Celtic Funeral Rituals

     I chose to explore the world of Celtic funerals, I myself have been to a wake and unfortunately I was very young and don’t remember much, but from the way I had seen it in movies and tv shows I knew I wanted to know more. The idea of a wake is originated from the pagan tradition.  An Irish wake is a celebration of the life of the loved one who recently passed, it is designed to ease the suffering of the family and friends. 

Like many cultures there is a viewing and a funeral however things are done a bit differently in the Celtic tradition. For starters when the person is first passed on the window is opened near the body for the spirit to exit the body and is then closed promptly 2 hours after opening to prevent the spirit from entering the body. A wall of loved ones is also formed around the body as to protect it from evil spirits. Candles and shoes are also placed at the bottom the bed to ensure safe travels through purgatory. All curtains are drawn except the one closest to the body, mirrors are flipped or covered and the clocks are set to the time of death out of respect to the deceased. Keening is a term referred to the crying, mourning or wailing of the deceased and keening could begin until the body was prepared and evil spirits were kept away, most keeners were women and professional keeners/mourners would even be hired to start the grieving process. A principal mourner can even be brought in and is the one who initiates the first note or wail of the grieving process. 

    This video explains the regions and different styles of singing and “keening” better than I ever could, it also gives you an example of how the music is sung and why. This video also should start at 3:59 but I might have lied so ya'll can skip ahead if it doesn't already

    Games were also created and played at the wake in order to stay awake or “vigil” to look over the deceased in order to prevent the spirits from taking the deceased. A game called “Parish of the Priests” was played along with “Hide the Gully” and a game that consisted of lifting the corpse, essentially a competition of strength 

This is an example of Parish of the Priests still being played and carried on in the classroom. These games only took place at the wake up until the mid-1900s.

Some Other Basic Customs:

• Laying clay pipes, tobacco and snuff (on chest or next to body)
• Every male too a hit of the pipe, smoke was believed to keep away evil spirits

Music and Me

     Growing up I always listened to what my parents played on the radio. I honestly did not like music up until recently, to me music was just always background noise or something to pass time while driving. I never felt the connection to music that everyone talks about and by no means is this the kind of music that I connect with emotionally. This kind of music is the kind that I would play when I am cleaning or driving, the intense meter and beat always make me want to bump my head. 

Cypress Hills Insane in the Brain

Especially in this song the weird whistle or neigh in the back just itches my brain nicely and I'm sure to some it is quite literally the worst. 

 Insane Clown Posse- My Axe

Insane clown posse is most definitely an older band but I loved hearing it all of my childhood, I tried to pick the cleaner of their songs just because they don’t have many (if any) that i would play outside of my headphones. I love the change of beat and ever changing timbre throughout the song. 

Now onto my last example, I know I basically gave songs that all have a similar genre. Kid Rocks "Bawitdaba" is a little too repetitive for me, but overall the way the beat changes throughout the others tickles my brain nicer but I really enjoy the tempo of this song. It is definitely a go to for me when it comes to cleaning or working.

These are the songs that resonated with me on the spiritual level, it took me years up until very recently to find a connection to music. This first song brought tears to my eyes as I listened to the words that hit a little too close to home.

Past Life- Jules Paymer

Throughout the writing of this song Jules Paymer is discovering herself like many trans youth today.  Jules Paymer "Past Life" talks about how they have loved and lost many people simply for being their most genuine self. I use they/them pronouns and to hear of someone else experiencing a similar kind of trauma that I did. The same could be applied to Conan Grey- Family Line to hear that we as a society are not alone and for someone to put words to the feelings that many of experience each day really hits home for me.  

Kodaline- The One ,

Much like the others for me, comes from my childhood. My dad introduced this song to me when I was around fourteen or fifteen, at that time my sexuality was extremely confusing but I found sanctuary in knowing that love like what is discussed in this song really exists. I knew that I wanted to find love like that one day. I knew and still know that I want to incorporate it into my future wedding one day. 

I never have been able to get behind reggae music as a whole genre but for some reason Bob Marley’s “Buffalo Solider” itches my brain in a weird way, something about the tempo and beat of the song makes my heart race and heightens my anxiety.

Bob Marley- Buffalo Solider

Billie Eilish- When the Party's over

Billie Eilish's voice is beautiful and I absolutely love her vocal range however I’m sure my inability to listen to “When the Party's Over” is because i saw it with the music video first and the black tears running down her face on top of the eerie softness in her voice just creeps me out. I will say though that her creativity regarding the music videos is dope as hell I just wish it had more head banger music pair with it.