Author Topic: Coffin cord..Scottish tradition?  (Read 14522 times)

Offline Skoosh

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Re: Coffin cord..Scottish tradition?
« Reply #9 on: Tuesday 06 June 17 09:52 BST (UK) »
The cords were white, probably for a youngster!

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Offline Gillg

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Re: Coffin cord..Scottish tradition?
« Reply #10 on: Tuesday 06 June 17 11:07 BST (UK) »
Many years ago now I was on holiday in Tobermory on the Scottish island of Mull when there was a funeral.  All the businesses in the village closed and most, if not all, of the male inhabitants walked behind the coffin from the kirk through the streets to the graveyard.  The women remained indoors; whether they had been allowed to attend the funeral service in the kirk I don't know, but hopefully they were allowed to be present at the wake.

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FAIREY/FAIRY/FAREY/FEARY, LAWSON, CHURCH, BENSON, HALSTEAD from Easton, Ellington, Eynesbury, Gt Catworth, Huntingdon, Spaldwick, Hunts;  Burnley, Lancs;  New Zealand, Australia & US.

HURST, BOLTON,  BUTTERWORTH, ADAMSON, WILD, MCIVOR from Milnrow, Newhey, Oldham & Rochdale, Lancs., Scotland.

Offline Skoosh

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Re: Coffin cord..Scottish tradition?
« Reply #11 on: Tuesday 06 June 17 11:18 BST (UK) »
They'd be making the sandwiches & heating the pies Gillg!  ;D

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Offline a-l

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Re: Coffin cord..Scottish tradition?
« Reply #12 on: Tuesday 06 June 17 12:59 BST (UK) »
I wondered about the cord too. How old is this custom , does anyone know ?


Online djct59

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Re: Coffin cord..Scottish tradition?
« Reply #13 on: Tuesday 06 June 17 22:40 BST (UK) »
The tradition of the men of the village carrying the coffin on its bearer is centuries old. The bearer id laid over the grave, the cords are distributed, then the bearer is removed and the mourners lower the coffin. I suspect its been done similarly in the highlands for centuries. Certainly in my mother's village the mourners whose families are long eastablished locally stick to the traditions they grew up with.

Offline a-l

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Re: Coffin cord..Scottish tradition?
« Reply #14 on: Wednesday 07 June 17 10:15 BST (UK) »
Thankyou djct it is an interesting custom indeed.