Quotes About Tradition

Another practice which also persisted for centuries was that of 'telling the bees' when a death had occurred in the family. If this was neglected, it was feared they would abandon their hives, never to return.

Grave clothes were part of a young woman's trousseau. These grim garments were sewn in the knowledge that they might be needed. For the same reason, a potential bride habitually prepared at least one set of burial clothes for any child she might bear. Babies dying within a month of baptism were buried in their baptismal robes and swaddling bands. Children were often elaborately dressed.

Once the corpse had been dressed, complete with a nightcap which kept the jaw closed and created the impression that the dead person was but sleeping, it was placed in an open coffin. This was lined with a sawdust mattress, to absorb the by-products of early decomposition, and scattered with pungent herbs such as rosemary to disguise the smell.

Even in London, where space was at a premium, churchyards were traditionally filled with trees, evidence of a lasting pagan influence.

Only Mary Queen of Scots challenged the prevailing orthodoxy when she wore white to mourn the death of Lord Darnley in 1567, earning the title of 'The White Queen'.

Dottridge Bros valued their 'solemnity' but boasted that they could have a coffin 'of the most artistic finish' ready for thirty shillings in seven minutes. And speed was of the essence. Embalming did not become commonplace until the 1920s, so funerals took place as soon as possible.

The amount of 'new goods' added much to the cost of a funeral. Kid gloves, scarves, hatbands, most of which were retained by the mourners, had to be bought new.

Traditionally, only 'entire' horses were used for funerals, never mares or geldings. Constantly in the public eye, they were always well groomed. A patch of grey would be painted out, a thinning mane or tail supplemented with hair from a deceased comrade. Mostly gentle and docile, they were sturdy animals; dragging heavy coaches for long distances, they had

Someone must preserve the ways of the People," Warrior rasped, "someone who will sing our songs and teach our ways. Unless you do that, all that we are will be lost. You must go get your woman and take her far away into the west lands where this war does not reach." Warrior's voice shook with emotion. "To a new place, Hunter. You know the words of the song.

It is not the way of a Comanche to beat his woman," he rasped. "Just as it is not his way to let her go away from him.

You are my woman!" He swept his hand toward the door. "I have spoken it before my people. You must walk always in my footsteps. That is the way of it. A woman does not leave her husband. It is forbidden." Loretta lifted her chin. "According to your ways!" "My ways are your ways. My people are your people. I am your husband!

Blue Eyes, if you do not know the tosi tivo way, we must do it the Comanche way.

Speaking of pits in plum pudding, do you remember your sister's first attempt? Your grandfather broke off his only remaining tooth trying to eat it." "And swallowed tooth, pit and all, so he wouldn't embarrass her in front of Gray Horse, who had come to court her.

This Comanche cannot change his face." "And I can't change mine.

Marriage is obsolete and a trap.

The day of the ball was spent preparing me much as one prepares a goose for Christmas, with the same ultimate effect.

Lord Frederick had been a stalwart member of the Montagne court since at least the time of my grandfather; this I knew. Even more, he had the marvellous ability to pull peppermint drops from my ears, which used to entertain me for hours.

One of the Indigenous healers I consulted in the first year of the case had said to me, "An Indian has to be an Indian, or he's hollow." Thirty years later, in 2018, the Indigenous American writer Tommy Orange wrote in his novel There There, "It's important that he dress like an Indian, dance like an Indian, even if it is an act, even if he feels like a fraud the whole time, because the only way to be Indian in this world is to look and act like an Indian.

Imagine children watching as the Levites took down the tabernacle or put it up again. There was mystery as the Levites carried the tabernacle furnishings.

Biblical narratives provide the basic set of stories containing the important Christian beliefs, and children receive a great gift when we tell them Bible stories with clarity and drama. They also need to hear the stories of their particular faith tradition.

In his own country, Death can be kind.

You'll forgive the flowery talk, won't you? Our family does so love to be told they are beautiful. Vanity is an old and venerable habit.

How wonderful is ritual, what comfort in dark times!

In Yaichka [?????], they say a child draws her first breath through her ears, her second through her eyes, and her third through her mouth. . . . The first breath is for the mother, the second breath is for God, and the third breath is for the father. The breath through the mouth brings the most pleasure, and we forget immediately that we ever knew how to breathe any other way.