Sitting shivver (sp)

[sherrardk]

Just watching something where the people are sitting shivver (sp) - it has shown images of mirrors being covered, a shirt pocket being ripped off and mourners bringing something that looks like egg salad. Could anyone explain this to me please? Sorry for being so ignorant.

[Buenchico]

Does this help?
http://en.wikipedia.o...i/Shiva_%28Judaism%29

Chris

[jomifl]

It is something religious, so therefore inexplicable.

[sherrardk]

Thanks both - not religious myself but was interested in the three specific images shown.

[Lonnie]

That Wilkopedia link is very good Chris, but I thought I'd expl;ain about the mirror, I didn't see an explanation, and quite simply, its so the mourners don't see the newly deceased.

Like all of it, its tradition that goes back years.

[sara3]

it's a period of mourning. I believe covering mirrors is to show that it's not a time for thinking of how you're looking, it's about thinking of the person who died. people come to visit and pay their respects.

[mike11111]

I have vague memories of mirrors being covered in Christian households during the period between death and funeral, though I'm not sure of the significance. It used to be the tradition that all curtains remained drawn until after the funeral, apart from a small gap.

[sara3]

"Mirrors ― It is proper to cover the mirrors (with sheets, or fogged spray provided by the funeral home) in the shiva house for the following reasons:

During shiva, a mourner is striving to ignore his/her own physicality and vanity in order to concentrate on the reality of being a soul.
A mirror represents social acceptance through the enhancement of one's appearance. Jewish mourning is supposed to be lonely, silent; dwelling on one's personal loss. Covering the mirrors symbolizes this withdrawal from society's gaze."

[sherrardk]

Thanks all - especially Sara for explaining about the mirrors.