Funeral

It's a sad day. DC received a call when he was in office - Aunt M passed away and Mass would be hold in 2.5 hours and Funeral in following day. Therefore, this is my second time to visit DC's Ma's side of family. Aunt M was best friend of Ma, God bless, they will be party up there now. DC took Anut M's house as his second home when he was boy. We were saying after Magret's wedding, we should pay a visit to the other families. I didn't expect to meet them in this way. However, I go for funeral this morning and see the different culture and way of thinking to deadth.

The mass was on when we entred. Priest hold the ceremony, family members had speech on article from bible or short biography of Aunt; there was a woman singing choir in between. During ceremony, Priest kept reminding us Aunt is with God and she will be with us as long as we remember her. (But what if I have questions and there is no answer back?) After benediction, we went to cemetary where Ma is now. Some ppl said goodbye in church, some of them followed to cemetary.

When the funeral car arrived cemetary, there is a dress up old man walking in front of funeral car to guide the direction and we walked behind car. After a short celemony, coffin put into grave and we said goodbye to Aunt M. Afterward, we all went to the bar beside church to send our regard to the family. Uncle was ok but weak. 6 children came back with their families - a full house. We were in pub for hours, thinking of Aunt M and saying how life was in everyone's memory. I was surprised the power of believe. In this funeral, I ratherly to see tear coz they believe Anut M is in heaven with Ma starting party.

One year, couple friends of DC and IC went to see DC's Ma and they didn't look at the time. They end up by climbing cemetary gate. But it is interesting to see this sign in entrance every 5 meters.

In TW, unless it's 5 generations family, otherwise, ppl cry a lot on funeral. I meant big time, coz it'll be the last chance to say goodbye. TW has majority of Buddhist and Taoist. The funeral process will go on the first 7days, 14th day, 21 day, 28th day, 35th day, 42nd day and 49th day; it depends on how close the family related. Most of funeral is hold in the house, unless it's young one will be hold in funeral parlour. In first 7 days, there will be 3 meals a day with joss stick coz the departed doesn't know what had happened yet. Family members will plaits a lot of lotus by paper which was made to resemble money and burned as an offering to the dead. While burning the paper money, family members hold hand around the fire to guard money for their love one to receive. On the 7th day, there is an old saying that the departed will return home for last visit, therefore, family will put flour at door and a bowl of water with towel for the departed to clean up. On the day of funeral, there will be 2 ceremonies, one for family and closed relatives, another one for public and friends. The family of dead will be kneeling and touching the ground with their forehead beside the dead's pic to tks individually for ppl who come to say goodbye. End of funeral ceremony, behind coffin, the son will hold the pic of dead and jass stick to guide the spirit to cemetery. On the way to funeral car, family crown behind coffin. The burial rites is based on Feng Shui which is calculated on the entire family's birthday time / place to choose time and place for burial, also Feng Shui'll tell who can attend the burial or can not (most of time is ppl who is born in tiger year). Afterward, family and relative return to the house for clean up with Artemisia indica water to wash away bad luck and go through the brazier to keep ghost outside of house. The family of dead will provide a meal to close this long day. Before leaving, a bunch of Artemisia indica will be provided, the bath with Artemisia indica is the first thing after return home and the clothes have to be washed too.