A Trini Wake'

A Trini wake is truly a sight to behold... and hear! If it were possible the noise and bacchanal at a Trini wake could 'wake' the dead. What exactly is a Trini wake? Well, according to the older folks, long ago when someone died their body was kept at home (there being no funeral agency), and the relatives, friends and neighbours of the deceased kept a wake or watch (much like a vigil) for a few days and nights. The dead person would then be buried. This of course occurred before the era of the autopsy. Indeed a few persons have reportedly came back to life, this of course being simply that the 'dead' person was in a coma etc and revived.
Now a Trini wake can be a spectacle akin to Carnival, there is music, singing, beating of drums, card playing, dancing, drinking of alcohol, serving of the tradtional hot coffee, crackers and cheese ('crix and cheese or butter), cheese sandwiches. A Trini wake is therefore loud, noisy and can go on from sundown to sunup. In many wakes persons 'make' their own music from improvised 'instruments' (a 'rum' glass bottle and a metal spoon). A wake provides an opportunity for the relatives of the deceased to be comforted by the presence of loved ones, friends etc. It also helps family members to bond as it provides an opportunity for social interaction for those relatives who reside abroad or at a distance away. It also serves as a way to take the strain of the death and upcoming funeral of their deceased loved one.
This being said there is singing of hymns and sometimes preaching at wakes but this is mostly done at Christian wakes. It is quite curious, but many Trinis will attend a wake but not the funeral of the deceased. Why? Sometimes due to work and not being able to get time off, at other times due to the emotional distress of the funeral (crying, wailing etc), or simply the fact that some don't like 'church' where most funeral services are kept.