Death, that enigma that has fascinated humanity since time immemorial, has given rise to a series of rituals and beliefs that seek to honor the memory of those who have departed.
Among them, we can mention funeral processions, various rituals and wakes, which stand out as one of the most significant and moving manifestations of collective grief, but where do these come from?
What is the origin of these ceremonies, both from a historical and real perspective and from the legends that have flourished in different cultures of the world?
Taking advantage of October, I invite you to join me on this journey into the unknown, where life and death intertwine their paths in a dance of respect and mystery, learning about the different perspectives of some traditions whose origins and history are rarely questioned.
Why are wakes held for the dead?
Tradition and Mysticism
The act of keeping vigil over the dead has a profound meaning in many cultures.
Historically, it is believed that this practice arose as a way to protect the deceased from possible evil spirits that might try to take over their soul.
Such is the case in Chinese tradition, for example, where the spirits of the deceased were considered vulnerable immediately after death. It was believed that during this period they could be disturbed by evil spirits, demons, or even the ghosts of resentful people, who sought to disrupt their passage to the afterlife or seize their soul. Therefore, vigils served as protection, and family members were required to stay awake by the body throughout the night, offering incense, prayers, and gifts, ensuring that the soul of the deceased was accompanied, safe, and could reach its destination in peace.
According to belief, if the deceased was not mourned or if the family members fell asleep, their spirit could become trapped among the living, get lost, be attacked by malevolent entities, or have difficulty passing to the other world, which could cause misfortune or bad luck to the living as well.
In various traditions, the soul is considered to remain among the living for a period after death, and the wake becomes a sacred space where that transition is respected.
From vigils in the Christian world, where prayer and reflection take place around the deceased, to African traditions that involve music and dance, keeping vigil over the dead has become an act of love and respect that unites the community.
However, the custom of keeping vigil that has come down to us is considered to be more deeply rooted in the emergence of this tradition as a precautionary measure during the Middle Ages , where catatonia, catalepsy and other medical conditions could lead to many people being mistakenly considered dead and, therefore, buried alive.
During the wake, the deceased was given time and opportunity to awaken, ensuring that the person had truly passed away before burial. This practice added a layer of care and respect to the tradition of mourning the dead.
The origins of funeral processions
Its origin dates back to ancient civilizations, where accompanying the deceased on their journey was a sacred and communal act.
In Egypt, for example, funerary rituals were sacred.
The ancient Egyptians believed in an afterlife and, therefore, performed elaborate ceremonies to ensure the soul's transition to the afterlife.
The procession began at the deceased's home, where the body was placed in a sarcophagus, and was accompanied by a parade that included family members, priests, and musicians, all dressed in mourning and in an atmosphere of solemnity.
While Celtic funeral processions were intimate and symbolic rituals , performed in sacred places such as hills, rivers, or forests, where human accompaniment served to protect the soul from external influences and ensure its safe passage, it was believed that souls could be guided by fairies to the otherworld if the rituals were performed correctly; otherwise, the spirits could become trapped between the two worlds.
Over the centuries, the idea of paying homage to the dead spread throughout the world. In ancient Greece, the funeral procession was a communal act that served to honor fallen heroes, while in the Roman Empire, the figure of the "funebris" was central to these rituals, where processions culminated in the cremation or burial of the deceased.
At the same time, funeral processions also became a characteristic practice of the Catholic Church, which structured specific rituals for accompanying the deceased, with blessings, prayers, and solemn processions to the deceased's resting place .
Through these practices, humanity has sought not only to pay tribute to those who have departed, but also to find solace for those left behind.
In every corner of the planet, these funeral ceremonies reflect the human need to pay tribute and keep alive the memory of those who have been part of our lives. And although it cannot be said with certainty if there is a direct connection in the way it is carried out in each place, it is a fact that each region and each era has come to experience this moment of farewell and transition in a similar way, albeit in its own unique manner.
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