My husband and I love to go to New Orleans. The sights, the food, and of course the culture is one of a kind. Every time we go, we always happen upon a parade. This time we happened upon a jazz funeral procession while touring a cemetery. At first, this took me a moment to process what was happening. This funeral march is a symbol of life, a symbol death, and a symbol rebirth. It salutes a life well lived and the passage of a departed soul into a better world. Funeral customs vary widely across the globe. Different religions and different cultures bury their dead according to customs that have developed over hundreds – even thousands – of years. It is believed that it has bits of the African funeral ceremonies that were brought over with the captive slaves. The tradition of the jazz funeral march blends European and African together. The military-style brass bands were often played in Louisiana's colonial times for the rich, and those in the military. Over time it was combined with the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria and other parts of West Africa's style of dancing the dead into the underworld. They believed that celebrating after death would please the spirits so they would protect the dead. The New Orleans tradition of the funeral procession grew in the 19th century. In the early 1900s, as jazz music became the sound in New Orleans it replaced the music as the style to be played at funerals. When people die in New Orleans streets with music, some can last up to a week. It normally begins with a slow march from the home of the deceased to the church or funeral home. During the march, the coffin may have been carried by a horse-drawn hearse or a hearse. A jazz band accompanies the procession to celebrate the life of the deceased. They play a certain style of music with tambourines, and drums playing somber hymns. After the service, the march would proceed to the cemetery. They would play somber hymns until the coffin was placed on the ground. The tradition believes that when the deceased is laid to rest, they have cut the body loose. This release is a signal of a release for the mourners as well. Then as they were leaving, they would pay with an upbeat tone. People on the streets where the march passed were welcome to join in. This group was referred to as the “second line. “Once the procession and the second line are no longer in sight of the cemetery the beat begins. It is believed that the music and dancing helped the deceased find their way to heaven. It also celebrated them breaking their final binds to this earthly life. Our experience in New Orleans inspired us so much that when our beloved familiar Isis died, we held a funeral march for her. She passed away in our bedroom while the kids were at school. My husband and I create a cardboard box coffin for her. The cardboard is biodegradable so as her body returns to the Eart so too shall the box. We then allowed each of our other 4 familiar cats to say their goodbyes. When the kids came home, we had them say their goodbyes, and they added their trinkets they wanted her to take into the Underworld. As we walked to the grave, we played Celtic bagpipes. After she was placed in her final resting spot, and we walked back to the house we played, Put The Lime In The Coconut by Harry Nilsson. “Death may be the greatest of all human blessings”
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As a mom of three boys who go to public school I started to notice that some things were not being taught in detail so I decided to create lessons for them. Many of these lessons cover science, history and of information about Paganism. I share crafts for the all different holidays and cultures as ways that they can learn and have fun at the same time.
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