Seven Days
Another old person died in our village today… that makes six, or maybe seven, in six weeks. We put it down to the heatwave, since most of the deceased were getting on a bit. The lady who didn’t survive today was 92 years old.
You see, most old people are poor and don’t have aircon. So, when the temperature rises, their hearts have to work harder to keep them cool. Some hearts give out.
Refrigerated Coffin
When a Thai dies, the body usually lies in state in a refrigerated coffin at home for three days. Rich people might keep the ceremony going for seven days. Every evening, monks and friends will come to chant and sent the Spirit on its way. Each person with their own thoughts, as at every such occasion in the world.
The family provides simple food, and after the monks have left, they may play cards all night until dawn.
The Spirit is deemed to have departed by the seventh day, and another, all day party is held.
One Hundred Days
However, the final ceremony is not until 100 days after the person’s death. The 100 days event is intended to make the Spirit in no doubt that he/she should have moved on by now, and so shouldn’t be hanging around the family home. Thais have a strange attitude to ghosts, in my opinion. On the one hand, they recognise ghosts as their beloved family, but on the other, they don’t want them in the house – they want them to move on.
You can read this two ways: 1) Thais are frightened of ghosts – and indeed, some are; or 2) Thais have the best interests of the ghosts at heart. They want them to move on in their journey through Life, and not dwell in the past, where they no longer belong.
A Thai Funeral
So, a Thai funeral tales at least three days plus one out of a week. In six weeks (42 days), we have had at least 24 days of mourning – 57% of the las month and a half!
And there is no end to the heatwave in sight…
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