1. Tradition of funeral in Poland

2. Table of contest 1.Basic information 2.The history of funeral 3.Beliefs 4.Cremation 5.Graves 6.The time of funeral 7.Interesting facts 8.Crossword 9.Bibliography

3. Basic information In European culture the procession of the mourners which follow the coffin with the body of the deceased person, belongs to the traditional forms of funeral. People who follow the hearse with coffin inside usually take wreath which is then put on deceased’s grave. Relatives of a deceased person inform all of the family members and friends about funeral.

4. The history of funeral Formerly, deceased person was wearing elegant clothes. Additionaly, there were many everyday objects put in the coffin. A wake wasn’t only a gloomy dinner like nowadays. Participants arranged races, wrestled, do some athletics and danced in the honor of deceased person. Then, they could eat and drink.

5. Beliefs People bury bodies of their relatives in the ground because they believe that Jesus Christ will descened on Earth and all the dead will be resurrected. Arms of a deceased person are usually being crossed before the coffin is closed. In the Polish culture the dead people should look smart and happy so they are wearing smart clothes, and a make-up is made to them.

6. Cremation There is also a custom in Poland to burn the body of a relative. The coffin with the body inside is being transported to the building called crematorium where the body is incinerated in the furnance. Then, ashes of the relative are being put into an urn. This form of funeral is also chosen when the outside look of deceased is extremely nasty.

7. Graves A coffin with dead person is often put in a grave which is 2 meters deep. Next, undertaker shovels the dirt onto the coffin and puts a tomb stone over the grave. All tombs must be signed. Signs tell the personal data of a deceased person – his/her surname, a date of birth, and a date of death. There is also a tradition among some families to put some last few words on the grave stone. Those are usually memories of the deceased, or some citations.

8. The time of funeral The time when the funeral must take place is not stated. People sometimes organise a funeral a week, or longer from a moment of death of their relative. This is so because sometimes they want to invite relatives, or friends who live in other countries and must wait for them to come.

9. Interesting facts „Dziady” were celebrated twice a year- in Spring and in Autumn. Thanks to this ceremony people could contact with dead relatives, or friends and receive their favor. In XVI century wakes of Polish nobility were rollicking feasts with a lot of alcohol. Many times people were fighting with each other.

10. Crossword

11. Bibliography www.google.pl www.wikipedia.pl

12. The end by Karina Borek