Wakey Wakey

To the Wilds of Perth for a cremation of an old friend and then a Wake afterwards-in the best Gallic tradition. Its a brilliant way of celebrating the memory of the recently departed-Wake the Dead indeed and I am told at some wilder Irish gatherings this may happen-especially if the verdict of death was a trifle premature. (Fortunately, in these cases, traditional wakes precede the burial/cremation in the presence of the alleged corpse) Irish funerals can also be jolly in themselves. As the Cork Examiner once reported:

One of the Mourners dropped dead at the graveside and this cast an air of gloom over the proceedings

One happy person to whom I was talking over the whisky and smoked salmon sandwiches regaled me with an account of similar functions he has evidently so much enjoyed: a veritable Hereward the Wake, you might say. 'Its become a way of life as far as I am concerned' He looked hard at me 'Are you feeling ok?'He asked anxiously (eagerly?)
I said I was. He may have been a trifle disappointed. Nothing personal I am sure.

Perhaps too long a gap in his Wake Calendar?

Labels: Funerals, Perth, Wake

  ¶ 5:41 PM