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Funerals

When a person died, the first step was to dress the deceased in a simple long heavy duty shirt. Once they were dressed, the body was placed in a room on what they called a stretcher. It was essentially two chairs with a pair of boards between them. On top of the boards they placed a few bushels of pure rye straw. When these specific bushels weren't used for such an occasion, then they were hung in the attic. Therefore it was quite possible that such a bushel would be used time and time again and could even be more than a hundred years old.

Next someone had to go see a builder or a carpenter to order a coffin. These coffins were made out of rough boards and treated with a mixture of soot and water. The handles were fashioned from rope and covered with black fabric. 

A request was then sent to the country offices asking for the certificate of death (burial permit) after which they needed a grave dug. 

Order the bell ringers, invite people to the funeral, speak to the priest about dropping dirt on the grave. Paying him for his services and asking him to give a speech at the funeral. 

The quality of the speech stood in direct correlation to the amount he was paid. They also had to request the presence of the headmaster of the school, because he had to come along and sing at the funeral. 

  

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However, he was also in attendance in order to enjoy a good meal and perhaps even partake in a game of cards during the afternoon and into the evening. In the meantime, the coffin was ready and had been delivered. It was half full off of wood shavings and a head support had also been placed inside of it. A sheet was spread over it upon which the body then was lowered into the coffin. The sheet was then draped around the body and they would place a bit of lace over the face of the deceased. The came the headmaster along with another man who were supposed to act as witnesses and were to inspect the body of the deceased and clear them for burial. 

Usually 8-9 days would have passed by now and the invited guests had gathered because the funeral day had arrived. Those who had invited them to the funeral, of which there were twelve individuals, had gone ahead with picnic baskets and the likes in order to prepare lunch. The funeral procession set out, and there were no predetermined pallbearers so all of the men took turns. The men walked and the women drove in wagons behind them. Suddenly the procession came to halt and a wagon that had followed in the rear came up to the front where the coffin then was loaded onto it. It was by no means a proper hearse but rather a regular work wagon. Our community didn't have a hearse back then. We were now only a short distance from the church and once again everyone came to a halt. The bells began to ring and the body was unloaded from

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I don't know if it was a law that children needed to be baptized by a certain age. However, more than once it so happened that after six weeks the priest would send a message to a given set of parents, reminding them not to forget to get their child baptized. Sometimes it so happened that the child was baptized in their home, but sooner or later they always ended up in church anyway and had to go through the ceremonies that went with a baptism. This is also why, at the beginning of a baptism, the priest would inquire as to whether or not the child had been baptized at home, to which the godmother would either respond yes or no. You could always tell who the godmother was, because she was the one who would be holding the baby. The first things that needed to be done in preparation for the baby shower and baptism was to choose a sort of "best woman." This woman's duty was to escort the mother of the child into the church. Another woman was chosen to carry the child and to hold them during the baptism. Yet another woman was needed to hold the bonnet, nurse the child if need be and to assist the godmother in the church. She was also required to loosen and retying the bonnet before and after the baptism. Two father's were also required to stand and observe the baptism in the capacity of witnesses. Now the father of the child was required to go out and invite everyone to a feast. His announcement might have sounded something like this; "Greetings from the mother and child. Would you please join us this Sunday at church 

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and then come back to our house where you could enjoy some lunch or simply visit for a while."So the day before the party the girls had to run along with some milk, butter and cream which was meant to assist with the preparation of the feast. Then on Sunday the guests would gather for the feast and were met by musicians as they entered the courtyard at the farm. 

The godmother was also in attendance. She had dressed the child in clothes that she had acquired by buying the fabric, sowing the clothes herself and presenting them to the child as a gift. Now they were at the church and everyone went in except for the mother, the "best woman," the godmother and the wet nurse. They would remain in the entryway until the end of the first psalm, after which the priest came out and gave a small speech meant to usher the mother into the church. The priest then left again and the mother and her "best woman" entered. When the sermon was over the deacon went out and brought in the two other women who had the child with them and the proceeded with the baptism. The godmother would then hold the child while it received the sacrament after which she handed the child to the wet nurse so that she herself could go up and receive the sacrament. Then it was the mother's and her assistants turn and then everyone else's. Everyone would then head to the home of the parents where a wedding style party would commence.  

August Meeting Minutes

Members and Guests present: Allan J, Dane J, Amy A, Keri B, Tara B, Loraine L, Ada L, Katie L, and Mike B.

This was our annual bring your own dinner picnic at the park. We met at the Miner's Park in Negaunee and spent most of the evening visiting. Katie and Ada were visiting from downstate.

Dane brought a children's game, "Dyrene's Hotel" for us to play (Animal Hotel). The object of the game is to fill your hotel with all of the animals that are on the card. When you roll the dice you can end up with more animal cards, a chance to trade, or a "chance" card which can cause good or bad things to happen at your hotel. 

Ada enjoyed playing the game, especially because she won the first round! After a bit of play, she even tried reading some of the Danish on the cards. 

Our next meeting will take place on September 12 at Kris's house. We will send a reminder out prior to the meeting and let you know if you need to bring anything along! 

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The dancing is temporarily suspended because it was now time to toast the happy couple. The best man sits down and fills the glasses with brandy, wine and other kinds of beverages, as the music slowly begins to wind down. People then pair up, one man and one woman and head over to the table for a glass. The man utters his toast and proceeds to clink glasses with their partner, they drink, put their glasses down and both leave some money meant for the musicians.

The various toasts that are uttered are primarily in honor of the newlywed, their parents and everyone in attendance. when they were all done the dancing would quickly commence. However, by now the bride had changed out of her traditional wedding gown and into a more simple dress. She was on the dance floor, dancing with all of the women. Dancing her way into womanhood. It was now past midnight and people were starting to head home. However, before leaving they were all offered a snack which consisted of leftovers like fish in mustard, bread and much more. The next day they gathered once more for lunch which was porridge left over from the day before and which this time had been reheated and mixed with beer. There was also fish along with an assortment of many other dishes. It was very much like the previous nights feast except no one was toasting. Sometimes, the immediate family was even invited to partake in a third day of celebrating.

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Qvindestue

It wasn't unusual that a short while after the wedding, the young couple would be expecting an addition to their family. When something like this happened it was customary to hold what was referred to as "Qvindestue" (which meant that the father would go around to family and friends, informing them that they had gotten a baby. He would then invite them to join them for "Qvindestue" on that very day. However, the invite only extended for the parents of the various households. On said day, 10-20 families showed up, each of them bringing a large jar filled with sweet soup and some pancakes. They would all proceed to enjoy a happy day and night, socializing, playing cards and the likes. However, each woman would also bring on crown and placed it in the crib. They would then tell the mother that the money was to be spent on a book for the little one. 

At the time when a young mother was sowing the first outfit for their newborn, they would also sow their own funeral shroud which would be put away for safekeeping until she passed away.