The Funeral

According to the man at the funeral home, this was their peak season. 

"Old folks rarely get past the DongZhi Festival and if they do, the next hurdle is the Chinese New Year. If they survived both, they'll persevere."

The parlor was fully occupied so we had to wait for the "occupant" to check out at the appropriate time. The old man spent his next few hours in the Cold Room where he was embalmed and prepared for his next journey.

Since he was 92 when he died, he was entitled to a "Red Funeral", which basically means that it was a happy occasion since he had lived beyond 90. (i.e. a ripe old age) Even the lantern outside his room was written in red ink. They added 3 years to his age so the red lantern broadcast his age as 95.

Why did they add a further 3 years to the age of the Deceased, you asked?

Well, allow me.

I first heard about the additional 3 years when my Ma died way back when. She was 59 so the lantern displayed 62 as her age. Curious as I was and am, I asked everything that moved.

"Why the additional three years?"

"Oh, its symbolic." answered one of them.

"What did it symbolize?" 

"Three years. One for the Heavens, one for the Earth, and one for the Deceased." 

"Ahh...." 

It did not satisfy my curiosity but heck, you don't blame ignoramuses for your own ignorance. Those who ask questions ultimately get answers and I'm a goodly person so I'll share this knowledge with you.

i.e. the real reason ... why they added 3 years to the age of the Deceased.

See ... 

The Chinese calendar features 12 months. However, an extra month is inserted in the calendar when a leap year occurs. Therefore, leap years in the Chinese calendar have 13 months, unlike leap years in the Gregorian calendar in which an extra day is included. A leap month is added to the Chinese calendar about once every three years. A leap year in the Chinese calendar does not necessarily fall at the same time a leap year occurs in the Gregorian calendar.

The long and short of this leap month sequence is that by the time you're 60 years old, you are in reality already 63. (That is why some old folks celebrate their 60th birthday with some gusto, by the way.) This explained why they added 3 years to the Deceased if he/she is 60 years or above. However, the ignoramuses added three years to all Deceased regardless of their age, which is of course wrong. So in my Ma's case, her lantern should have read 59 instead of 62.

Get it?

AN OLD STORY
This kinda reminded me of an old story my late aunt used to tell about an Emperor who stumbled upon a signage hanging over the front entrance of an ancient home. The signage said "XXXXX" ("The World's First Family", or something to that effect. My umm ... command of the language isn't quite there...) The Emperor was perplexed. He wanted to know why the household had the audacity to flaunt this title. By and by, a little kid appeared at the front door.

"What is the meaning of the XXXXX hanging over your front entrance?"

"I don't know but you can ask my father. He is inside."

The little kid took the  Emperor to see his father.

"What is the meaning of the XXXXX hanging over your front entrance?"

"I don't know but you can ask my father. He is inside."

They entered an inner room where the Emperor met a middle-aged man.

"What is the meaning of the XXXXX hanging over your front entrance?"

"I don't know but you can ask my father. He is inside."

They entered another room where the Emperor met an elderly man.

"What is the meaning of the XXXXX hanging over your front entrance?"

"I don't know but you can ask my father. He is inside."

They entered another room where the Emperor met a very old man. By then, the Emperor understood what XXXXX meant. Five generations living under one roof, which was as lofty a stature as it gets.

But no, we do not have XXXXX hanging over our front entrance. My father-in-law left behind only four generations to mourn for him.

THE ANOMALY
The Funeral Home was bustling with people, both moving and still. Peak season, remember? All the rooms were occupied. Some did not display the big lantern. (Meaning: Deceased is not married.) Apart from the big lanterns, my father in law was entitled to eight ceramic bowls which hung at the entrance to the room. It symbolized the fullness of the season. (Ripe old age?) Mourners tied a red ribbon around their waists and even wreaths had to include a dash of red.

It is also no longer trendy to offer joss-sticks to the Deceased. Flowers are now offered instead.

Nothing untoward happened. We did what we were compelled to do so it was not tainted by any unhappy incidences.

Except for this little anomaly...

The Old Man had six grandchildren. His eldest paternal grandson reported a peculiarity.

Now the Funeral Home was air-conditioned and exceptionally cold so most attendees wore jackets or shawls. Just as the prayer ritual was drawing to a conclusion on the first night, the grandson experienced a sudden burst of energy and body heat which left him feeling spooked and restless. When he reached home, an unpleasant odor exuded from certain parts of the house. (He was the only one to detect this odor.) This continued on the following two days. On the third day (last) everything returned to normal after the coffin was sealed. He started feeling cold again just like every other attendees and the odor in the house disappeared.

Believe it ... or not. Some things cannot be explained.

PEAK SEASON

I was at the bank the other day. While waiting for my number to be called, I overheard one man telling another man.

"It's really weird. Four of my friends died on the same week."

Peak season, remember? (I counted about twelve deaths in my immediate circle of friends, by the way.)