artist Posted July 30, 2004 Report Share Posted July 30, 2004 Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination wouldsometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walkingalong the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. Theywere laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the familywould gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wakeup. Hence the custom of holding a "wake." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted July 30, 2004 Report Share Posted July 30, 2004 Wakey wakey, rise and shine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted July 31, 2004 Report Share Posted July 31, 2004 Went on holiday to Ireland last year and visited an old village restored to how it was during the great potato famine.The guide explained that when someone died the village elders would sit with the body for 48 hours. They used to take snuff in those days and would share a tray of snuff placed on the body's chest.If they did not detect any movement the person was said to have "snuffed it" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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