Interesting question about visiting graves. I recently visited England where my grandmother is buried in a pretty little church yard in the south of England. I hadn't visited for over 20+ years. I couldn't find the grave stone but eventually realized it was the blackened one that was unreadable (until I rubbed hard with a rag). My 87 year Aunt and I returned with bucket of water, Fairy Liquid and a scrubbing brush and lo and behold we spruced her up. It was the least I could do after all the love and care she gave to us a children. Brought back lots of nice childhood memories.....thank you Nanny (as we called her) so glad I went.....
My Mom always used to say, "If you buy me flowers after I'm dead, I will haunt you. If you want to buy me flowers, buy them for me now." That was my Mom. I loved my Mom. My Mom's ashes were set free in the Thousand Islands, into the St. Lawrence River, a place she loved, bordering Canada and northern New York State. And like my Mom, I would like for my ashes to travel the world, out into the Ocean, after I (well my body, this life) am gone. Key West is the place for my "next world" journey to begin, the Gulf Stream is the place for me. (All said, I appreciate others traditions. The world is richer. I am richer to learn and know about other people, other cultures.) Thank you for sharing Nancy.
Living in Rhode Island amidst a large Portuguese-American population, I find the
Portuguese and those of Portuguese descent still often frequent cemeteries regularly to place flowers/wreaths/decorations on graves here. Most of these people are of the Roman Catholic faith and while much of the world is moving in a far more secular direction, that is not the case with many Portuguese American Catholics. I find this most interesting.
I worked next door to a cemetery, and I would often walk through it on my lunch breaks. It seemed like (at least on weekdays) that most people came on what were probably significant anniversary dates, since I only saw them or signs of renewed flowers, etc. once or twice a year. There was a subset of people who came monthly to visit.
Thank you for sharing the pictures from VRSA. My spouse and I landed in Porto on 2 Nov. and went to Cemeterio do Prado do Repouso near the river, to see the flowers - as well as a tom cat who was intent on bagging a pigeon. In the cemetery we regularly walk through in New Hampshire, visits and maintenance by family members seems to decrease over time, as we're all so mobile in the U.S. But I often see festive holiday decorations, rather than decorations for All Saints Day
When my husband passed away in 2004 I visited his grave daily for the first couple of months. Over the years my visits have become more sporadic but I rarely miss a holiday, Bill’s birthday or our wedding anniversary. I still miss him every single day.
Excellent post--both copy and images, Nancy! Since we publish quarterly -- and are about to release our Winter 2022-2023 issue -- we're saving this to publish (with your permission) in Portugal Living Magazine's Autumn 2023 issue.
Just correcting a caption: «Traditional attire of a - gipsy - woman that has lost her husband.»
It is true that most rural, old and traditional portuguese women wear black, after the loss of a husband (and sometimes of a child or of parents), but they do not wear black long skirts and a black scarf like the woman you photographed. Only gipsy women do. By the way, as further information, a gipsy widower can be «spotted» by dressing all in black, wearing a hat and letting the beard grow. So: portuguese non gipsy widows can dress in black, of course, but it is not the case of the one you photographed. All the best - I love your texts!
Interesting question about visiting graves. I recently visited England where my grandmother is buried in a pretty little church yard in the south of England. I hadn't visited for over 20+ years. I couldn't find the grave stone but eventually realized it was the blackened one that was unreadable (until I rubbed hard with a rag). My 87 year Aunt and I returned with bucket of water, Fairy Liquid and a scrubbing brush and lo and behold we spruced her up. It was the least I could do after all the love and care she gave to us a children. Brought back lots of nice childhood memories.....thank you Nanny (as we called her) so glad I went.....
Thanks for sharing
My Mom always used to say, "If you buy me flowers after I'm dead, I will haunt you. If you want to buy me flowers, buy them for me now." That was my Mom. I loved my Mom. My Mom's ashes were set free in the Thousand Islands, into the St. Lawrence River, a place she loved, bordering Canada and northern New York State. And like my Mom, I would like for my ashes to travel the world, out into the Ocean, after I (well my body, this life) am gone. Key West is the place for my "next world" journey to begin, the Gulf Stream is the place for me. (All said, I appreciate others traditions. The world is richer. I am richer to learn and know about other people, other cultures.) Thank you for sharing Nancy.
I loved this! And I am liking Uncle Eddie!
Living in Rhode Island amidst a large Portuguese-American population, I find the
Portuguese and those of Portuguese descent still often frequent cemeteries regularly to place flowers/wreaths/decorations on graves here. Most of these people are of the Roman Catholic faith and while much of the world is moving in a far more secular direction, that is not the case with many Portuguese American Catholics. I find this most interesting.
I worked next door to a cemetery, and I would often walk through it on my lunch breaks. It seemed like (at least on weekdays) that most people came on what were probably significant anniversary dates, since I only saw them or signs of renewed flowers, etc. once or twice a year. There was a subset of people who came monthly to visit.
Thank you for sharing the pictures from VRSA. My spouse and I landed in Porto on 2 Nov. and went to Cemeterio do Prado do Repouso near the river, to see the flowers - as well as a tom cat who was intent on bagging a pigeon. In the cemetery we regularly walk through in New Hampshire, visits and maintenance by family members seems to decrease over time, as we're all so mobile in the U.S. But I often see festive holiday decorations, rather than decorations for All Saints Day
Another fun and informative read. Thank you!
A lovely gentle read and reminder about what All Saints means. And I loved the bit about Uncle Eddie.
When my husband passed away in 2004 I visited his grave daily for the first couple of months. Over the years my visits have become more sporadic but I rarely miss a holiday, Bill’s birthday or our wedding anniversary. I still miss him every single day.
Bill was a great guy.
Excellent post--both copy and images, Nancy! Since we publish quarterly -- and are about to release our Winter 2022-2023 issue -- we're saving this to publish (with your permission) in Portugal Living Magazine's Autumn 2023 issue.
Of course
Very interesting.
Just correcting a caption: «Traditional attire of a - gipsy - woman that has lost her husband.»
It is true that most rural, old and traditional portuguese women wear black, after the loss of a husband (and sometimes of a child or of parents), but they do not wear black long skirts and a black scarf like the woman you photographed. Only gipsy women do. By the way, as further information, a gipsy widower can be «spotted» by dressing all in black, wearing a hat and letting the beard grow. So: portuguese non gipsy widows can dress in black, of course, but it is not the case of the one you photographed. All the best - I love your texts!
Thanks
😂🤣😂
So Uncle Eddie is still in Philly?
Yep