FUNERAL CUSTOMS.

Western Star, Issue 987, 3 October 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

FUNERAL CUSTOMS.

It is seldom that one hears nowadays of the observance of the quaint funeral customs which formerly existed in many an English country village, the Old-World notions which gave rise to them having died out, owing perhaps, to the introduction of railways and School Boards. Thus in the North of England, only a few years ago it was usual to carry “ the dead with the sun ” to the grave—a practice corresponding with the Highland usage of making “thedeazil” or walking three times around a person according, to the course of the sun. On one occasion, in the village of Scranton, near West Hartlepool, the vicar was standing at the churchyard gate awaiting the arrival of the funeral procession, when, much to his surprise, the entire group, who had come within a few yards of him, suddenly turned back and marched around the church-yard wall, thus traversing its west, north and east boundaries. On enquiring the reason of this extraordinary procedure, one'of mourners quickly replied, “ Why, ye wad no hae them carry the dead again the sun ; the dead maun ay go wi’ the. sun.” This is not unlike a Welsh custom mentioned by Pennant, who tells us that when k corpse was conveyed to the church-yard from any part of the town great care was taken that it always should be carried the whole distance on the right hand side of the road. From time immemorial there has been a strong feeling of repugnance among the inhabitants of rural parishes to burial “ without sanctuary.” This does not mean in unconsecrafced ground, but-on the north* side of the church, or in a remote corner of the church-yard. The origin of this prejudice is said to have been the notion that the northern part was that which was appropriated to the interment of unbaptized infants, excommunicated persons, or such as had laid violent hands upon themselves. Hence it was known as the “ wrong side of the church,” In many parishes, therefore, this spot remained unoccupied,- while, the remaining portion of the churchyard was crowded. White in his “History of Selbourne,” alluding to this‘ superstition, says that as most people wished to be buried on the south side of the church-yard, it became such a mass of mortality that no person could be interred “without displaying the bones of his ancestors.” Great attention has been paid, also, to the position of the grave, the popular one being from east to west, while that from the north to the south has been considered not only dishonourable but unlucky. A curious surviving custom at Welsh funerals is termed the “parson’s penny.” After reading the,burial service in the church, the clergyman stands behind a table while a Psalm is being sang. In the meantime each of the mourners place sa piece of money on the table for his acceptance. This ceremony is regarded as a token of respect for the deceased, although it was no doubt originally intended to compensate the* clergyman for praying for the soul of the departed, In some Welsh parishes also a similar custom called “spade money” is kept up. After the corpse has been committed to its resting-place thb grave-digger presents his spade as a receptacle for donations, these offerings, which often amount to a goodly sum, being regarded as his perquisite. In Yorkshire at the funeral of the rich in former days it was custOuaary to hand “ burnt wine ” to the company in a silver flagon, out of which every one drank. This beverage seems to have been a heated preparation of port wine with sugar and spice, and should any remain it was sent round in the flagon to the houses of friends for distribution. This, of course was a species of funeral feast called, in the North of England an “ arval a lingering survival of the offerings that were originally made to the ghost of the deceased. Among the superstitions that still cling to the church-yard may be mentioned one that has existed from the most rbmote period, and which has invested it with an atmosphere of dread, it having been generally supposed that they are haunted by spectres and apparitions. Indeed, it has been truly pointed out by Mr. Taylor that, through all the changes of religious thought from first to last in the course of human history, the hovering ghosts of the dead make the midnight burial ground a place where men’s flesh creeps with terror.— Boston Times,