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Death in the Modern Greek

Panagiotis Pentaris

Abstract Each culture recognizes and identifies , dying and bereavement in unique ways. Commonly, a culture may be seen through the lens of death rituals; how those are shaped, interpreted and used by the . This paper aims to look at the Modern Greek culture and depict its ‘visualization’ of death, as well as capture the rituals that mostly identify this specific culture. The Greek culture in overall is strongly influenced by the Greek Orthodox Church. Hence, the experiences of death, dying and bereavement are thread through religious beliefs and customs, alongside cultural norms.

The have believed, since (2010) has observed in her descriptive ancient times, that at the moment of study in a Greek , not all death, the spirit of the deceased leaves the individuals would follow the same rituals body and passes to an , the either during a or in the period “World to Come” after life on . The after death. body is then prepared for or Regardless the universal meaning of according to the customs and death, each culture perceives the traditions of the (Wilson, 2006; experience of it and the grieving process, Ikonomidis, 1965-1966). and reacts to those in a unique way. Multifold interpretations of death may Culture is a set of values and beliefs, be understood in a single culture, due to which guide the given population on how various that compose the first life events are perceived, conceptualized, one (Gerstein et al., 2009). To that extent, and understood (Gerstein, Heppner, several different ideas and/or attitudes AEgisdottir, Alvin Leung, & Norsworthy, may be examined in the Greek culture, 2009). Full understanding of the Greek even though common values and culture, as far as the experiences of death meanings arise as well. As O’rourke and go, premises a viewpoint of

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Ancient Greeks and the Christian its traditions regarding death experiences Orthodox Church which have had a and the process of grief nowadays. major impact on the modern customs and Furthermore, the current customs and traditions (Mystakidou, Tsilika, Parpa, traditions shape the attitudes and Katsouda, & Vlahos, 2004-2005; behaviors towards the life experiences. Spiridakis, 1972). According to the philosopher Socrates, death should be perceived calmly, and the DEATH IN PRE -MODERN dying person should feel “blessed,” for the moment of his/her catharsis has come The belief in the afterlife and the (Cohen, Curd, & Reeve, 2011; Spiridakis, ceremonial practices of burial have existed 1972). However, this is a belief that has in Greece since the sixth century .C. not passed, through time, to modern (Kazantakis & Kakridis, 1997). Homer Greeks. described in the Odyssey the Underworld, Death in this culture means “bad a place deep underneath the earth, where news.” Furthermore, the meanings people transferred the souls of the dead to make are driven by their fear of death, and the Afterlife (Homer, 8 th century B.C.). In not death itself. Greek Mythology and his Epics, Homer posited that early death, Epics support the existence of the or non-birth at all, should be preferable to Underworld, where the God Hades exists. beings, since life’s reward is not In that world, the deceased’s soul will significant enough (Odyssey, 11.489-91). have to be transferred via a boat, led by In , death was viewed as Charon, to the Afterlife. That will a reward for the deceased, a final give the soul two options; suffer due to the accomplishment, while at the same time it sins committed during the person’s time was perceived as an evil event for the on earth, or experience happiness for communal life and the ’s life. eternity (Kazantzakis & Kakridis, 1997; Beliefs were imposed on the Greek Redfield, 1992; Homer, 8 th century B.C.). culture by Orthodoxy and the Greek Church (Tomkinson, 2003). The Christian Orthodox Church started having a great DEATH IN THE GREEK CULTURE TODAY influence in the 17 th century. Death was viewed as “collective faith” and the fear of Myths and cultural heritages, such as it was not presented (Mystakidou et al, those discussed above, aggravate the fear 2004-2005). The beliefs of the Church of death and impose the ideas of suffering suggested that death is an attainment of if one dies. Death becomes an equal term the deceased to pass on to eternity and to “pain,” “suffering,” and “emotional away from the sins on earth. Death marks and psycho-logical disaster” (Graves, the passing of the deceased’s soul either to 1970). Greeks tend to avoid discussions Heaven, or Hell (Tomkinson, 2003). The about death, unless they are focused on grief of the bereaved and the mourning the death of someone that no one in the period will sign that passing; making it household knows. Speaking of death, either easier if the grief is intense enough, especially one’s own death in his/her or more difficult. household, may be an omen that the Ancient Greece and the Christian “evil” will soon “enter” the doors of that Orthodox Church have had a meaningful home. Fear of death, or thanatophobia (“ θ impact on the Modern Greek culture and ανατοφοβ ία”), is dominant in the Greek

HPJSWP vol. 5, #1 Page 127 culture, whereas the willingness to sheets, hence the the bereaved are not overcome those feelings is not. diverting their interest into anything else “Death itself is a living experience of but the reality of the deceased (Danford, people left behind.” (Mystakidou et al., 1982; Spiridakis, 1972). 2004-2005, p.29). Greeks support the It is a Greek tradition that the wake content of this quote and often times will be held in the house of the deceased equate death with grief. One is afraid of among relatives and friends. During the death because of the grieving process the wake, candles are burning by the head of ones left behind will have to go through. the body, which is placed in a coffin and Zartaloudi (2010) integrated this usually on a table. The candlelight is a statement in her intersectional studies on mean of saying “goodbye” to the person bereavement and grief. Suggestions are who has died, while the head of the made that different traditions indicate deceased has to face the front door of the different perceptions of death and, to that house, as he/she is ready to leave. extent, different interpretations of it. The wake lasts for twenty-four hours, Additionally, it is suggested that grief and during those hours family and friends becomes a subject of multiple definitions, are wailing, mourning and expressing based on the one is afraid of their feelings in an intense and death. demonstrative way. It is believed within the Greek culture that expressive ways of Greek customs and traditions around death grieving show greater empathy to one’s Different grieve, mourn and loss (O’rourke, 2007; Danford, 1982; perceive death and dying in different and Ikonomidis, 1965-1966). Announcements unique ways (Gerstein et al., 2009). Greek are made in the , prior to the culture represents a variety of customs and wake, for whoever wants to have a chance traditions that originate from the Christian of a last “goodbye.” Orthodox Church, for the majority of the When the wake is finished, the body is Greeks are born and raised as followers of transferred by walking from the house to Orthodoxy (Tomkinson, 2003). For the nearest Church. The coffin is example, memorial Masses follow specific commonly carried by friends, but not religious patterns that all Greeks, relatives, while a is leading the regardless of their place of origin, are cortege, followed by the relatives and the familiar with. Simultaneously, common rest of the friends who have attended the traditions and customs do exist and wake. As soon as the coffin leaves the highlight all areas of Greece, urban and house, a woman or two stay behind to rural. clean for the after funeral Mass gathering. It is believed that when someone dies These women pour water out of a glass in a household, the “evil spirit” has and then break the glass at the front entered that house. For that , all porch, or the entrance of the house, to get the windows need to be open for the evil rid of the “evil” that the death has brought to be “washed out” with fresh air. The to the family. deceased’s body has to be dressed up with The coffin in the Modern Greek culture new clothing which has not been washed, is most of the times left open, unless the so as to be buried in grace, and all the body has deteriorated too much due to an mirrors in the house, as well as shiny accident or an illness. With an open surfaces, are covered with white towels or casket placed in front of the chancel, the

HPJSWP vol. 5, #1 Page 128 first degree relatives seated on the left side will not go back to the deceased’s house of it, and everybody else sitting or after the funeral ceremony. There is a standing and holding a burning candle small county called Mani in the south part each, the ceremony begins. By the end of of Greece, where the relatives will start the chants and the chaplain’s compli- walking towards the house of the person ments to the family and the deceased, the who died, shouting out loud his/her name priest proceeds and kisses the deceased on as they approach the front entrance the forehead. Kissing the dead symbolizes (Mystakidou et al., 2004-2005). This the farewell from this world (O’rourke, characterizes their sympathies for the 2007; Tomkinson, 2003; Ikonomidis, other household members, and their best 1965-1966). After the chaplain, the family wishes to the deceased and his/her members will do the same, and the rest of passage to Afterlife. the guests will follow. In the rural areas on the island of Afterwards, the first degree relatives of , the most southern part of Greece, if the person who passed stand (or sit if the the person who dies is a man, then the grief is unbearable) by the exit of the wife (if there is one) and the sisters (if any) Church and receive the sympathies of the cut their hair as a symbol of strength, and guests as a sign of respect to their cover the dead body with it Danford, presence. It is believed 1982). Generally though, by the relatives that this regarding all the will contribute to a If a woman does not wear population of that passable trail of the dead specific island, the in the Afterlife after the death of someone in the family will be in deep (Spiridakis, 1972). When mourning, they wear everyone has shown his family, at least for one year, disrespect black clothes, men grow condolences and beards for a long time, is shown to the deceased. sympathy, they head and the family does not back to the deceased’s celebrate Christmas, and house where the “ coffee of does not dye Ester eggs comfort ” (“ καφ ές τη ς παρηγορι άς ”) is for the next year. offered to everyone. During this time There is another small village in Crete, relatives and friends share experiences and Sfakia (also known as Chora Sfakiwn), memories for their loved one who has where if a father loses a son, he will never recently died. This ritual lasts from an shave again, while the mother will never hour to three or four hours, depending on wear other than black colored clothes. how close the attendees were with the Another small village, Agioupoli, in the deceased. south of the island, holds a unique Many different customs and traditions tradition when an engaged young man can describe the process of death in a dies. According to that tradition, his household. However, not all traditions fiancée has to cut her hair, offer it to her are followed by all the subcultures in the dead fiancé, and marry the next son in rural or urban areas of Greece (O’rourke, order (the brother of the deceased, if there 2007; Mystakidou et al., 2004-2005; is any). In Crete overall, if the deceased Danford, 1982). For example there is a comes from a high , then the small island called Herakleia, where whole community grieves with the family, attendees of the wake and/or the funeral

HPJSWP vol. 5, #1 Page 129 and no celebrations take place for the next urban areas of the country, as opposed to six months, at least. small villages in the county sides Greek culture embraces, as has been (Zartaloudi, 2010; O’rourke, 2007). partially mentioned already, black apparel. Traditionally, a has to CONCLUSION wear black for a lot longer than an unengaged woman, whereas men wear a Death and grief can be viewed from black “weeper” around their left arm for various perspectives, including culture. forty days. If a woman does not wear The set of values, beliefs, and held black after the death of someone in the by peoples shape their perceptions of family, at least for one year, disrespect is death and, to that extent, the human shown to the deceased. Additionally, after experience of death and the process of someone passes away, a candle is lighted grief (Gerstein et al., 2009). It is up for forty days in that household to fascinating how diverse cultures react remind everyone of the absence and the differently to the same life event. It is also loss that has been experienced. interesting to observe how faithful people Rituals for the after-death period take become to their own place on the 3rd day after the death, the 9 th when death occurs (Cohen et al., 2011; day, the 20 th , 40 th , 6 months, 9 months, 1 Redfield, 1992; Danford, 1982). year, 3 years, and 5 years. Those rituals Greek culture is manly characterized are commemorations, in which family and and influenced by the Church and friends participate, and which are known Mythology (Tomkinson, 2003; Graves, as ‘Mnemosyna’. Special prayers are 1970). The first has been, since the early offered during a ‘Mnemosyno’ for the Christian centuries, a significant support parting of the deceased from the world of of the people. Death for Greeks is always the living. Furthemore, at those attached to Orthodoxy and forgiveness by remembrances, boiled wheat is offered to God for the sins that have been committed the attendees. The wheat represents the by the deceased on earth. The experience reciprocity and solidarity between the of death may be both a family and a dead and the living. Since ancient times it community event, depending on the is believed that this offering will remit the contribution the person has offered to the deceased’s sins, and that it has the public, and in general his/her status. If the meaning of (Wilson, 2006; person has not been renowned, then small Spiridakis, 1972). and short take place. A great number of these traditions and Learning about traditional customs and customs originate from the ancient times rituals among different cultures can (Wilson, 2006; Mystakidou et al., 2004- provide unique expertise to practitioners 2005; Ikonomidis, 1965-1966). Moreover such as social workers, psychologists, and attitudes and perceptions are shaped by health care professionals who work with the spiritual ramifications of the Greek such populations in the fields of (Tomkinson, 2003). Even though dying. It is of paramount importance that Orthodoxy has been and still is the these practitioners are aware of the dominant religious orientation for Greeks, cultural differences on death and grief, other may be followed by some. and how those have an impact on the Other customs have been products of the ways people would like to be treated. modern times and may apply only to the

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“Female Mourners,” in Greece. Pottery fragment from c. 535-525 BCE, Louvre. HPJSWP vol. 5, #1 Page 131