Irish Death Culture: Merry Wakes, Spirits of the Other World and Body Snatchers

Ireland has given the world not only stepdance, jigs, and the cheerful St. Patrick’s Day, but also the “scariest holiday”—Halloween. The world beyond here has long been intertwined with the real: the green island is strewn with graveyards, local festivals preserve the legacy of ancient rites—and it’s also said that in some places you can still hear the mournful cry of a banshee.

This book by philologist and professional guide Ekaterina Moskovskaya will tell you about the dark side of Irish culture that is often overlooked. You’ll read about astronomical rites in tombs, banshee combs and mischievous little imps (puca), learn how the Irish prepared for death and why their wake ceremonies differed little from weddings—and perhaps you’ll think twice before disturbing the hawthorn bushes from now on… How are dolmens different from cairns? What are the archaic origins of Samhain and why should one show respect to the “white mare”? Why is the “Cave of Cats” a gateway to hell? Where do fairies live, and can they get into heaven? What becomes useful of the water left after washing the corpse? Finally, why “wake” the dead with songs and dances?

Thanks to this book, you’ll immerse yourself in this captivating culture—bright and ominous at the same time—and understand why the Irish are so cheerful not only “in life,” but also “in death.”

From the author
Each chapter of this book is a small but engaging journey through rich Irish culture. Once you begin reading one of them, you’ll surely want to know even more—references to other sections appear in every chapter. Of course, it’s impossible to cover all aspects of Irish culture, so we focused on one specific theme: the culture of death. We chose the most interesting facts, stories, legends, eyewitness accounts, and photographs that for many years were collected with great love and respect for Irish heritage.

In Russian, there are many interesting books about Ireland. Some are written by the Irish, others by Russian-speaking scholars who have devoted their lives to studying the history and culture of this country. The uniqueness of this book is that it was written by a guide who lives in Ireland and knows the culture and people of that country from the inside. The main mission of this text is to reveal Ireland from a perspective the reader may not have heard about yet.

Who this book is for
For lovers of history and mythology.
For those who want to learn more about Irish culture and customs.
For everyone who is “lively” interested in grim holidays and funeral rites.