Before, during and after the cemetery AN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF GREEK BURIALS & BELIEFS Panagiotis Pentaris Lecturer, Faiths & Civil Society Unit Goldsmiths, University of London
[email protected] @NotisPentaris
Outline Context Methodology
Findings & Reflections Outcomes
Death in the Pre-modern Greece Afterlife and ceremonial practices The Underworld, Hades, and the Afterlife
Death: Reward for the deceased Evil event for social life and family life
Death and the Greek Orthodox Church Death as ‘collective faith’ (Mystakidou et al. 2004-2005) Death as an accomplishment – eternity versus sins of earth
Heaven or Hell Grief and the ‘passing’ of the deceased Catharsis - Socrates
Methodology Constructionism (Burr 1995) Ethnography
Case study – Crete Before: 2 visits During: 1 visit After: 1 visit
Hermeneutics
Before the cemetery Funeral announcement / public Black attire
Open invitation
‘evil spirit’ Preparing for the wake: Preparing the body:
Dressing up the body In coffin – on table Crossed hands & tied white ribbon Religious icon
Candles around head Coins in pockets
Covering mirrors and shiny surfaces Wake – open casket – wreaths and casket lid
Boiling corn
Leaving the deceased’s house Cortege Priest & two children
Pouring water & breaking glass
At the Church Open casket Relatives’ position
Embracing wailing & mourning Ceremony & ‘kissing the deceased’ Receiving sympathies and condolences
At the cemetery Open grave Casket and flowers
Gifts Priest spraying with oil Soil
Wailing
After the cemetery Eating to forgive O kafes tis parigorias [ο καφές της παρηγοριάς]
Friends and family visiting for three days Boiled corn & offerings Remembering After three days – offerings and boiled corn to the grave After nine days – offerings and boiled corn to the grave 40 days ceremony 90 days ceremony 1 year ceremony
Outcomes •Greek Orthodox Church – highly religious burial practices and beliefs •Public wailing and grieving
•Open and public funeral •The deceased is subject to forgiveness by the bereaved •Superstitions or religious beliefs?
•Remembrance practices linked to the soul’s peace
Thank you References Mystakidou, K., Tsilika, E., Parpa, E., Katsouda, E. & Vlahos, L. (2004-2005). Death and grief in the Greek culture. Omega: Journal of Death and Dying, 50(1), 23-34. O’rourke,D. (2007). Mourning becomes eclectic: death of communal practice in a Greek tragedy. American Ethnologist, 34(2),387-402. Pentaris, P. (2012). Death in the Modern Greek culture. Hawaii Pacific Journal of Social Work Practice, 5(1), 126-131.
Panagiotis Pentaris
Lecturer, Faiths & Civil Society Unit Goldsmiths, University of London
[email protected] @NotisPentaris