GREECE: OUR CUSTOMS

DEATH

Funeral

When someone dies , the men , relatives of the deceased wear a black ribbon round their arm ,women are dressed in black and they go to the deceased person’s house , where family and friends are gathered.

The coffin is placed in the center of a room.Around the coffin there are the friends and relatives.The deceased is covered with flowers,which are brought by friends and relatives. Usually in the coffin there are favorite items of the person ,for instance his watch.

The coffin is carried by friends or family , as a sign of respect to the deceased.(Funeral of K . Palamas , poet)

On the day of the funeral all mirrors are covered with white sheets.

Wreaths are sent by friends and relatives.

For the next 40 days the house is visited by people who want to console the relatives . The house is being regularly incensed because it is believed that incense soothes the soul . There should also be a vigil light lit in the house and on the grave too.

After the burial , at the graveyard’s exit, everybody is given some bread , an olive and some boiled wheat . Then they have to wash their hands under the water of the tap that exists at the exit of every graveyard . This custom dates back to ancient Greece . Afterwards , they all have coffee or a meal that is provided by the family of the deceased to honor his soul.

Funeral of M.Vamvakaris (famous composer)

If the deceased is unmarried or a young person , the coffin is white and unmarried deceased women are dressed in wedding gowns and sugarplums are given to the people after the funeral (sugarplums are normally given at weddings but since the person did not have the time to get married , his/her funeral is considered his/her wedding)