coffin,
which was delivered to the house. The body was placed in the coffin, usually the
night before the funeral, and placed on a plank supported between 2 chairs,
or on a table. But in most of the modest homes, like today there was only the
one table and that was where the food was placed.

Funeral of a male:
After the body was washed and dressed the friends and family would begin to
arrive. Ladies brought sandwiches buns and such and the men brought a bottle.
(whisky) On entering the home you removed your hat, wiped your feet 3 times
on the entrance mat, always left right left. (Superstition) You held your hat
in your left hand and shook the hosts hand, if a male, (example eldest son)
with your right. You kept your head bowed in respect. You would say, " What a
terrible loss" to a son, and " He will be missed" to a wife or daughter. (If
it was a woman who died" " She was a good wife and mother and passed much too
soon."

The eldest male then took the men to see the body. Pennies had been placed
in the eyes, (Pennies in Scotland were quite large at the time, about the size
of a silver dollar and made of copper so they worked to keep away the evil
spirits as well.)

You were expected to titter and shake your head. Then you placed the right
hand on the head of the deceased. Bow your head, while shaking it slightly and
say a prayer. You then step back and say " What a terrible loss", or
something to that effect. Then the next one went in turn. You usually arrived in
pairs of two men together and the women arrived in singles or with their
husbands or sons.

Now you went to the sitting room to meet the widow. "Oh Mrs. Mac what a
terrible loss he was such a fine man." (Note: Everyone had a black suit in their
closet for weddings and funerals. A white collar, (collars clipped on and off
the shirts in those days.) and at least one tie and black shoes or boots
shined.

It was now time to remember and each in turn, after leaving the bedroom
would address the wife. The son or eldest male would then offer you a dram
(drink/whisky) to help steady your nerves after such a great loss of a friend. As
the dram was sipped the drinker would regale some memory of the person. It
was quite a sedate affair. The women would be drinking gallons of tea.

About 4 PM and after a decent dram the stories got better, the atmosphere
was a little more relaxed, and the wake started.

An English officer once wrote in his journal, or it was Mr.Dr. Samuals, (I
canna remember at the moment) "A Scottish funeral is much more merry than an
English wedding."

Here is an example of my Granda's funeral up in Wester Ross. Gaelic country.

Granda was brought to the main room in my uncle's home in Gairloch. (driven
the 25 miles south from Melvaig a small village of about 10 crofts in those
days. ) This made it a bit easier for those coming from Loch Marie, Loch Broom,
Inverness, and all over to get to the funeral. The old and very young rode
the lorry/truck and the rest of us walked the 25 miles over the hills. It was
the same truck Great Uncle Murdough had lost his arm on escaping from the
Internal Revenue whisky chases.

Great Uncle Alastair brought his whisky. (It did not carry the Kings tax
seal) For about the first hour or so, things were quite sedate. Tea was served
at about 4 PM with sandwiches, cakes, sweet puns, etc. Afterb tea and as the
sun went down the noise got louder. Great Uncle Donald. got out the pipes and
there was a fiddle etc., First off Uncle Donald played a grand version of The
Flowers Of The Forest, man I will tell you this, that would of a brought a
tear to a glass eye. Then he played Granda's favourite "The Brown Haired
Maiden." About half way through the fiddles and other instruments began to join
in. Aunty Kirsta sang, what in the English is called The Orange and The Blue,
a grand old Gaelic walking song, (as in taking a walk not as in working the
wool) Well by now the whisky was flowing like water and the supply
eventually went dry. No problem Granda was hoisted on a few shoulders and off we went
to the local hotel. Everyone in the village was at the funeral anyway so the
move was no big deal and there was always a stash of "well hidden Domestic
Highland Whisky there" The party continued. At one point a woman from over by
Loch Marie got quite upset that Granda, who was sitting with a glass of whisky
in one hand and a fag (cigarette) in the other would not dance with her.
Hahahaha and him as stiff as a post.

We had been drinking his health for about 3 days before we brought him to
Gairloch, so nobody was in any shape to think a rational thought. The next day
it was time for the burial, so we set up teams to hoist the coffin on our
shoulders at various points along the way. The snag was there was no Granda to
be found We did not learn of this until we were all gathered at the church.
Someone remembered eventually and a team of 6 men hurried back to the pub to
retrieve the body. After the funeral we all headed out with the coffin raised
high to the cemetery. He was a well respected man and so he needed a fine wake
to send him off.

Now how do I know so much about stacking the coffins you may well ask. Well
when my other granda died I was not in the steadiest of condition having
welcomed a number of guests and drunk his health enough times to bring him back
from the dead. Well I leaned over and fell in the tut! tut! hole right on top of
my granny's coffin which had been there several years and I can tell you that
when my face was flattened on it and I can assure you the lump on mu head
testified that the coffin was in good firm condition. We just lowered him on to
it and filled the hole.

Now I realize the above may seem a great disrespect to the people involved.
Not in the Highlands at that time. People would go into debt for a good wake
it was a matter of pride.

You should of seen the wake for my father. Man that is book in its self.

[sheilajim]

Hi David

Great Post.
I'm printing this one off to keep.

Now, do you know of any like that from the lowlands?

[DavidWW]

Hi David

Great Post.
I'm printing this one off to keep.

Now, do you know of any like that from the lowlands?

Sheila

In the Eastern and SE Lowlands, - no, - where the historical culture is quite different, - but in the Western part of Central Scotland, and especially the deep SW, - Southern Ayrshire, Wigtonshire, and Kirkcudbrightshire, where Celtic traditions and links to the Scottish Isles and Ulster - "Dalriada" - were strong up until the present day, - it wouldn't surprise me to come across similar situations ..................

David