On the Greek island I come from, Ayios Efstratios, pain and sorrow is a very private family matter. When someone in the family dies you must stay with them for 24 hours. Everybody sits around and tells stories or reads from the Bible. The body must face the east, towards the sun. To prepare the body you first wash it with wine. Take three metres of white material, cut a hole in the middle and slide it over the body. Then you dress them in normal clothes, tie the jaw shut, cross their hands and tie them together, and fasten the feet with a white handkerchief. Finally, an icon and flowers are placed on top of the body in the coffin. When people come to pay their respects they give money to light a candle. They say 'God forgive, bless your soul' then they ask the deceased to pass on messages to their dead loved ones. Before they are buried the deceased's hands, feet and jaw are untied so they are free to go to their new life.
Elli Manikaki Ziros, Sydney
Copyright © Australian Museum,
2008
