A wake is a ceremony associated with death. 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. In the United States and Canada it is synonymous with a viewing. It is often a social rite which highlights the idea that the loss is one of a social group and affects that group as a whole. 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 antiquated “watch” or “guard” sense. This is contrary to the misconception that people at a wake are waiting in case the deceased should “wake up.”
