Nation of Origin and Religion Birth Beliefs Death Beliefs
Cape Verde—Catholic Baptism Death is a part of life
England—Christian Baptism Body dying Natural event Everlasting life with Christ
Funeral and prayer Person goes to heaven
Germany—Lutheran Birth is sacred Body dies when we die— souls go to heaven and enjoy ever-lasting life
Do not take baby out until it is baptized
Celebrate person’s life and the promise of eternal life
Mother does not go to the baptism
God’s will
Greece—Orthodox After 40 days mother and newborn go to church—baby is blessed and prayers are said to keep away the evil spirits
After a death, light a candle that burns all night
Baptized at 2 Bones are unburied after 3 years, are put into a holy box, and are placed in the church or are reburied in the family grave
Gifts given to the baby to protect it from the evil eye— charms of white and blue beads are worn on the wrist
In mourning, women wear black for the rest of their lives and men grow facial hair
If the baby cries excessively, exorcism may be performed
Hold a special service on the 40th day
Wrap the baby in blankets and pin to sheets to relax
Some older people believe in ghosts
The good go to paradise; the bad go to hell
Visit grave daily
Ireland—Catholic Baby shower before birth but never set up the crib until after birth
After death, the body is washed and prepared for the wake at home by a neighbor and then the wake and mass
Men not present at birth Blessing with oils and receive the Eucharist for the last time
Tell of pregnancy after 3 months
Dying person wears a Rosary around the neck to keep evil spirits away and God closer
Familial HEALTH Traditions ■ 173
Dying: Pray the Rosary aloud as it is a stepping stone to the Virgin Mary, asking her to watch over this person and guide him or her to everlasting peace
Final separation of the soul from the body—soul lives on and is transported to God
Mourning: keening—a ritual of professional criers coming to the home and crying for hours over the death of a family member
Wake—“a party with one less person”
Italy—Catholic Life begins at conception Closed casket Cremation
Japan—Shinto Umbilical cord saved—a lasting bond between mother and child
Cremation
100-day-old child taken to the Shrine
Lithuania—Catholic Baptism Pray for the dead Visit graves
Portugal—Catholic Throw a party for the birth of a boy (relates to the time when males were needed to work on the farms)
A party comforts the loved ones but if one dies in a painful way there is no celebration
Women during pregnancy get less pretty with a girl because the baby is taking her mother’s looks
Celebrate a painless death—means the person has been good and is now with Jesus
Widow must forever wear black—this serves as a warning to other men that she has suffered a loss and is not attractive to prevent shame from being brought to her
Sicily—Catholic Baptism Close all shades and never go out during daylight
Gift from God The day you were born, it was known the day you were to die
Women mourn for years, wearing only black and seldom going outside
Table 7–2 continued
174 ■ Chapter 7
fingers and spat on the baby 3 times to prevent the evil spirits from harming him. Once such an anecdote is shared, other participants have less difficulty in remembering similar events that took place in their own homes.
Students have a variety of feelings about the self-care practices of their families. One feeling discussed by many students is shame. A number of students express conflict in their attitudes: They cannot decide whether to believe the old ways when they have continued to be practiced or to drop them and adopt the more modern ones they are learning in school. For example, a young man from Ethiopia revealed that he experienced angst when he had an upper respiratory infection and his mother offered him herbs from their homeland. (This is an ex- ample of cognitive dissonance.) Many admit that this is the first time they have disclosed these HEALTH beliefs and practices in public, and they are relieved and amazed to discover similarities with other students. Frequently, there is a logical explanation as to why a given practice is successful. The acts may have different names or be performed in a slightly different manner, but the uniting thread among them is to prevent ILLNESS and to maintain and/or restore HEALTH.
Cape Verde—Catholic Baptism Death is a part of life
England—Christian Baptism Body dying Natural event Everlasting life with Christ
Funeral and prayer Person goes to heaven
Germany—Lutheran Birth is sacred Body dies when we die— souls go to heaven and enjoy ever-lasting life
Do not take baby out until it is baptized
Celebrate person’s life and the promise of eternal life
Mother does not go to the baptism
God’s will
Greece—Orthodox After 40 days mother and newborn go to church—baby is blessed and prayers are said to keep away the evil spirits
After a death, light a candle that burns all night
Baptized at 2 Bones are unburied after 3 years, are put into a holy box, and are placed in the church or are reburied in the family grave
Gifts given to the baby to protect it from the evil eye— charms of white and blue beads are worn on the wrist
In mourning, women wear black for the rest of their lives and men grow facial hair
If the baby cries excessively, exorcism may be performed
Hold a special service on the 40th day
Wrap the baby in blankets and pin to sheets to relax
Some older people believe in ghosts
The good go to paradise; the bad go to hell
Visit grave daily
Ireland—Catholic Baby shower before birth but never set up the crib until after birth
After death, the body is washed and prepared for the wake at home by a neighbor and then the wake and mass
Men not present at birth Blessing with oils and receive the Eucharist for the last time
Tell of pregnancy after 3 months
Dying person wears a Rosary around the neck to keep evil spirits away and God closer
Familial HEALTH Traditions ■ 173
Dying: Pray the Rosary aloud as it is a stepping stone to the Virgin Mary, asking her to watch over this person and guide him or her to everlasting peace
Final separation of the soul from the body—soul lives on and is transported to God
Mourning: keening—a ritual of professional criers coming to the home and crying for hours over the death of a family member
Wake—“a party with one less person”
Italy—Catholic Life begins at conception Closed casket Cremation
Japan—Shinto Umbilical cord saved—a lasting bond between mother and child
Cremation
100-day-old child taken to the Shrine
Lithuania—Catholic Baptism Pray for the dead Visit graves
Portugal—Catholic Throw a party for the birth of a boy (relates to the time when males were needed to work on the farms)
A party comforts the loved ones but if one dies in a painful way there is no celebration
Women during pregnancy get less pretty with a girl because the baby is taking her mother’s looks
Celebrate a painless death—means the person has been good and is now with Jesus
Widow must forever wear black—this serves as a warning to other men that she has suffered a loss and is not attractive to prevent shame from being brought to her
Sicily—Catholic Baptism Close all shades and never go out during daylight
Gift from God The day you were born, it was known the day you were to die
Women mourn for years, wearing only black and seldom going outside
Table 7–2 continued
174 ■ Chapter 7
fingers and spat on the baby 3 times to prevent the evil spirits from harming him. Once such an anecdote is shared, other participants have less difficulty in remembering similar events that took place in their own homes.
Students have a variety of feelings about the self-care practices of their families. One feeling discussed by many students is shame. A number of students express conflict in their attitudes: They cannot decide whether to believe the old ways when they have continued to be practiced or to drop them and adopt the more modern ones they are learning in school. For example, a young man from Ethiopia revealed that he experienced angst when he had an upper respiratory infection and his mother offered him herbs from their homeland. (This is an ex- ample of cognitive dissonance.) Many admit that this is the first time they have disclosed these HEALTH beliefs and practices in public, and they are relieved and amazed to discover similarities with other students. Frequently, there is a logical explanation as to why a given practice is successful. The acts may have different names or be performed in a slightly different manner, but the uniting thread among them is to prevent ILLNESS and to maintain and/or restore HEALTH.