BRITO, A. N. S.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/0391698103978082; BRITO, Antônio Neto da Silva.
Resumo:
This research investigated funeral practices and rituals at the Carrasquinho small farm,
belonging to the municipality of São José da Lagoa Tapada, in the sertão of Paraíba.
Our aim was to analyze how the residents of this small farm deal with death, dying and
the dead, especially through a religious culture, from the theoretical perspective of a
History of Death (Ariès, 1989; and Reis, 1991). The study focused on attitudes and
practices towards death, such as wakes and mourning, mediated by the meanings that
such men and women attribute to this moment of finitude. As a source of analysis, we
used the Oral History methodology, interviewing residents of the small farm; as we also
use the Tombo Book of the Main Church of São José da Lagoa Tapada; and community
photographs. Through these sources, we understand how funeral practices and rituals
occur and what meanings are attributed to death by the people who live in the
Carrasquinho small farm, in the search for a good death and with special care for the
dead body, based on cultural references from Christian origin, notably Catholic.