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thorjansen
Condo Owner
Joined: 20 Apr 2007
Posts: 69
Location: Los Angeles, CA, US
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 Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 8:06 am Post subject: Traveller funeral customs |
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Does anyone here know anything about Traveller funeral customs? I've looked online out of curiosity but can't find anything.
Was there any significance to the shape and composition of the coffin screws? They looked like ancient flared-edged crosses with semi-circular wreaths.
There were a number of things hanging from the sides of and propped up against the coffin, and I think some were bells (maybe one was Earl's bell that he would ring to get attention) but maybe there were other metallic objects as well. Also, there were cards with symbols printed on them, maybe emblems of a sort, a long pipe, little things here and there. Were these some of Earl's personal effects, or do Travellers pitch in any items too?
How about the flag they used to cover the coffin? It was brand new muslim, with a printed symbol of gold, blue and black in a circular shape, possibly a Celtic symbol. I could swear I've seen this symbol somewhere before in the past, but I can't place it now.
Do Travellers really burn their dead, like the Vikings and other ancient civilizations did? I know that burning the dead was done mostly for sanitation, and it was ritualized as part of the ceremony early on as well. If the Travellers do burn their dead, then they would be perhaps one of the only groups left who do that in these somewhat modern times.
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Steve
Home Owner
Joined: 15 Mar 2007
Posts: 169
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| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:12 am Post subject: Re: Traveller funeral customs |
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| thorjansen wrote: | possibly a Celtic symbol. ....
Do Travellers really burn their dead, like the Vikings and other ancient civilizations did? |
Funny that you should mention that, because thats exactly how it felt like to me (Vikings that is).
I am not sure its gonna be very easy to answer your question. Everything i search in respect to Traveller is coming up with travel stories, Gypsies usually gives me rites of the Sinti and Roma ...
Besides the common suspects (search engines) I have poked a bit in newsgroups (usenet) and on archive.org but I haven't had much success anywhere.
Basically this could mean that the writers just made most of it up copying from celtic rituals.
Edit: If you don't mind ordering a backissue of these journals:
The Funeral Customs of Ireland
James Mooney
Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 25, No. 128 (Jul. - Dec., 1888), pp. 243-296
This article consists of 54 page(s).
Indigenous Otherness: Some Aspects of Irish Traveller Social History
Hayes, Micheál
Éire-Ireland - Volume 41:3&4, Fómhar/Geimhreadh / Fall/Winter 2006, pp. 133-161
Probably will cost you a bundle
Last edited by Steve on Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:33 am; edited 3 times in total
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Steve
Home Owner
Joined: 15 Mar 2007
Posts: 169
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| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:31 am Post subject: Hm |
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Still haven't found what you were looking for, but the more I dig, the more interesting stuff about Travellers surfaces:
Indymedia seems down but this cache still works
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