The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-05-27 00:00:00

FUNERAL RITES IN LITTLE RUSSIA_

Now that funeral reform is one of the questions of
the clay—a question brtilante, it may called in some
quarters—no little interest attaches to an account given
by M. Hilbaltchitch, of the St, Petersburg Geographical
Society, of the funeral rites observed in Little Russia
(says the Daily News). Female mutes are invited to
follow the coffin, within which are deposited various
articles of food and attire, together with some money,
so that the deceased person may not be unable to pro-
cure the means of existence in the other world. The
clothes of the dead are given to beggars, and a jug of
water is placed upon the window-sill, so that the soul
may be able to perform its ablutions before starting on
its long journey. This is also a symbol of the long
voyage by water which it must perform before reach-
ing the other world. The shavings of the wood from
which the coffin has been made and the tools used during
life, if the defunct was an artisan, are also enclosed in
it, and so too are the parings of the fingers-nails, which
both men and women in Little Russia preserve all
their lives, the idea being that these nails will enable
them to climb the mountain which separates this
world from the ether one. An old woman
scatters handfuls of wheat over the mourners and
the road along which the body is conveyed, in
order that they may be blessed with an abundance
of worldly wealth. The coffin is surrourded
with Cows, this being the continuation of an ancient
usage prevalent among the I:Endow, and being in.
tended to purify and disinfect the house of the deceased
person. The Little Russians believe that the soul re.
mains for some time in the house in the shape of a
butterfly, and for this reason fowls and cats are driven
away in order that they may not eat it. The popular
belief is that the dead are hurtful rather than bene-
ficent to the survivors; but in certain cases mothers
are said to revisit their children and lavish great
tenderness upon them. In such cases, however, the
childr.n mrst keep the visit quite secret, or they will
call down the vengeance of the mother upon their native
village. Young men engaged to be married at the
time of their death frequently return to the earth
and SeiZ9 their promised brides, whom they carry
back with them to the tomb. The funerals always
take place at sunset, so that the dead may have that
luminary for a guide on their way to a new life. To
remind them that they will rise again from the tomb,
egg -ehells painted red, like those eaten at Easter, are
thrown upon it; and after the funeral a banquet is
held, at which a cover is laid for the deceased, who is
believed to preside during the feast. It may be added,
that, as in many Western countries, the screech of the
owl, a dream of losing a tooth, &?.., are looked upon as
signs of approaching death; and when any one dies, it
is believed that his star falls out of the sky. These
and many other details are given by M. Hilbaltchitch,
who can trace their existence back to the most re-
mote times, though he does not attempt to explain
their origin,