Begravelsesskikke i Skagen

Sending for the priest

When death occurred, messengers were sent for the priest. He might sit on the bed and sing a single carol, but beyond that nothing was done, except ordinary talk about the weather and fishing.

The body is prepared

The body was prepared by those closest to the deceased. If the eyelids were open, crowns were put on. A collection book was placed under the chin.

When a rescuer lay dead, he was decorated with his medals. These were removed before the lid was put on.

In the room where the corpse was, sheets were hung over the windows and the clock was put to rest.

The corpse

The corpse was dressed in a white shirt. No special linen was known, but the best available for the deceased was used.

Before the coffin was finished

Until the coffin was made by the carpenter, the body lay on a table made of boards on a couple of trestles and covered with straw. On summer days, when the corpse might start to smell, a few tar bags were put under the table.

Men were shaved for free by the town barber as a gesture to the family.

The coffin

The coffin was made of pine, painted black and decorated with a cross. Handles made of rope. The coffin was not usually finished until the day before the funeral and this was usually on the day of the week of the death.

The day before the funeral the next of kin came with the carpenter. The coffin was placed in the nice living room (vester stue). The windows and pictures were covered with canvas and the room was decorated with spruce.

Lit de parade

It was customary for those who came to the house to see the body, even children.

Superstition

To prevent death from entering the house again, the deceased was carried out of the window - hence one of the windows in the neat living room has no mullion (see the rich fisherman's house at the Skagen Coastal Museum)

Ringer and gravedigger were paid directly by the deceased's survivors.

Preparedness

At the Town Hall there were 2-3 ready-made coffins for disembarked corpses.

They also kept watch over beach washes in the Council Chamber. This was taken care of by someone from the poorhouse.