The Chinese funeral I went to consisted of the following fundamentals: paper, fire, incense, bowing, Joseph and a technicolor dreamcoat and $1 coins.Paper and fire - family members were required to fold hundreds of gold and silver bullions out of paper to ensure that my grand-aunt had enough money to spend in the after-life. One of my cousins, skilled in origami, folded my grand-aunt a diamond ring. These paper goods were then fed into "a fireplace" that was right next to the room where my grand-aunt was lying in state. For many hours, each family member became paper-folding factory workers for the deceased. Now if that's not showing love and respect, I don't know what is.
During a part of the proceedings we were escorted out to the refuse section of the funeral home where a three-storey house, packages of clothing, a dvd player and anything else that my grand-aunt needed all made entirely out of paper were burnt. Before something was thrown into this big furnace we were asked to shout my grand-aunt's name to let her know what was coming and expressions of good wishes.
During a part of the proceedings we were escorted out to the refuse section of the funeral home where a three-storey house, packages of clothing, a dvd player and anything else that my grand-aunt needed all made entirely out of paper were burnt. Before something was thrown into this big furnace we were asked to shout my grand-aunt's name to let her know what was coming and expressions of good wishes.Mental note for my funeral: Save the paper folding and the environment by burning me a paper credit card or a huge open cheque like those they give away on game shows.
Incense and bowing - You have to get into a line of with three people and you're given three incense sticks and bow three times to pay your respects. Why? Three means to reborn.
Joseph and the technicolour dream coat - There was a priest who came dressed in black and pulled out from his metal box a technicolour dreamcoat and started swirling and dancing around. Why? The swirling represents digging a hole so that my grand-aunt could have an easier route travelling between the underworld and the afterlife. I was told only a professional "Joseph"would go into this amount of detail, so my grand-aunt was very lucky.
Mental note: I want a Joseph at my funeral.
$1 coins - Red packets were given out at various intervals. They contained a sweet and a $1. You had to eat the sweet then and there and throw the packet away. The $1 that is given should be spent as quickly as possible. The priest suggested we buy the lottery with it or catch the tram with it. Later, $1 coins were tossed with fresh flowers and everyone was expected to scramble for these coins. A collection was made for one of my aunts so should could use the change to catch the bus back home. We were given another red packet to keep with $1.
They put three gold nuggets in her mouth before they put the lid on her coffin. We formed a line and walked around her coffin calling her one last time to bid her farewell. I saw my grand-aunt for the last time. We were all asked to face the wall when they put the lid on because it's extremely bad luck to be facing the coffin when the lid is placed. We were also not allowed to go back into the room once the coffin had left. Then we all traveled on a mini-bus to go to the crematorium where we had a small ceremony and then went to a family lunch. The adults sat on one table and the "kids" sat on the other. I felt like I was 12 again hanging out with all my cousins.
Chinese funerals strikes a balance between good luck and bad luck; death and rebirth. It was like having a farewell party for someone who was going away on a long trip. The colours are vibrant and the atmosphere lighthearted but respectful. This is one Chinese tradition I want to keep.
Incense and bowing - You have to get into a line of with three people and you're given three incense sticks and bow three times to pay your respects. Why? Three means to reborn.
Joseph and the technicolour dream coat - There was a priest who came dressed in black and pulled out from his metal box a technicolour dreamcoat and started swirling and dancing around. Why? The swirling represents digging a hole so that my grand-aunt could have an easier route travelling between the underworld and the afterlife. I was told only a professional "Joseph"would go into this amount of detail, so my grand-aunt was very lucky.
Mental note: I want a Joseph at my funeral.
$1 coins - Red packets were given out at various intervals. They contained a sweet and a $1. You had to eat the sweet then and there and throw the packet away. The $1 that is given should be spent as quickly as possible. The priest suggested we buy the lottery with it or catch the tram with it. Later, $1 coins were tossed with fresh flowers and everyone was expected to scramble for these coins. A collection was made for one of my aunts so should could use the change to catch the bus back home. We were given another red packet to keep with $1.
They put three gold nuggets in her mouth before they put the lid on her coffin. We formed a line and walked around her coffin calling her one last time to bid her farewell. I saw my grand-aunt for the last time. We were all asked to face the wall when they put the lid on because it's extremely bad luck to be facing the coffin when the lid is placed. We were also not allowed to go back into the room once the coffin had left. Then we all traveled on a mini-bus to go to the crematorium where we had a small ceremony and then went to a family lunch. The adults sat on one table and the "kids" sat on the other. I felt like I was 12 again hanging out with all my cousins.Chinese funerals strikes a balance between good luck and bad luck; death and rebirth. It was like having a farewell party for someone who was going away on a long trip. The colours are vibrant and the atmosphere lighthearted but respectful. This is one Chinese tradition I want to keep.
3 comments:
Excellent blogging. I don't know whether to laugh or cry...you and your mental notes!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell_Bank_Notes
it seems they have paper credit cards readily available.
Did you wear white?
At Por Pors funeral they made me and everyone else wear the same white outfit.
No, we didn't have to wear white. Only immediate family members (so if YP had kids and their decedents have to wear white. All the aunts wore green pom pom hair clips though.
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