To want to go to my cousin's funeral.

[Dowser]

It's in Wales and I understand that women don't go to funerals in Wales.

It seems odd to me being English as I've been too many but if that is the custom I will just have to abide by it.

I wouldn't fancy being the only women there.

It's not just Wales, women in my grandmother's generation in England didn't go to the interment although they sometimes went to church. It's just another old custom that's on its way out.

Never heard of it and I grew up in the arse end of nowhere, that was particularly old fashioned. How backwards do you think we Welsh are OP?

I think this custom went out with the Ark!

Sorry for your loss

As others have been said, this used to be the case. When my uncle died in the late 1980s, there was a small service held inside the house, attended by both sexes. Then the men went to the main event (the ceremony by the graveside) while the women stayed at home and prepared the funeral food.

However, since then all the funerals I've attended in Wales have been attended by both sexes. I think one of the reasons for the tradition dying out has been the rise in crematorium funerals where it's all one event, i.e. you don't have separate services at home (or church) followed by the interment.

Eh? Utter tosh

This was the case in Scotland as well. My Mother's father died in 1963 and she wasn't allowed to attend his funeral because "women didn't". So his 6 adult daughters and wife stayed home and waited for the men to come back and eat ham sandwiches and drink themselves stupid.

Not sure when the custom died out, I suspect some time in the early 1970s, in the main cities at least..not sure about "up north".

I'm 37 and welsh and very definitely in the more rural/valley's areas women did not attend funerals when I was a child. But other than women of a certain generation every funeral I have been to in wales as an adult has had women at it, no one follows that custom anymore.

Someone is pulling you leg OP, go to the funeral.

And also - since when has being the only woman in attendance ever been a legitimate reason not to do something?

I have an Aunty in Cardiff & I remember her saying this.

It used to be that women didn't attend the BURIAL, not necessarily the funeral. I remember this being custom in my family until about the early 80s I suppose - after that, it tended to be cremation more often too.

The funeral service would be held in the house, then the men would go off to the burial and the women would stay back and make sandwiches for the wake.

It's not like that any more - and when it VERY RARELY is, you will see it specified in the funeral arrangements. You still very very rarely see something along the lines of 'Funeral at xx at X time, followed by interment at Old Welsh Cemetery at x time. Gentlemen only please.' in the notice in the paper.

So, if it's men only, you WILL be made aware of this before the day. But it almost never happens now.

Adding to the avalanche of responses saying this isn't the case at all. Most of the funerals I've been to have been Welsh (from the 80s onwards) and always attended by women. Including my Taid's (grandfather's) in North Wales - and they were all farming people.

Sorry for your loss.

This custom is still observed in some parts of Scotland. Pretty rare though.

I'm Welsh born and bread and have never heard of this, ever. I know for a fact that my Mum, Nana and Aunties were at my Taids funeral in 1984.

Is it a South Walian thing?

Thank you. I'm out of the country at the moment so hopefully it will be after our return and we will be able to say a last farewell.