For during the spirit's leaving
time, mirrors as well as other reflecting surfaces are covered up with
a towel. Some believe this to ease the situation for the dier, while
others consider reflection dangerous for the living.
In Povodimovo it was said that for
during the time of the spirit leaving, a glass of water was put into the
holy corner so that the spirit could go into water after leaving its
body; after death the table was covered with food and beverages. However,
the basin of water seen in July, 1989 in the dead's chamber would be more
suitable for washing; bread, biscuits and honey were food for the deceased.
The deceased in coffin. The
wire twisted around the finger is also twisted around the sickle lying
on the stomach; the other end of the wire is in a vessel full of soil so
there would be «ground connection». The deceased is surrounded
by nettles, on the right beside the head is a glass jar with potassium
permanganate solution. On the wall beside the window is a iconic scarf
hanging, under which the deceased's spirit stayed for six weeks. July, 1989,
in Povodimovo.
In both villages it was argued that
female relatives of the deceased wear a black scarf as a sign of mourning;
however, on the funeral I attended in Povodimovo, all scarfs were white.
Only those closest to the deceased go
to the funeral to bury the body (kulõn kalmama); the rest start with
the funeral feast. In Povodimovo, July 1989, the truck carrying the
coffin and relatives led the procession, followed by women and
gravediggers on foot.
In Povodimovo, the funeral procession
made a stop when passing houses of the deceased's relatives. In every stop,
a small table with candies, apples, biscuits and other snacks as well as
wine and vodka was set up beside the road for those participating the funeral.