Dear Ann This was still the custom in the 1980s in Blaina. My grandfather died in 1981 and my cousin Helen and myself were the only women at the graveside amongst the men of the family. My grandmother, my mother and her sisters did not join us. My grandmother had no thought of going to the grave. Helen and I had left South Wales in the 1960s and were used to other customs and as we both wanted to go we were 'allowed'. I am not sure if this custom extended to crematorium committals. When my grandmother was cremated in Pontypool in 1988 the place was full of women. The situation was pretty similar with regard to pubs too I seem to remember!! Best wishes Anne -----Original Message----- From: monmouthshire-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:monmouthshire-bounces@rootsweb.com]On Behalf Of Ann Roberts Sent: 02 May 2007 15:53 To: MONMOUTHSHIRE@rootsweb.com Subject: [MON] burial traditions When I was in my teens I was told that no women were allowed to attend my father's funeral - and this included my mother. I must admit that I thought that this was a tall story however, on visiting Blaina last week, I was told that this was an old tradition in South Wales. Can anyone tell my why? Was it a case of what we would call nowadays - men did the important things and the women stayed at home with the children - I don't know how else to express it. Strange idea Ann ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MONMOUTHSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Thanks, Anne. Definitely a man's world back then!! Ann ----- Original Message ----- From: "Anne Welch" <anne.welch@virgin.net> To: <monmouthshire@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 9:58 PM Subject: Re: [MON] burial traditions > > Dear Ann > > This was still the custom in the 1980s in Blaina. My grandfather died in > 1981 and my cousin Helen and myself were the only women at the graveside > amongst the men of the family. My grandmother, my mother and her sisters > did not join us. My grandmother had no thought of going to the grave. > Helen and I had left South Wales in the 1960s and were used to other > customs > and as we both wanted to go we were 'allowed'. I am not sure if this > custom > extended to crematorium committals. When my grandmother was cremated in > Pontypool in 1988 the place was full of women. > > The situation was pretty similar with regard to pubs too I seem to > remember!! > > Best wishes > > Anne > > -----Original Message----- > From: monmouthshire-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:monmouthshire-bounces@rootsweb.com]On Behalf Of Ann Roberts > Sent: 02 May 2007 15:53 > To: MONMOUTHSHIRE@rootsweb.com > Subject: [MON] burial traditions > > > When I was in my teens I was told that no women were allowed to attend my > father's funeral - and this included my mother. I must admit that I > thought > that this was a tall story however, on visiting Blaina last week, I was > told > that this was an old tradition in South Wales. > Can anyone tell my why? Was it a case of what we would call nowadays - > men > did the important things and the women stayed at home with the children - > I > don't know how else to express it. > Strange idea > Ann > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > MONMOUTHSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > MONMOUTHSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >