Sin-Eaters

Hi,

The Highland Park Historical Society had a reception Friday night for the opening of 'The Highlands: From Haven to Dream.' An exhibit of the architecture and landscape of the Highlands of Highland Park.

Mingling with the guests, we got into a discussion of what other museums offer. A friend thought a museum devoted to the funeral arts might be of interest. I advised such museum already exists in Springfield, IL. As is often the case when I'm around, the conversation then turned to food. My friend commented she had recently seen on television a program on 'Sin-Eaters.' It seemed to be a pagan-ish ritual where you pay someone to eat the sins of the dead. This evening she forwarded me the following link:

SIN-EATER, a man who for trifling payment was believed to take upon himself, by means of food and drink, the sins of a deceased person. The custom was once common in many parts of England and in the highlands of Scotland, and survived until recent years in Wales and the counties of Shropshire and Herefordshire. Usually each village had its official sin-eater to whom notice was given as soon as a death occurred. Heat once went to the house, and there, a stool being brought, he sat down in front of the door. A groat, a crust of bread and a bowl of ale were handed him, and after he had eaten and drunk he rose and pronounced the ease and rest of the dead person, for whom he thus pawned his own soul.

I always worry about feeding guests adequately at funerals. This tradition adds a whole new twist to funeral food rituals.

Regards,

C2, fascinating.

I now know what I'm going to write into me last will and testament, re: funerary foodstuffs: doed-koecks.

Hammond

Wow.
It makes me wonder if this custom has anything to do with stereotypical WASP attitudes toward food. Of course, that is a question of the chicken-and-egg variety. Further research may be warranted.

Josephine wrote:Of course, that is a question of the chicken-and-egg variety.

Combined with the thread title, this made me think of the Hasidic custom of kapparot, performed before Yom Kippur. I always wondered what happened to the poor people who ate the sin-filled chicken.

(It should be noted that most Jews don't follow this mystic ritual at all, and of those who do, many use a handkerchief full of money instead of a chicken.)

About 50 years ago, my parents took me to an Irish wake on Irving Park at what is now Coony's. I remember it like it was yesterday, cuz I about pooped my pants. They had two Irish wailers, and when we arrived, they were at their loudest. Anyway, while there, I overheard two very very old ladies talking about the sin eater. I asked my grandmother and she explained the concept, and further made me want to get the hell out of there.

HI,

I have to tell my Mom about that. Her parents were straight from the old country, Ireland, who believed in the Banshee. I started to ask her about the sin eater the other day, but I will have to ask again.

Yeah, we have been to many fine Irish funerals at Cooneys over the years. I'll tell her of your experiences and hope she can add to it.

Regards,

At the time the parlor was named Mee and Ramey (SP?). I was also there the night they tried to pull a guy out of the coffin to take him across the street to Flo's for a drink.

HI,

Since today is Halloween, this may be of interest.

Regards,

I remember a Night Gallery episode where the sin eater died and they had to find someone to eat the sins of the sin eater. That was a chilling episode to say the least!

I think it's here on Hulu:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/58780/night-gallery-you-cant-get-help-like-that-anymoresins-of-the-fathers

An old friend of mine is in the recording studio and asked if I would overdub some percussion tracks on a tune of his called, you guessed it "Sineater".