About
The Wag festival was one of the oldest and most widely kept Egyptian festivals of the dead, often named in tomb offering formulae. Families brought bread, beer and other offerings for their loved ones and for Osiris. Small model boats, sometimes made of papyrus, were associated with the festival and with the journey of the dead to Abydos.
Customs
- Making offerings of bread, beer and food to the dead
- Visiting tombs and family graves
- Floating small papyrus boats on water
- Speaking the names of the dead so they live on
- Honouring Osiris as lord of the dead
Food
- Bread
- Beer or barley water
- Onions
- Dates and figs
A simple ritual
- Place photographs or names of loved ones who have died on a small table.
- Light a candle safely and greet Osiris and Anubis.
- Offer bread and a cup of water or beer for your dead.
- Speak each name aloud; in Egyptian thought, to speak the name of the dead is to make them live.
- Fold a small paper boat and float it in a bowl of water for their journey.
- Put out the candle and share the bread afterwards.
Never leave candles or fires unattended, and keep them away from pets and children.