Disclaimer: I do not have
much experience with attending church in America to make a comprehensive
comparison, but in America, church is an hour long. At least all the
churches I have ever been too (which again, is not many). I have also only ever
been to about 3 different denominations of churches; catholic,
protestant,….maybe that’s it? It does not go over an hour, and it is always the
same. Same procedure, same hymns, same repeat-after-me’s. Not much
variation, and not much excitement or enthusiasm. Very mundane and
monotone. Its like people just go through the motions to say they went.
Church in SVG is quite different.
Even the catholic church runs over two hours, and is full of lively singing,
praise, prayers and anecdotes. In SVG I have attended many different churches:
Catholic, Pentecostal, Baptist, Gospel Hall, and many others that I'm not even
sure which denomination they were. But
all were usually quite fun. There is
extensive singing, dancing, a band, presentations and special guests giving
words of praise and encouragement; and the sermon, or whatever it is called, is
always delivered with conviction, heart and soul, as well as quite animated. The
audience is engaged and responsive. People are welcoming and friendly, and give
special attention to new guests, usually by recognizing them with a special pin
or flower in front of the entire congregation. Church is a joyous time to come
together and celebrate life and thanksgiving.
Funerals in SVG are also quite
different. Again, they are much more of
a party than the depressing obligations we have in America. For one thing, funerals in SVG seem to be
more about praising and celebrating the life of the deceased and less about
focusing on the fact that our loved one is here with us no longer and saying
goodbye. It is a joyous time to remember
all the wonderful things about the person.
Family and friends come together and sing and rejoice. There is a great
sense of community and support. For example, if a loved one of a member of
staff passes away, then all the teachers come together to sing a song at the
funeral ceremony. I have had the pleasure of attending three funerals. All of which I have sung at.
However, what I always will never fully understand, is that
there is usually never any crying, but instead there is laughter and smiling. I get that it’s a celebration of the life the
person lived and their contributions and what not, but my cultural upbringing
cannot forget that the person is no longer here and how that must make their
loved ones feel, and brings tears to my eyes even when I have never met the
person we are burying.
The other major differences between
SVG funerals and funerals in America is that there is no wake before the
funeral ceremony and immediately after the ceremony, the entire church marches
to the cemetery where more singing takes place while the casket is lowered and
covered (by gravediggers) into the ground. The gravediggers are usually drenched in sweat
(you try digging a 6 foot deep hole in the ground in the middle of the day
under hot Caribbean sun), wearing big rubber boots, and often times there’s a
bottle of rum near by. A rather stark contrast to the very formal attire worn
by guests. Guests normally wear all
black, black and white, or purple. Singing at the gravesite does not cease
until the casket is completely buried and flowers have been placed on top
covering all the dirt.
Singing while burying the casket
Placing flowers on the grave, as singing continues
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