The Nine Night celebration is the equivalent of a wake for a Christian funeral. Instead of a short wake (held immediately before the burial), the Nine Night is a service for the deceased that lasts the entire night.
Jamaicans believe a person has three parts: the body, spirit, and duppy. The “duppy” is the evil shadow that causes family misfortune. Because of this, the spirit is especially important in the Jamaican culture and must be taken care of.
The “duppy” can’t leave the deceased’s body for Nine Nights. If it’s not given a proper send-off, then it can linger forever. According to traditional Jamaican belief, the journey from this world to the next is not complete until nine nights after the death of the body. A malevolent ghost, or duppy, of a deceased person, might linger after death, inhabiting its old house, or exacting revenge on persons who have mistreated it.
On a ninth night, it is said to depart permanently, at which time its friends must give it a party as a celebratory
send-off. Proper respect for the dead body and the duppy is said to prevent retribution or other harm from a duppy. Otherwise, the soul of a dead person can wreak havoc on a community.
A tabloid account of a duppy appearance shortly after the death of a young man gives one example of how that fear holds sway. To prevent retribution or wandering duppy experiences, favorite items of the deceased might be placed in the coffin, and infants would be passed two or three times over the body in the coffin to prevent the return of a dead person’s spirit. Nine night involves singing, dancing, and drinking.
In the very poor neighborhood of West Kingston, parishioners say that after a death, a street or alley may be blocked and lined with candles during the mourning period and that the nine-night celebration can be a major event, even for poor families.
Uptown and downtown, most people say disapprovingly that the practice has shifted from the memory of the dead to excuse for a party and for drinking rum and forgetting their troubles.
They also suggest that the balance has shifted from consoling the family to adding burden to them, financially and otherwise. Others say that it is too often used as a way to display wealth, even among
those who cannot afford it. The main intention of Nine Night is to aid the shadow spirit in leaving. It isn’t until the ninth night after death; the spirit leaves for their African homeland permanently. If friends and family don’t celebrate the deceased properly, then the spirit will haunt the community forever.
Traditionally, the Nine Night was celebrated in the deceased’s home. Nine Nights are open houses. Anyone that knows that the deceased can attend. Today, Some Jamaicans choose to rent a hall instead to acc
ommodate the many family, friends, and neighbors that attend. Because Nine Nights is a popular tradition, family and friends follow a general order of service. If you attend a Nine Night, you may see some or all of these traditions.
First, friends and family usually gather between 8 and 10 pm. They sing hymns together and share memories of the deceased. The family prepares a feast, but mourners don’t eat until late in the night. Around 11 pm, the ritual leader leads the family in a ceremony to release the ghost of the dead person.
The leader is a spiritual figure in the community. They may be Catholic priests or other religious figures. The leader invites a close friend or family member to say a few words or even a longer eulogy. Aft
er the eulogy, the deceased may possess the leader or a close family member.
The ghost might reveal his or her final wishes or cause of death. If the ghost doesn’t arrive, family members burn coals instead to symbolize the deceased. Finally, the mourners sign popular hymns again as they walk outside.
The night culminates in a song and dance. It will last all night until the ghost has passed to the after-life. Family members and friends view the ghost of the deceased as evil. During Nine Night, there are traditions that most Jamaicans follow. It’s important to keep a joyful mood to celebrate the deceased.
Jamaicans use dance to express their grief, especially during the Nine Night. Both the music and dancing becomes more lively towards the end of the night. At the end of the night, the spirit is closer to reaching the after-life. Common dances from Africa are the Dinki Mini and Gerreh.
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