Atitudes e práticas diante da morte no sÍtio Carrasquinho, em São José da Lagoa Tapada, Paraíba.

Abstract

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.