Like many staples in our society, you may not have even wondered how the Scottish instrument achieved such an integral role at firefighters' funerals — and other responders for that matter— in the United States. Eventually, the families of firefighters who were not Irish asked that the bagpipes also be played at their funerals. Irish firefighter funerals Along with their other belongings, the Irish brought their deep-rooted Celtic traditions with them. Close. Press J to jump to the feed. Putting my experiences of Life In NYC in a more personal perspective, and checking in with international/national, tech and some other news, Please leave a comment-- or suggestions, particularly of topics and places you'd like to see covered, Serving The Pipe Band Community Since 2007. Their beautiful music captivates the listener and sets the somber tone for another hero being laid to rest. In true Irish tradition, it was founded on St. Patrick’s Day in 1956. The most widely-accepted reason that fire engines are painted red dates back to the 1800s -- a time when there was a lot of competition between the fire brigades of neighboring cities and towns. FireRescue1 is revolutionizing the way the fire service community The discrimination against the Irish made it hard for the immigrants to find work. ? It definitely is some sort of Irish-Catholic thing. It explains that the Irish took the dangerous jobs and when someone died, the Irish funeral traditions were in place and later extended to others who were not Irish. If you’ve ever been to a firefighter funeral, or even down the street from one, you’ve heard the Great Highland Bagpipe. Für nähere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklärung und Cookie-Richtlinie. The Irish firefighters' funerals were typical of all Irish funerals - the pipes were played. ? When they became saturated with the highly flammable liquid, the Saracens hurled a flaming torch into their midst. The firefighters of each brigade took great pride in their pumper. So if it’s an Irish tradition, why are the Scottish bagpipes used? At the time, on-duty deaths were commonplace for firefighters. The Dalmation was first used in the fire service when most fire companies were volunteer or privately operated. The answer to why the Great Highland bagpipes are used over the traditional Irish uilleann pipes is easy – they’re a lot louder when playing the traditional hymns such as "Flowers of the Forest" and "Lament for Children.". Not only do the bagpipes get played at most police funerals but at many Irish funerals as well. Question: Why are bagpipes a part of funerals, especially firefighter and police funerals? firefighters' funerals were typical of all Irish funerals - the pipes were played. interacts online and researches product purchases The Fireman's "Ringing of the Bell" Tradition. Some time ago I read an article on this Topic - Bagpipes at Funerals..... what I recall from it may help andwer your question. Denied all but the toughest and most dangerous jobs at a time when they were viewed by the predominant Anglo-American population much the way … The bagpipes go back in Irish history to 1580. Copyright © 2020 FireRescue1. Their performance should not only remind us of the hero we lost, but of the immigrants who laid their lives down for a country they had just joined. This question is in the General Section. The Maltese cross is known around the world as a symbol of the fire service. AGAIN, MY NEW VIDEO EASTER PARADE 2016 MOB SCENE- ... MY NEW VIDEO: Easter Parade Mob Scene NYC 2016, CNN Breaking- Bernie Wins Alaska, Washington State. Started in New York, they now have over 7,500 members around the country. Please try again. It was somehow okay for a hardened firefighter to cry at the sound of bagpipes when his dignity would not let him weep for a fallen comrade. When cops wanted to salute their fallen brethren they thought quite naturally of the pipes, which had been played at funerals for hundreds of years. It's done in tv because "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes has as somber tone, and the song is both copyright-free and something that might actually be acceptable at a funeral. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the explainlikeimfive community. Over the years, this tradition spread to firefighters and police officers who were not of Irish descent. The families of the fallen firefighter immigrants would pull out all of the traditional stops when one of their own was killed as the… Turns out, it all started over 170 years ago with the Great Potato Famine. It was a simple, but horrible device of war. After the Great Potato Famine of the mid-1840s, Irish immigrants came to the United States in huge numbers. In traditional Celtic cultures, including both the Irish and Scottish cultures, bagpipes were an important part of a traditional funeral. Perhaps this may go somewhere towards giving you an answer, although I am in the UK, and here bagpipes would be played if someone came from either Scotland or Ireland. Always seen it on the tv and never really understood it. They faced a lot of discrimination from the more or less WASPY power structure of society and were limited to mostly menial and dangerous jobs, including firefighting and the police. In short, it’s because the Scottish highland bagpipes are significantly louder than the traditional Irish uillean pipes. Some of the firefighters were actually recruited not only for their strength in fighting fire but for their fighting abilities to protect the company and its equipment. However, others who are of Irish or Scottish heritage may opt for bagpipe funeral songs as a way to tie themselves to their heritage, as the bagpipes are a traditional instrument in that part of the world. Fire and police departments in most major cities have a special brigade, usually as a division of an Irish fraternal group called The Emerald Society, who learn to play bagpipes and drums for the very purpose of honoring their fallen comrades. Select the option or tab named “Internet Options (Internet Explorer)”, “Options (Firefox)”, “Preferences (Safari)” or “Settings (Chrome)”. Along with their other belongings, the Irish brought their deep-rooted Celtic traditions with them. At the time, firefighting was even more dangerous than it is today. At the time, on-duty deaths were commonplace for firefighters. Why are Scottish bagpipes played at funerals for policemen and firefighters? Factories and shopkeepers even posted signs reading “NINA,” or “No Irish Need Apply.”. It is a police/fire department group. Since many of the Irish settled in New York and became police and firefighters (because of bias and prejudices) it is a part of our heritage, to have the pipes played at a funeral of one who was usually a policeman or firefighter. All rights reserved. 4. Because red was the most expensive color, that's what color most crews chose to paint the pumper. It is a very common tradition in many large cities due to a quirk of history. I know, you probably think bagpipes are a Scottish instrument. Enter “https://www.firerescue1.com/” and click OK. Here is an interesting article about the role of bagpipes at funerals. To join, you must be at least Don't Panic! Question: How did bagpipe-blowing, at the death of a police officer, become a tradition? And because the firefighting industry was heavily saturated with Irish immigrants, an Irish firefighter funeral was a normal occurrence. In the US, the pipers seem to most often wear the Black Watch tartan probably because it is only loosely associated with a clan and more associated with government forces (going way back in its history). In my town the bagpipe brigade plays at funerals for both police and firefighters killed in the line of duty. Elsa? All rights reserved. The sound of mourning. The tradition reflects respect and honor to those who gave their lives to their duty. That included bagpipes. It was not an uncommon event to have several firefighters killed at a working fire. The Maltese Cross is a symbol of protection and a badge of honor. The families of the fallen firefighter immigrants would pull out all of the traditional stops when one of their own was killed as they would have if they were in Ireland. It's the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for fire service professionals worldwide. The tradition seems to have spread even to areas without a disproportionate Irish or Scottish presence because of the sense of brotherhood that firefighters and police officers share. The most famous song played at fire and police funerals is Amazing Grace. Answer: The history of funeral bagpipes is a fairly simple (though very sad) one. Its story is hundreds of years old. It is often seen painted on fire trucks, on the clothing of firefighters, depicted on firefighter's badges, and is quite often the chosen design of firefighter tattoos. Being so close to each other there are many overlapping traditions in Ireland and Scotland. Cecil replies: Cecil replies: Because a lot of cops are Irish. The connection with police and fire departments (although there is a lot of teasing back and forth) is close (as you, no doubt, have experienced). bagpipes funeral. During the 1800s, the potato famine of Ireland brought hordes of Irish immigrants to North America… The dogs worked well at this task of protecting not only the horses, but the equipment in the stations and on the fire ground as well. The Scots bagpipes were used because they were louder than the uillean pipes of the Irish. So where did the Maltese cross come from, and how did it get to be known as a symbol of the fire service? Découvrez comment nous utilisons vos informations dans notre Politique relative à la vie privée et notre Politique relative aux cookies. One source suggests that the somber Irish music also served as a reminder to those who rejected that the Irish were protecting the community – and dying in the process. finds relevant news, identifies important training information, Dies geschieht in Ihren Datenschutzeinstellungen. Those who have been to funerals when bagpipes play, know how haunting and mournful the sound of the pipes can be. To put it frankly, Irish immigrants were able to apply for these positions because of the extreme dangers and the high death toll. That resulted in the Irish being disproportionately represented in those jobs (especially in large cities in the northeast US). One of these was the Great Highland Bagpipe, often played at Celtic weddings, funerals and ceilis (dances). Oddly enough, some of the only jobs that were easily accessible to the new Americans were the ones that we consider heroic today – firefighters and police officers. I think every funeral I've played with a piper, they have played Amazing Grace- even if the family has requested it as a hymn to be played during the mass. In traditional Celtic cultures, including both the Irish and Scottish cultures, bagpipes were an important part of a traditional funeral. Look for a box or option labeled “Home Page (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari)” or “On Startup (Chrome)”. Megan Romer. In memory of all who died during the attacks on September 11, 2001 the bell is rung five times in series of fives (5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5). Each brigade wanted their rig to stand out by being the cleanest, having the most brass, or being a regal color. Many of these guys were cops. This tradition is also going strong, thanks to the Emerald Society. Along with their other belongings, the Irish brought their deep-rooted Celtic traditions with them. Updated January 20, 2019. Where do they find bagpipers to play at firefighter and police officer’s funerals? “Amazing Grace” is now a popular hymn for firefighter funerals, but it’s not considered traditional. Responses must be helpful and on-topic. Copyright © 2020 Lexipol. Sie können Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ändern. Question: Why are bagpipes a part of funerals, especially firefighter and police funerals? For instance, Francis O’Neill, Chicago police chief from 1901 to 1905, organized an “Irish music club” that sparked renewed interest in the bagpipes. Insurance companies paid the fire company that put out the fire, so the one that made it to the scene, hooked up to a hydrant and completed the task, got paid. As an organist for the Catholic Church, I've done almost a thousand funerals. 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