Most of us have been to a funeral, but New Orleans (NOLA) funerals are unlike any other. Some of the same components make up a NOLA ceremony; that is a deceased person in a casket, a grieving family, a pastor, or some sort of religious person, to pray for the deceased, hymns, and flowers -lots of flowers. NOLA funerals have a brass band, and professional street dancers as well. They really do! A typical NOLA Funeral starts out the same way as most others; a very somber, sad affair,with a church service led by a pastor or minister. The brass band plays dirge music, leading the funeral from the church to the cemetery. The street dancers make very deliberate, somber moves to the beat of the sad music. Once the casket is out of sight of the church, the mood totally changes towards more upbeat music, usually chosen by the deceased before hand. Since the beat has changed, the demeanor of the bereaved becomes totally different. Even strangers on the street are encouraged to participate in this event. And, an event it is! The first half of the procession is one of sadness, as most funerals are, but the second half gleefully celebrates the life of the deceased and the fact that this soul has just met Saint Peter at the Gates of Heaven. The family and friends are called the First Line, while the strangers in the back are the Second Line. Sometimes, the pall bearers sway the casket back and forth, to the beat of the music, then, in unison, lift it up towards the sky, as if helping the deceased on his or her way to Heaven. People have been known to dance on the casket and/or the hearse during the "Second Line" portion. Many of these actions are derived from African traditions during the time of slavery.
Since Katrina, the practice of Jazz Funerals has declined, as the costs have risen. This can range anywhere from $20,000 to over $100,000. Many families are unable to raise this amount of money. Traditionally, a collection was taken to defray expenses. Now, even that is unaffordable. The families of Big Jazz band players and singers can still afford "a proper funeral" for their loved ones. Rest assured that these services are performed with respect to the family and friends, and with love and admiration for the deceased.
For more information on NOLA Jazz Funerals, go to www.funeralwise.com>customs or search for New Orleans Jazz Funerals on YouTube (for instance, a good one is "You better second line! Jazz funeral in New Orleans for Juanita Brooks." Another good one is the"New Orleans Jazz Funeral for tuba player Kerwin James").
Because of the decline in actual Jazz Funerals since Katrina, we were unable to actually witness one. However, since these are such an important part of New Orleans' cultural history, we felt it important to include this in our posting. The following photos of actual Jazz Funerals were taken from the Internet.
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