keens
Keens is a term used for laments spoken or sung for the dead, and by extension the acts of lamentation themselves. In traditional Gaelic cultures, keening was a ritual vocal performance at funerals or wakes, intended to honor the deceased and express communal grief. The verb form to keen means to lament loudly or mournfully, and keens can be described as the set of laments delivered in these occasions. Keening has historically been associated with Gaelic-speaking communities in Ireland and Scotland, though similar lamenting practices have appeared in other cultures as well.
Etymology and scope: The use of keen as a noun for a funeral lament is most closely
Practice and form: Keens could be performed solo or by a small group, focusing on themes of
Modern usage: In contemporary English, keening as a noun for a funeral lament is largely historical or