<P> A wake is a social gathering associated with death, usually held before a funeral . Traditionally, a wake takes place in the house of the deceased with the body present; however, modern wakes are often performed at a funeral home or another convenient location . In the United States and Canada it is synonymous with a viewing . It is often a social rite that highlights the idea that the loss is one of a social group and affects that group as a whole . </P> <P> The term originally referred to a late - night prayer vigil but is now mostly used for the social interactions accompanying a funeral . While the modern usage of the verb wake is "become or stay alert", a wake for the dead harks back to the vigil, "watch" or "guard" of earlier times . It is a misconception that people at a wake are waiting in case the deceased should "wake up". </P> <P> The term wake was originally used to denote a prayer vigil, often an annual event held on the feast day of the saint to whom a parish church was dedicated . Over time the association with prayer has become less important, although not lost completely, and in many countries a wake is now mostly associated with the social interactions accompanying a funeral . </P> <P> It used to be the custom in most Celtic countries in Europe for mourners to keep watch or vigil over their dead until they were buried--this was called a "wake". </P>

Where did the tradition of a wake come from
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