Jews? Linguists? Theology students who know from Hebrew.

[Spiky Bugger]

Because of the pandemic, my sister is planning nothing right now to commemorate her husband’s life/death. “Maybe on the one year anniversary,” she said.

I said, “Jews celebrate the anniversary of a loved one’s death…I can’t remember the name of it.”

So I googled, as you do. I encountered “yahrzeit.”

But to the,”soundtrack in my head” which…along with the rest of me…lived in Germany for a while, I kept “hearing” the German word “Jahreszeit,” which would translate to “year time.” That seemed really close, but a bit…I dunno…prosaic, for what should be a more important event.

So, is that it?

And if you don’t mind, is it a primarily a solemn occasion or something more Celebration-of-Life-ish.

 

[JackieOnLine]

I hope it's whatever your sister would like.

this is so sad!

 

[hilary1617]

I'm so sad for her for her loss and not being able to have the support and community of traditional mourning. Best to ask her, but for now I would send food and spend time online with to sit shiva now as much as can be done virtually. Yahrzeit is solemn.

 

[Larra]

It's just what you were thinking. And many Jews commemorate the loss of a loved one every year, not just on the one year anniversary of their death. It doesn't require a special ceremony, most people just go to temple and, when the rabbi gets to the prayer for the dead (usually near the end of the service, in my experience) they will stand and join in. At least that was my experience as a child, other congregations may do this differently. They could also burn a memorial candle.

Yahrzeit | Shiva, Jewish Mourning

The word ‘Yahrzeit’ is Yiddish and is translated to mean “time of year.” In Judaism, there is a focus on carrying on the memory of those before us from generation to generation.

www.shiva.com

 

[southernlady]

But it’s not just the Jewish faith. Catholics also as well as Hindu.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_anniversary

 

[Spiky Bugger]

But it’s not just the Jewish faith. Catholics also as well as Hindu.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_anniversary

Catholics don’t have an ”event” on the anniversary of the ”faithful departed.” What you CAN do is make a donation (which they will insist is not required*) and what you get is your loved one’s name, alone or added to a list, published in the Weekly Bulletin and probably read aloud by the priest or someone else during the mass. If you sneeze, you‘ll miss it.

I grew up in Catholic schools and never heard of any kind of anniversary gathering in memory of a loved one. My class and my sister’s class were sent to the church for an abbreviated form of the mass in honor of my maternal grandmother a few days after she died. I’m SURE ”an offering” was made for that service.

Also, when reading the following from Catholic.org , factor in that while one group suggests “just ten dollars per Mass,” it will also be suggested that you make it ”a novena” of masses...so $90...and why not round it up to $100.


5 Things You Need To Know About "Offering A Mass" For A Loved One

1.) It doesn't cost anything...but if you're able to give, an offering is appreciated.

There is no price tag on the Mass, however, it is customary to give an offering when requesting a Mass for an intention. That said, money should never be the reason for deciding against this beautiful tradition. Simply make your request known and talk with a priest who will make sure that a Mass is able to be said if your financial situation does not allow for a donation. It doesn't have to be a large sum. The Seraphic Mass Association, for example, suggests a donation of just ten dollars per Mass.

As Larra mentioned…that the rabbi includes a prayer for the dead in regular sabbath services…the priest does the same and that’s where the name(s) of the “faithful departed” are added in each Mass. Even as a kid I wondered…if he’s praying for all the dead people, why are only some mentioned by name? (A pre-adolescent heretic.)

 

[southernlady]

that the rabbi includes a prayer for the dead in regular sabbath services…the priest does the same and that’s where the name(s) of the “faithful departed” are added in each Mass. Even as a kid I wondered…if he’s praying for all the dead people, why are only some mentioned by name?

Even as a Presbyterian, we’d have services honoring our departed. Usually only some are mentioned by name.

 

[DianaCox]

I bought a few for my father, and because they really are 24+ hour candles, in a safe container, in case of power outage.