Arval's Funeral Menu
The idea of providing (Arval) food during a funeral is not new, and its history can be traced back to ancient times. Research shows that food was served during funeral feasts in ancient Greece and Rome [1][2].
Funeral food is a way to honour the deceased. To show support to the grieving family members. Sharing a meal provides a sense of community and connection.
Food was also used as a means of nurturing or comforting the bereaved. For instance, young Tiberius delivered a funeral oration at Germanicus' burial, and it is believed that Germanicus' skill in public speaking was nurtured through shared meals with his family [3].
Different cultures have various traditional funeral foods. Funeral pies made with raisins or dried fruit in Amish communities and funeral potatoes in the midwestern part of the US. They consist of cubed potatoes topped with a white sauce or soup and crumbed with corn flakes before being baked.
In the UK, families traditionally serve "wake tea" after a funeral. This consists of sandwiches, cakes, and tea.
The word "nourish" itself is derived from the Latin word "alere," meaning to nourish or be nourished [4]. In later times, the Arval Brethren, a prestigious Roman priesthood, would tend to their sacred grove and serve nourishing meals during their rituals [5].
Even today, food remains an important part of many funeral traditions, providing comfort and support for the grieving family and friends.
The Arval Brethren's revival in modern times also demonstrates the continued relevance of food as part of the mourning process [7]. Overall, the history and continued use of food during funerals highlights the importance of nourishment and comfort during times of grief.
Funeral foods can also serve as a reminder that eating means we are still alive and can provide nourishment and comfort for bereaved families during funeral services
BACK TO GLOSSARY OF FUNERAL TERMS
SOURCES
- [BOOK][B] Death, ritual and memory in Greek society during the Early and Middle Roman Empire.
- [BOOK][B] Encyclopaedia of Superstitions-A History of Superstition.
- [BOOK][B] Germanicus: The Magnificent Life and Mysterious Death of Rome's Most Popular General.
- [BOOK][B] Word nerd: More than 17,000 fascinating facts About words.
- … of meaning: stumbling and stampeding out of the woods, blinking and screaming into the light, snorting and gorging at the trough, slashing and gouging at the death.
- [BOOK][B] The Romance of the Faery Melusine.
- [BOOK][B] The complete poems of Tibullus: an en face bilingual edition.
LINKS
University of Oxford
Website: https://england.prm.ox.ac.uk/englishness-funeral-food.html
Curious Foodies
Website: https://curiousfoodies.blog/2021/01/22/funeral-food/
The Old Foodie
Website: http://www.theoldfoodie.com/2008/01/funeral-bread.html