Irish wakes were all night, and often longer, observances over passed loved ones. These were held for living relatives and friends, because when an Irish family member crossed the Atlantic, they didn’t return. It felt like a death. Returning was too difficult or too expensive for many. Once ship designs modernized, the trip became more safe for passengers on the voyage.
Some communities in the USA party with the “wake” celebration, and it’s still practiced in the rural parts of Ireland. Scotland also has a version, although I didn’t research that particular one.
Read more about wakes here. There are many tidbits about the wakes on the internet. It’s rather interesting!
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