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Funeral Food

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Re: Funeral Food

#11

Post by spectra72 »

semireg wrote: post #2

Both my grandparents died a year ago and with one Catholic and the other Lutheran the food looked similar but tasted oh so different. The Catholic food was decent. The Lutheran food, the turkey sandwiches, the buns/rolls, the gingersnap and whole-date-filled cookies were, forgive me: to die for. Everything seemed to be made from scratch and it made me feel love for the elder women, for how special they treated their…

In my family, the difference would have been that the good food was from my German relations, who were Lutheran. (as were my Norwegian relations, but they didn't cook as good for funerals).

My wife's family is also German, but they are Catholic, from another part of the state and their funeral food is pretty good too.

Re: Funeral Food

#12

Post by stavros »

pvg wrote: post #6

The article doesn't mention specifics (even the link to 'other cultures' is fairly thin gruel) but it made me think of a common in a number Eastern Orthodox traditions: boiled and typically sweetened wheat: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koliva

Oh damn, koliva are amazing. I like varvara even more (it's a kind of sweet soup with raisins and wheat).

Re: Funeral Food

#13

Post by ihaveajob »

ggambetta wrote: post #7

This is fascinating. I was born and raised in Uruguay and I don't think food was ever a thing in funerals. You just hang out in a room and are generally sad, but food is nowhere to be seen. I've only seen food in funerals in the movies! I wonder whether this is by country, by religion (and variant of that religion), or what.

I live in the US but my family is in/from Spain. When my mom was visiting, we had to attend a funeral (for my wife's grandpa), and after the ceremony everyone went to a local restaurant and had a small feast. My mom was appalled, because she thought it was disrespectful. But I think it's a sweet thing to do, remembering the deceased in a pleasant setting. Especially if the death was of old age.

I hope when I go, my friends and family have a good time together.

Re: Funeral Food

#14

Post by jgable »

barbazoo wrote: post #5

I remember when growing up with my grandma in 1990 Germany that after funerals of people that died of "old age", you would always have a get-together afterward to celebrate the person that passed, either at someone's house or at a simple local restaurant. I hope people get together and celebrate when I die. I have fond memories of those social events.

One of the best parties I’ve been to in my life was the reception after a funeral for my wife’s great-aunt. Generations of relatives and family friends, some of whom hadn’t seen each other in thirty years, took over their house from after the ceremony at noon until 10pm that night. It was a rager.

Re: Funeral Food

#15

Post by justsomehnguy »

ggambetta wrote: post #7

This is fascinating. I was born and raised in Uruguay and I don't think food was ever a thing in funerals. You just hang out in a room and are generally sad, but food is nowhere to be seen. I've only seen food in funerals in the movies! I wonder whether this is by country, by religion (and variant of that religion), or what.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koliva

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_service_in_the_Easter...

Re: Funeral Food

#16

Post by meowster »

Website won't load for me, but I went to a viewing where the deceased requested (prior to her death) that ice cream be served at the viewing. I'll never forget that one.

Re: Funeral Food

#17

Post by hinkley »

barbazoo wrote: post #5

I remember when growing up with my grandma in 1990 Germany that after funerals of people that died of "old age", you would always have a get-together afterward to celebrate the person that passed, either at someone's house or at a simple local restaurant. I hope people get together and celebrate when I die. I have fond memories of those social events.

> I hope people get together and celebrate when I die.

phrasing might need a little work.

Re: Funeral Food

#18

Post by eddd-ddde »

hinkley wrote: post #17
barbazoo wrote: post #5

I remember when growing up with my grandma in 1990 Germany that after funerals of people that died of "old age", you would always have a get-together afterward to celebrate the person that passed, either at someone's house or at a simple local restaurant. I hope people get together and celebrate when I die. I have fond memories of those social events.

> I hope people get together and celebrate when I die. phrasing might need a little work.

Does it? I kind of feel that way too, no rephrasing needed.

Re: Funeral Food

#19

Post by tithe »

Waterluvian wrote: post #9

I love (and I mean love) egg salad sandwiches. But if they’re cut in triangles, I just cannot eat them. The aversion is especially strong if there’s also tuna triangles and cold cut triangles. And this is 18 years after the funeral that caused the association of these food formats. Brains are weird.

But a triangular-shaped sandwich is an efficient sandwich shape to eat without making a mess: you're biting "off", not biting "into" (thus not getting egg salad all over your face). And what do you get when you've bitten off all three points? Another triangle!

It's a beautiful day, I think I'll go outside and get some fresh air now :)

Re: Funeral Food

#20

Post by UncleOxidant »

eddd-ddde wrote: post #18
hinkley wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I hope people get together and celebrate when I die. phrasing might need a little work.

Does it? I kind of feel that way too, no rephrasing needed.

Will they be celebrating because you've died or celebrating the life you lived? (the phrasing above sounds like the former) I want to live my life in such a way that people aren't happy (and/or relieved) when I die. I know some people whose passing will cause relief among the living - probably we all know people like that.
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