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sarahnelson
Starting member
United Kingdom
9 Posts |
 Posted - 04/10/2008 : 22:48:52
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Hello All! 
Ive searched the forums and noone has asked this question, and Ive used google and translation programmes to no avail! 
We have come across the word "vaagekone" in relation to someones occupation. I know that 'Kone' means wife.....what does 'vaage' mean? Housewife?!
Many thanks in advance, I look forward to hearing from you!
Sarah
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Kåarto
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
5861 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 23:04:58
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Vaage is an old spelling for Våke, to keep avake.
When a person died the corpse was placed in a room until the coffin was ready.
Every night a candle should burn for the dead, so the Vaagekone had to stay awake to watch the candle.
I have also seen Vaagekone mentioned as a nurse taking care of dying people
Kåre |
Edited by - Kåarto on 04/10/2008 23:13:10 |
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jwiborg
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
4961 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 23:07:46
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vaake, våke, english: wake, be awake, watch. A woman who was engaged and paid to watch over dying persons.
But later, the designation could also describe a woman that was working nightshifts at a hospital.
Jan Peter
ps: I have not heard that the vaagekone watched the dying person after he was dead...? My understanding of this occupation is that she watched dying persons, not dead persons...
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Edited by - jwiborg on 04/10/2008 23:12:17 |
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sarahnelson
Starting member
United Kingdom
9 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 23:10:58
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wow - I wasnt expecting that at all. That is very interesting. You guys know everything!!
The census which lists our family member as a vaagekone is from 1865.....can you tell from the date which definition it would be? A night-shift worker or a someone who watched over dying persons? |
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jwiborg
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
4961 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 23:24:17
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It's hard to tell whether she did nightshifts at a hospital or not. If she lived in a city, chances are higher that she worked at a hospital.
The danish dictionary says:
-a woman, that watches a sick person (a patient) at night
-a woman in confinement
-a woman, that did nightshifts or (and) was a nurse at a hospital
Jan Peter |
Edited by - jwiborg on 04/10/2008 23:24:31 |
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Kåarto
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
5861 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 23:27:40
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Hard to say exactly, I would say a person watching over dying persons.
Denmark still has Vågekone as a professsion, both in official and privat old peoples home, as well in private homes to assist the relatives when a person is dying.
Kåre |
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sarahnelson
Starting member
United Kingdom
9 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 23:31:30
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Thank you so much for this information - its so interesting.
The relative in question lived in a rural area, so I think the chances that she worked in a hospital are probably low. The odds are probably in the favour of her being a person watching over dying people.
Thank you again. |
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