ITALIAN
FUNERALS
On my
first trip to Italy, one of the first thing I wanted to do was to see a Roman
structure of any sort. Thus, on the second day I was there I asked locals if
there were any Roman ruins nearby. We, my wife and I, were directed to a Roman
out-look defensive tower located in Velate, a frazione, of Varese, Lombardia where we were lodging for a few days.
The residents of the area built it in the eleventh century. Consequently, it was not a Roman fortification
but a local defensive work. Nevertheless, it still was impressive standing at
450 feet with excellent construction. It is partially ruined, but what remains
provides significant insight into the painstaking efforts to make it last and
withstand any attack. The literature refers to it as “La Torre di Velate.” Our visit to Italy was prior to a national
movement called Restauro,
restoration, thus I took my photograph before. The latter one is after. When we
visited it, it was unkempt with a small sign explaining its history.
After
viewing and fulfilling my visual hunger, I noticed that nearby was a walled-in
cemetery. I was able to see some of the tops of the mausoleum. This really
piqued my curiosity, more so because there was a funeral in procession. Many
mourners were walking behind a casket carted by men. By the time we walked into
the graveyard the men were inserting the coffin into a tiered mausoleum. My
wife and I stood off to the side and a man walking by us looked at me with
teary eyes and uttered, “He was so young. What a misfortune.” I nodded my head
in reverence. Nevertheless, I was astounded at what my eyes beheld as they
scanned the two or three acres of the cemetery.
The
mausoleums were in various sizes and built from beautiful different colored
marble. The builders constructed them in classical architecture with such
precision that they appear as if they are entrances to homes of wealthy Ancient
Romans. We see the same in cemeteries here in America, especially where there
is a large population of people of Italian heritage. However, because of the
varied ethnic groups buried in many of the cemeteries the mausoleums tend to
stand alone. In Italy they stand close together. Below are two photographs I
took. One of the tower and one of a part of the cemetery. The other two are
from www.tripadvisor.co.nz
and www.tripadvisor.co.uk.
Thus, we see how many Italians honor their dead.
Most
Italian funerals follow the rituals of the Catholic Church, since most of the
people are of that religion. The Italians of America follow the same; however,
in regard to customs beyond the church, much of Italian American funerals have become
watered down. In small towns in Italy next of kin give notice of a death by
placing posters in various parts of the town. On it are the details of the
passing and of the funeral arrangements. The American counterpart is the
obituaries appearing in the newspaper. At the funeral, small religious cards
with information about the deceased are available. They usually contain a
prayer on one side and information about the deceased on the other. Neighbors
and friends upon learning of the death bring food, which seems also to be a
widespread practice in America. Solemnity and respect for the dead is important.
In America with so much cultural diversity many Italians are awed with
“celebrations” that some groups engage in, in the passing of individuals.
Italy allows cremation; however, there are
laws prescribing the process. One has to join an association of cremation, if
they so desire to receive that service. If, upon the individual’s death, family
members want to do otherwise, it still takes place. If one does not belong to
the association, family members can apply for permission. Generally, the families
may keep the ashes at home in an urn or if they desire, to scatter them. Laws
permit it in special areas within cemeteries or on private land with the owner’s
consent. The laws governing funerals vary from region to region.
Cemeteries
are municipal, and usually whatever route one enters a city, there is a sign
indicating the way to it. They do not belong to any church or organization and
any one has the right to entombment burial. I use that word since it is
extremely rare for in-ground burial, given the limited amount of land; thus, in
the cemeteries are family mausoleums and tiered crypts. Since Italy is a small
country with a large population, the laws of the regions require the gathering
of the bones of the deceased after a period of 5 to 30 years. They place the
bones in a common ossario (bone
depository). Some of these date back hundreds of years. Many of them, are
tourist attractions such as catacombs; however, those of modern time are
religious places, such as the Tempio Ossario ai Caduti d’Italia (Bone Temple of
the Fallen) in the piazzale XXVI Luglio, in Udine, Italy, containing the bones
of 25,000 Italian soldiers who died during the First World War. It is a church
and a holy and solemn place in respect of the dead. The following photographs
in order of appearance are the cemetery near the tower, the tower before restauro and after, one of the embrasures,
and the Tempio Ossario.
