The
Sin Eater
 Across
the whole of Wales and the Borders also the sin-eater
had a prominent role in funeral ceremonies but written
evidence is quite rare. During the 19th & 20th
centuries the majority of historians tended to deny
the existence of such a person. As usual, the victors
got to write the history, maintaining that the very
idea was clear evidence of the ignorance of ordinary
folk. How could anyone believe in such an idea ,
let alone take part in the ceremony in their modern,
enlightened age? Especially, under the influence
of the Nonconformists, rejecting the old beliefs
was not enough. In order to create an ideal image
for the Welsh, according to the standards of the
age, they would deny the existence of so many of
our old customs, or, worst of all, they would refuse
to speak about them at all (this was chiefly in answer
to the insulting insinuations which were called "The
Betrayal of the Blue Books: i.e. Government reports
of the 1840’s which gave a very unfavourable
view of the state of Wales).
There
were different ceremonies in every area:
According
to one local account of the 'Coeden Bechod' (The
Tree of Sin) in the Parish of Llanllyfni, the family
of the deceased would place a potato or cake that
had just been taken out of the oven, onto the chest
of the corpse and leave it there to cool. People
believed that the food would absorb all the sins
of the departed. This food would then be placed under
the Tree of Sin, where, at a later time, it would
all be consumed by the sin-eater as he took upon
himself all the sins of the deceased. Also, a small
amount of money would be left for the sin-eater who
was usually a person shunned by decent folk.
In
other parts of Wales and the Borderland, the sin-eater
would come to the house of the deceased in person
and eat the cake prepared for him beside the coffin
in the presence of the mourners and accept the cash.
He would then have to leave amid the curses of the
mourners.
It
was most important to give food made from the best
ingredients, to ensure that every last crumb was
eaten. Hence the practice here in the parish of Llanllyfni
of offering a potato in its skin underlines the importance
of the wholeness of the gift and its accursed ingredients.
Some
say that the custom still continues...
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