WAKE

Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica

• Group memebers
• Dequan Waterman
• Larhonda Campbell
• Malachi Seebalak
• Crystol Scott
• Daniel Bishop
• Rogerlyn Brantch
 INTRODUCTION

What are Wakes?

• Wake is a funerary tradition practiced in the Caribbean (primarily Belize, Antigua, Grenada,
Dominica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and Haiti). It is an extended wake that
lasts for several days, with roots in African religious tradition.
• During this time, friends and family come together to the home of the deceased. They share their
condolences and memories while singing hymns and eating food together.
• In the old days, the nights were calm and reserved for the most part - but that tradition has changed
with the times. Today, these gatherings resemble parties much more than they resemble wakes
(though this is not true for all “wake”).
Significance of Wakes
• Wakes allows one last interaction with the dead, providing a time for the living to express their
thoughts and feelings with the deceased. It highlights the idea that the loss is borne by the whole
community and is a way of honoring the deceased member
 TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
• A wake, also known as a viewing, visitation or gathering, typically occurs before the funeral takes place. An
urn or a casket is typically present, and the casket may be opened or closed. At this time, people pay their
respects and offer condolences to loved ones of the departed. In Trinidad and Tobago many Christians
participate in a "wake" in the days leading up to the funeral service which resembles the 'nine nights' traditions
of other islands.
• The wake is usually kept at the home of the dearly departed. The wake would be led by a choir master who
would engage all those present in song. He would announce “Hymn one hundred and sixty-two” and all those
in attendance would turn the pages of their hymnals and sing along. Hymns such as “Rock of Ages” and
“When the roll is called up yonder” must be sang in all Tobago wakes. There are mortuary songs termed
bongo. These are African in origin and accompanies the dance for the dead, in the past, the limbo dance was
performed each night of the week until the funeral. Wakes do not only take place before the funeral but after
the funeral wakes may take place nine, forty or three hundred nights after the death of a relative. During the
wake there are always men gathered around small tables playing card games such as all-fours. It is only at
mid-night that the chocolate tea, bread and fried fish is served. Beyond this, during the Bongo children are
debarred from participating because of its lewdness; heavy gyrating of the waist and rude games.
Limbo Dance
• The Límbó (Limmm-Bó) is a unique dance and is also known as the "Under Stick
Dance". The limbo dance, originally a ritual performed at 'wakes' (funeral dance
which maybe related to African legba or legua dance) in Trinidad from the mid or late
19th century does not appear to have any roots in West Africa where most African
traditions within the diaspora have emerged.

It is believe, that the people of Trinidad during this dance portrayed going down in the
hold of a slave ship which carried them off into slavery. No matter how they twist or
turn squirmed or arched they would go deeper and deeper, some would make it, some
would not. The dextrous position had to be retained because the space between the
upper deck and floor was narrow, designed for packing and not standing, hence it
asically they were going into Limbo.
 JAMAICA
• Nine night is a separate event to the funeral itself. It's like the Irish wake and takes place nine days after the death of the
person. You have a celebration of their life at the point at which their spirit traditionally leaves the body. It's a Jamaican
practice with roots in an African tradition. Jamaicans believe a person has three parts: the body, spirit, and duppy.
• Many Jamaicans believe that when a person dies, his soul goes to heaven but his spirit stays for a while, sometimes
permanently. Some say the duppy rises on the third day after the burial and returns to the house to wander around his/her
possessions, finally leaving on the ninth night. Relatives and friends gather at the house of the dead to welcome his return
and send him back to the grave. Often cause for celebration, wakes or 'set-ups' are held and on the ninth night; an all-night
vigil is sometimes held.
• Place 10 coffee beans in the 'dead' room and no duppies can enter - they can only count to nine. In order for the spirit of
the dead not to return and haunt any family member, they must all say goodbye to the corpse and every child must be
lifted and passed over the coffin while its name is said. No tears are to fall on the body or the ghost will return to haunt the
mourner. The body should also not be kissed or the teeth of the kisser will rot. Before the coffin leaves the house, the
husband or wife of the deceased must put on a piece of black cloth with a white cross made of chalk. This is to be worn for
the next four to five months. Buttons must be removed from the clothes of the deceased and the clothes must be pinned or
sewn without knots or the ghost will return. Pockets must also be sewn up or the ghost will return and fill it with stones
and harm those left alive.
• If you leave a wake, simply touch a person who is to leave with you - do not announce it - so
that the duppy does not follow you home. You should also walk backwards and turn around
three times since duppies walk in a straight line.
• The body must be taken out feet first and through the front door. If the back door is used, the
spirit of the dead will not leave the house.
• As soon as the body leaves, the room must be swept out.
• The spirit of the deceased is invited and expected to turn up at the event. A special table with
food for the spirit is set up (traditionally, this food must have no salt). The drinks at wakes
include alcohol, but there must be really strong spirits for drinking, as well as for libation,
for the spirit, and for use in the rituals. Sometimes this visit is acknowledged, sometimes not.
But in order to give the deceased a peaceful send off, he/she must settle scores with people
in the community, including those who might have wronged him/her. Therefore, the
misdeeds of persons are revealed at the wake, particularly in cases where someone was
responsible for the death – even cases of murder
Burials
• Either one man or an odd number of men should dig the grave. After the digger makes the first dig,
he should drink some rum.
• The grave must be dug east to west and the body placed to face the sun.

• When filling the grave, the diggers must stand with their backs to the grave and throw dirt in
backwards through their legs to prevent the ghost from following them home.

• A calabash tree should be planted at the head and foot of the grave.

What is a duppy?
• Duppies are said to live in the roots of cotton trees, bamboo thickets or in abandoned buildings. They
eat bamboo roots, fig leaves and the fruit of a vine called the 'duppy pumpkin'. Although generally
believed to be harmful (especially when used by an obeah-man), there are good and bad duppies.
Duppies can take on the shape of humans or animals and are also able to change themselves into
different forms. They can talk, laugh, sing, cook, smoke, ride horses and generally do anything a
human can. When they do ride, however, they are said to use the animal's tail as a bridle.