Translating a word

[Lynette1]

There is a column on this document called “bårkläde” and I can’t find a translation for it. I am thinking it is funeral burial clothing. But I do not know.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Lynette

https://astia.narc.fi/uusiastia/viewer/ ... 1271591624

[JaskaS]

I believe it's a cloth used to cover coffin during the funeral service, usually rented from the church.
No idea what it could be called in English.

Jaska

[Lynette1]

Thank you. It seems that they charge everyone 3 (riksdaler?) for the item.

[Lynette1]

As I look through the death records, I notice that very few people whose died had these burial cloths rented for them. Was there some significance in renting these cloths? Was there some prestige associated with the burial cloth?

[Kimpula]

SAOB
https://www.saob.se/artikel/?seek=b%C3% ... 4693_15654

(3) -KLÄDE. (båre- 1635. bårdz -1654) = -TÄCKE;

(3) -TÄCKE. (båre- 1635) eg.: täcke som lägges öfver en likbår; förr om (ofta mycket stort) svart täcke som användes vid bärande af lik till grafven o. öfvertäckte såväl båren som den därpå satta kistan; numera om svart täcke som höljes öfver ställning hvarpå likkista ställes; jfr -KLÄDE, -PÄLL. Schroderus Os. 2: 187 (1635). Bellman 6: 214 (1787). bildl. Se, naturen är död. / Natten, vålnaders vän, / på dess bleknade pragt / har sitt bårtäcke lagt. Tegnér (WB) 2: 134 (1813).

I am sure Google Translate can ot translate this


TL;DR Jaska is right.

[Lynette1]

Thank you for this information.

[Lynette1]

One last thought on this subject.
I noticed that in the death records only for a few deceased was this cloth rented from the church. They seem to be the head of the household or their wives, no children. Perhaps it was some sort of prestige to have this cloth covering your casket.