Funeral Feasts - was Re: SC - Marion Zimmer Bradley: MourningSong (FWD)

[Bonne of Traquair]

I think it all depends on exactly who has died and where the gathering is 
being held.   When I went to funerals for my ex-spouse family members, 
almost everyone lived in the area, so taking home the bit left in your pan 
was just slightly enlarging the amount that the granny would have pressed 
you to take home anyway. In fact, she probably would have filled in the 
empty area of your dish if you didn't watch out.

Another time, the granny was the one that had died, so there wasn't any 
sense leaving food at her house.  Some was left and the daughter living 
nearest took it home.  As family members returned in the coming weeks to 
close up the house, they brought more food.

bonne

>Okay, a further question about local custom, if I may.
... At
>the conclusion of this occasion several people who had, in fact, brought
>casseroles of various kinds, proceeded to get up, poke around for things
>like plastic wrap, and brought their half-eaten casseroles home with them.
>
>At first I thought it was a matter of salvaging various utensils and
>dishes, but I realized nobody was packing the actual food into other,
>expendable containers to leave behind for the bereaved (or whomever, as
>I say this was a while ago and I'm not certain it was a funeral). The
>best (and only) explanation I got for this behavior was something like,
>"It's customary..."
>
>I remember thinking it both bizarre and not a little tacky, but if it is
>some kind of regional folkway, I can't complain. Has anybody run across
>anything like this before?
>
>Adamantius

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