<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 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>
why do they call it a wake at a funeral
why do they call it a wake at 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 .
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 .