Why do people eat after funerals?

Question

Is it for comfort? I've just never really understood that.

Answer 1

Yah, I think it's for comfort as well, or maybe a gathering thing, everyone who loved or knew the person who passed on, gathered together to have a large meal in their name.

Answer 2

I have no idea, but every funeral I've been to--it's been difficult for me to eat afterwards. It's not like at weddings where I pig out.

Answer 3

For comfort and because funerals wear you out and it is good to eat together and try to regroup your feelings before going your seperate ways.

Answer 4

I understand the discomfort some have with this, but as a person of Irish decent I see it differently. There's a lot of black crepe and solemnity involved with death in most cultures, but the Irish (unless they are bleak catholics) celebrate, drink, dance and sing.

Come on, if you are really buying into Cristianity, isn't death a cause for celebration? The person has supposedly moved on to a better world, has joined with Christ, whatever...

As agnostic however I see the thing differently. Someone's death should remind the living of the beauty and fragility of life, and we should embrace everything good about life... eating, drinking, laughing music.

There's lots of fun at Finegans Wake.

Answer 5

I think it is for comfort, because eating releases endorphins. It also might just be that it's a good way for the funeral-goers to spend time with the deceased's family.