Just a suggestion. Perhaps this is one of those superstitions about restless spirits. I mention this because down in Nova Scotia when I was a youngster, I on a couple of occasions heard my elders speak in hushed tones of dishes having rattled in the cupboard after someone's death, and a dear departed's favourite tea cup or mug behaving noisily. - in other words, like hearing footsteps in the upstairs hall..... Max Sutherland ----- Original Message ----- From: "Malcolm Moody" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 7:17 PM Subject: [CAN-ONT-SIMCOE] A question about Wakes > Hi List, > > OK, here is a question for you. We were just working on a book > which was describing a wake which took place during the mid. to late > 1800's. It was set in the house of a family, and in an area, with > strong Scottish connections. The part which neither of us could > understand was in a description of how the room was prepared for the > wake. > > There were various "precautions" mentioned including covering > pictures and drawing curtains, which we had heard of before, but the > one that stopped us was, "covering the cupboard with a white sheet." > Neither of us had ever heard of such a custom before, nor could we > understand why it would have been done. Most of the other customs > have fairly obvious origins in showing mourning and respect for the > dead in various ways. But we simply could not figure out how covering > a cupboard would show mourning or prevent an inadvertent lack of > respect. > > I appreciate this isn't a "hard core" genealogy question but then > this list has always seen the wisdom in understanding the customs and > habits of our forefathers in addition to the factual business of dates > and relationships - quite apart from being one of the most > knowledgeable of all the lists I monitor. > > So, there's the challenge - if you chose to accept it. :-) > > Malcolm > > > Archive CD Books Canada Inc. > President: Malcolm Moody > PO Box 11 > Manotick > Ontario, K4M 1A2 > Canada. > (613) 692-2667 > WEB SITE: http://www.ArchiveCDBooks.ca > > ***************** > Ten People All Genealogists Should Follow On Twitter: http://tr.im/hBAy > > Simcoe Co. GenWeb at http://www.waynecook.com/simcoe.shtml > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.112/2390 - Release Date: 09/23/09 05:52:00