Colombia´s most important newspaper, El Tiempo, was created 95 years ago. The first edition didnt have any pictures and only included 4 pages. On the third page, Ángel Gavinet told colombians how death was celebrated in Finland."There [in Finland] people die much older than us [...] Funerals are one of the most vivid celebrations in that country [...] In a traditional way, they cover all of the streets where the funeral will pass with pine branches [...] It is practically impossible to bury someone alive because the body stays up to 10 days in the homes [...] The idea that people have here about death (a natural idea in a country where life is so hard), is that it doesnt matter how bad a person is, he deserves a crown of triumph for having lived and fought"
After 95 years some things have changed, and some things have not:
1. People still die here much older than in Colombia. The factors and atmosphere of the dayly-life helps them to live for more years. A considerable percentage of the people that you see in the streets is really really old and this might actually have to do with the fact that here very old people can go out and not get mugged.
2. I havent been yet to a funeral, but of what i have heard, they are not vivid (it would be weird if they were).
3. This tradition of the pine branches has not been kept alive, maybe in the really little small and far away towns?
4. It still takes a long time from the moment a person dies until he/she is buried (I have heard that up to 3 weeks in some cases). Actually, sometimes, it takes a long time from the moment a person dies until somebody actually notices that he is gone (specially with old people who live alone)
5. Nowadays, life in Finland is pretty easy. The government is able to provide everyone with more than the basic needs. Even if you dont do anything you can live in an honorable way. And by not doing anything i mean: anything.
