The Irish Wake: A Tradition of Comfort and Closure

Death is an inevitable part of life, and every culture has its own unique traditions and rituals to help the living cope with loss. In Ireland, the wake has been a cornerstone of the grieving process for centuries. This ancient practice involves keeping the body of the deceased in an open coffin, surrounded by family, friends, and acquaintances who share stories, sing songs, and partake in food and drink over the course of three days (Toolis, 2017). The purpose of this ritual is to provide comfort to the bereaved and acknowledge the loss of a loved one.

Changing Death Traditions

However, in recent times, the Irish wake tradition has been threatened by the rise of the modern death industry. Professional mortuaries and funeral homes have become increasingly prevalent, and closed coffins have become the norm. This shift has led to a more clinical and impersonal approach to death, leaving many feeling that the process is hollow and lacking in meaning (Toolis, 2017).

Reviving the Irish Wake

In an effort to revive and protect the Irish wake tradition, a group of artists, singers, writers, and scholars gathered in County Mayo for the world's first arts festival dedicated to wakes. "The Keening," as the festival was called, featured a variety of activities related to the tradition, including walks, talks, poetry, and workshops on keening and sean-nós singing (The Guardian, 2024). The festival also coincided with the national famine commemorations, honoring those who perished in the 1840s calamity.

The Therapeutic Benefits of Wakes

Recent studies have shown that traditional Irish rituals for the departed can have a significant impact on the grieving process. A study conducted by Ulster University in 2023 found that bereaved people in Ireland were less likely to match the criteria for prolonged grief disorder compared to those in the UK (The Guardian, 2024). The researchers suggested that cultural differences in death practices may be a contributing factor.

The therapeutic benefits of Irish wakes lie in their ability to provide a comforting, communal space for the bereaved to process their emotions. Caitríona Ní Cheannabháin, a sean-nós singer from Galway, spoke about the importance of allowing children to understand death through wakes. "When he saw my mam laid out, he said 'she's not working any more'," she recalled of her three-year-old nephew (The Guardian, 2024). This simple, yet profound understanding of death is often lost in the modern approach to funerals.

The Impact of the Modern Death Industry

The rise of the modern death industry has also had an impact on the visibility of death. In England, for example, it is common for people to never see a dead body, as most are cremated or concealed in closed coffins (Toolis, 2017). This lack of exposure to death can make the grieving process more difficult, as it can be harder to come to terms with the reality of loss.

Preserving the Wake Tradition

In an effort to preserve the history and artifacts of the wake tradition, a wake museum opened in Waterford, Ireland in June 2023. The museum is located in a 15th-century almshouse, where residents once earned their keep by praying for the souls of patrons (The Guardian, 2024). The exhibits include a bronze age funeral urn, mourning jewelry, and one of Ireland's oldest death masks.

The Evolution of Death Rituals in the United States

While the Irish wake tradition has remained relatively unchanged over the centuries, death rituals in the United States have undergone significant changes in the past 100 years. In the early 20th century, death care was often a family and community affair, with the deceased being prepared for burial at home and the funeral taking place in the family's parlor (National Funeral Directors Association, n.d.). However, as the century progressed, death care became increasingly professionalized and institutionalized.

The rise of the funeral industry in the United States can be attributed to a number of factors, including urbanization, changing attitudes towards death, and advances in embalming and other preservation techniques (Mitford, 1998). Today, most Americans rely on funeral homes and professional funeral directors to handle the details of a loved one's death.

Alternative Death Practices

However, in recent years, there has been a growing interest in alternative and personalized death practices in the United States. Home funerals, green burials, and other eco-friendly options have become increasingly popular, as have celebrations of life and other non-traditional memorial services (National Home Funeral Alliance, n.d.). These practices reflect a desire for a more meaningful and authentic approach to death.

The Importance of Acknowledging Grief

Regardless of the specific rituals and traditions involved, the importance of acknowledging grief and loss cannot be overstated. In the modern world, where funerals are often brief and small, it can be easy for the bereaved to feel as though their grief is not recognized or validated. The Irish wake tradition, with its emphasis on community and shared mourning, provides a model for how we can better support those who are grieving.

As Kevin Toolis, the organizer of "The Keening" festival, put it, "People abroad look to the Irish wake as a comforting, communal rite. It is a classic therapeutic model. The problem with the modern way of death is it seems clinical, antiseptic, hollow" (The Guardian, 2024). By embracing the traditions of the past and adapting them to the present, we can create more meaningful and supportive death practices for the future.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Irish wake tradition serves as a reminder of the enduring significance of death rituals in helping us cope with loss. While the modern death industry has its place, it is important that we do not lose touch with the comfort and closure that traditional practices can provide. By acknowledging and supporting those who are grieving, we can help to create a more compassionate and meaningful approach to death.

References

Mitford, J. (1998). The American way of death revisited. Vintage.

National Funeral Directors Association. (n.d.). History of funeral service. https://nfda.org/consumer-resources/history-of-funeral-service

National Home Funeral Alliance. (n.d.). What is a home funeral? https://www.homefuneralalliance.org/what-is-a-home-funeral.html

The Guardian. (2024). Irish wake tradition given new life to help the bereaved. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/may/20/irish-wake-tradition-given-new-life-to-help-the-bereaved

Toolis, K. (2017). My father's wake: How the Irish teach us to live, love and die. Da Capo Press.