Meaning
The traditional Jamaican wake held on the ninth night after a death, when family and community gather at the 'dead yaad' for food, white rum, hymns, storytelling, and celebration to send off the spirit of the departed before it finally leaves. The central rite of Jamaican mourning custom.
Examples
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Di whole district come out fi di nine-night.
The whole district came out for the nine-night.
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Dem sing an tell story till mawnin at di nine-night.
They sang and told stories until morning at the nine-night.
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Nine-night a fi celebrate di life an set di spirit free.
Nine-night is to celebrate the life and set the spirit free.
Origin
From the belief that the spirit (duppy) lingers for nine nights before departing; the ninth-night gathering sends it on. Of blended African and Christian origin. See [[duppy]], [[dead-yaad]].
How it’s used
The best-known Jamaican death custom; also called 'set-up'. See [[dead-yaad]] and [[dinki-mini]].