This is interesting! Came from the Carroll Co. TN list. Vicki > FOLKLORE > > GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN > > I. The traditional Ozarker accepted their shortness of life and its > natural end better than their modern counterpart > > 1.They had a deep belief in religion and accepted that life after > death was certain > 2.Infant mortality was very high because > Medicine was nonexistent or primitive > Hygiene was poor > Doctors were scarce > Childhood disease such as measles and chicken pox were often > fatal > 3.Common causes of death among adults included > Pneumonia > Typhoid fever > Childbirth > Tuberculosis > Infection > > > II. The family of a seriously ill person was given comfort in the > following ways > > 1.The ill person was never left alone when death was imminent > 2.Friends helped with farm chores and provided tangible support when > possible > 3.Friends and family who lived away were sent black-edged death > notices which were promptly delivered by the post offices > > > III. Preparations for burial included > > 1.Undertakers and embalmers were seldom used prior to 1930 > 2.For this reason funerals were often held the next day after death > 3.If possible it was desirable to delay the funeral for three days to > signify the resurrection > 4.The "laying out" of the body was very ritualistic > All bedding and clothes were immediately burned or washed > The room where death had occurred was totally cleaned > The body was totally washed > Quarters were placed over the eyes of the deceased and later > kept as keepsakes > The body was dressed in the persons "Sundays best" > A persons favorite jewelry, hat, etc. was often placed in the > coffin with the deceased > Once prepared the body was laid out on a "cooling board" to > await rigor mortis > Wet soda clothes were placed on the face and hands to preserve > the skin texture and color > 5."Sitting up" with the body was very important > Friends always remained with the body until the funeral > Coffins were hand made usually by family members or friends > The room where the body was "laid out" was darkened and all > furniture removed except for chairs which were placed backwards against > the wall > 6.The digging of the grave was a chore for neighbors and sometimes > relatives > Graves were traditionally six feet long, four feet wide and > six feet deep > The grave always faced the East or the rising sun > If the ground was frozen or rocky dynamite was used to dig the > grave > A little dirt was always left in the grave until the day of > the funeral and was to be dug on that day > > > IV. The funeral procedure included > > 1.On the day of the funeral neighbors gathered at the home of the > bereaved and prepared a large dinner > 2.Most funerals were at 2:00 in the afternoon if possible > 3.The funeral was generally attended by the whole community > 4.While it was acceptable to be emotional, funerals were expected to > be respectful and dignified > 5.Children were even taken to church during the school year to be > taught how to behave at a funeral > 6.Attendees were expected to wear black or dark clothing > 7.Women of the bereaved family always wore black hats or veils to the > funeral > 8.Funerals were held at churches or in the home since funeral homes > were found only in large cities > 9.The actual funeral ceremony was very ritualistic > A song was sung > Scripture was read > Another song was sung > The persons obituary was read > A sermon was preached which was often long and very emotional > A closing prayer was voiced > The body was viewed by the attendees with the family last > > > V. The burial > > 1.The body was taken to the cemetery by a wagon or carried by > pallbearers if near the home or church > 2.A short prayer was given by the preacher at the grave site > 3.Hand picked flowers were placed on the coffin prior to internment > 4.As the grave was being covered by neighbors, others gave the family > expressions of grief to the family members > 5.Neighbors often visited the family members the same night of the > funeral or the next day > > > VI. The aftermath > > 1.The next day all went back to work and life returned to normal > 2.If the widow did not have a family she often faced a difficult time > because she was expected to > be in a state of mourning for one year > wear black in public > Not attend "questionable" events such as dances > care for the children and the farm > Often widows remarried as soon as the grieving period was over > > > > VII. Superstitions about death included; > > 1.Predictors of death > A window sash falling in the night > Any household noise suggesting the tearing of cloth > The hearing of "death bones" or rattling > Church bells ringing without a cause > The howling of a dog four times while under the front porch > A rooster crowing in the doorway of a house > Any bird coming into the house but particularly an owl > Transplanting of a cedar tree > 2.Superstitions about dying included > It was bad luck to lift a dying person from one bed to another > > A sick person thought if he touched a piece of bread to his > lips and then gave it to his dog he could detect how serious his > condition was depending on > whether the dog ate it or not > Death is near if a person begins to smell like crushed > pumpkins > 3.Superstitions about preparations after death included > All clocks had to be stopped because if it stops by itself > while a dead body is in the house another person will die > All mirrors had to be covered since for a viewer to glimpse > his own reflection means they would also die soon > All chairs had to be placed backwards against the wall > The body was never left alone or animals would get it > A relative was to cut a hickory stick the exact length of the > body and carry it during the funeral procession > Rainy weather on a funeral day was very good luck > Mourners were to never leave the grave site until the last > clod of dirt in replaced > Dead people often left a "Feather Crown" in their pillows if > they were of exceptional character or a saintly person > > _____________ >