A MUSIC and storytelling festival which gives people the chance to remember lost loved ones will take place at the Gorbals’ “City of the Dead” this weekend.
Always and Forever: To Absent Friends is being organised by Friends of Southern Necropolis, who have transformed the South Side graveyard with regular clean-ups, historical events and community activities.
Colin Mackie, founder of FoSN, explained: “Everyone has a story to tell of someone who is dead who they miss, but talking openly about this can often cause discomfort or embarrassment, and people can struggle to know what to say around someone who is bereaved.
“The To Absent Friends festival is an opportunity to change the culture, open up and share these important stories.”
The event takes place on Sunday, November 6, from 12 noon until 2pm at the cemetery on Caledonia Road.
People are encouraged to bring along family photos, share stories, songs and memories of those they have lost.
Gorbals music group Strum for Life, part of Givin’ It Laldie, will provide entertainment and soup and sandwiches will be supplied.
The festival, which started in 2014 and is inspired by Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations, aims to combat stigma around grieving and encourage communities to support active remembrance of the deceased without discomfort or embarrassment, no matter how long ago they passed.
Colin added: “The event will allow people from the G5 community, Oatlands and the Gorbals the chance to exchange experiences, and sign messages of remembrance and tributes on laminated hearts which they can then hang on the Always and Forever tree at the Franciscan Circle area.
“We are really proud to be part of this special festival again, accompanied by our good friends Strum for Life.”
The Southern Necropolis was established in July 1840, and is the final resting place of many of the merchants, traders, shipbuilders and architects who helped make Glasgow world famous.
In addition to celebrated soldiers, ministers, musicians and actors, the 250,000 graves include many working-class artisans and tradespeople from Glasgow’s shipyards, factories and shops.
Noted inhabitants include architects Alexander Greek Thomson and Charles Wilson, and grocery entrepreneur Sir Thomas Lipton.
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