[plumseverywhere]

I'm asking this partly for children's homework reasons (!) but partly because its got me thinking...

A large ship has departed from Southampton to retrace the fateful voyage of RMS Titanic 100 years ago. Many on board will be relatives of those that died or survived the tragedy, others are historians, journalists or just people who are fascinated by Titanic.Tickets around £6000 a head, meals will be the same that were served 100 years ago etc.

My children have been set homework - a project about pilgrimages and they are to discuss  a pilgrimage and what it means to those who go on it.  They don't want to do their homework on a religious pilgrimage which leaves us with Gracelands or this (if this is one?)

Been helping with research for them and I'm wondering if this 'reliving' the voyage is a huge way of making money from the tragedy or a lovely way to remember those lost. Would be interested to hear the thoughts of others!

Oh and if you could help me decide if this is homework fodder or not that would be much appreciated too     

 

[jaykay]

1. It sounds like a good homework to me 
2. I think the Titanic journey is a pilgrimage for those involved somehow, particularly the relatives. Not so sure just about the 'interested parties', maybe more a theme holiday for them
3. No doubt someone is making money from it, but then that's fair enough, we all have to make a living and no-one is twisting anyone's arm to go on it, plus it's long enough ago not to be pulling heart strings unfairly I would have thought.

[plumseverywhere]

Thank you Jaykay 

Because they've only been at the new school for a week I wanted to make sure that I wasn't off the mark with suggesting it/helping them with it. They have shown a huge deal of interest in all the recent Titanic programmes etc so they will enjoy doing it.

[Fleecewife]

As jaykay says.  They should maybe explain briefly why this is a pilgrimage when most children will be thinking of the religious kind.

I get the distinct impression from the reporters on board that they are really hoping something goes wrong 

[plumseverywhere]

They've put a piece about what a pilgrimage is to start it and are now saying how this is one. eg. people can cast flowers to their long lost ancestors who died, say prayers if they choose, feel closer.
Getting a 9 and 10 year old to think further than Leonado Di caprio has been a challenge but I think we are getting there 
I know what you mean about the media- while we were googling the Memorial cruise earlier all we could find was negative headlines about violent winds and poorly journalists needing an airlift and how this ship is so 'ill fated' (Hardly in comparison to the one it is retracing!!)

[Bionic]

Plums,
I think you are on the right track with this one and hopefully it will be something a bit different too.

For those with lost relatives I do think its a pilgrimage but there are so many hangers on just in it for the money. 

I noticed there was a BBC reporter there too.  Why do they have to be spending our licence payers money for him to have a jolly?

Sally

[plumseverywhere]

Was he the one that had the heart attack Sally? I know one of them was airlifted off. The girls have enjoyed the project and I'm glad they picked one that they could get into rather than one they might not have found so interesting. I think its because of all the recent coverage and films etc they related to it easier.

[Bionic]

Plums I didn't realise that a reporter had been airlifted off.  I just saw one reporting from the deck whilst they were at sea.
Whoever it was I hope he is ok.
Sally

[Rosemary]

Is it so different to visiting the Normandy beaches or the war graves of the Great War and the Second World War? I suppose they are pilgrimages of a kind. Dan and I went to the Netherlands a few years ago to visit the grave of my uncle, who was killed in 1944, aged 21. That was a pilgrimage for me, touching a part of my family.

[doganjo]

I think most folk like to keep in touch with their own history and forebears.  My sister and I are putting together our family tree and have uncovered qutie a few skeletons (pun  )  If we had lost someone overseas I'm sure we'd try to get to see their graves too.  Yes, I would say that even though it is obviously costly, it is a pilgrimage for some of the passengers at least.  I hope they find comfort.

[Moleskins]

Two things to chip in with on this,
apparently some youngsters didn't realise that Titanic wasn't just a film - unbelievable !!
And having just thought I might catch a bit of news not the TV I turned on to find it was
again Titanic - personally I'm sick to death of hearing about it now. Typical of the media to
go over the top and spoil it .

[plumseverywhere]

Hard to believe that to some Titanic was just a film, quite sad really. Its up there with "banana's come from Tescos" and the kids in our village who think lamb meat comes from cows (yep, seriously)

I did some family tree work with my 4 girls a few months back, my Dad came over and we spent a few hours on and off and it was fascinating.
We already knew that my Dad's uncles brother had been on Titanic - he was a 3rd class steward and he went down with the ship. We were able to learn his name and age and that was nice, but sad in a way.
Biggest and funniest surprise for Dad was his links to Buster Edwards....now we just need to find where the money's hidden 

[manian]

I think that for some it will be a pilgrimage, however, some people will be on this voyage more as a 'claim to fame' I feel.

Many pilgrimages are personal, and a way of finding who you are.... through relatives, roots, faith etc  through our own past and ancestors, (as with rosemary) They are often private and moving and gives people a sense of completeness (closing a missing gap).

for it to be a pilgrimage the personal reason or 'gap'  needs to be there, otherwise its just a holiday (altho' nowt wrong with that). many people flock to lourds with different reasons for going

sorry its a bit wordy, can't articulate very well this morning
Mx

[plumseverywhere]

Makes good sense to me Manian - in fact I just read your post to my 10 year old as tomorrow she will be telling her classmates what a pilgrimage is and I think your words sum it up!

[Sudanpan]

Weird really but I have never been able to watch the film Titanic - the idea of it just made me feel cold inside.

And as for this massive over-indulgence the press and media have gone to over the voyage and anniversary has also switched me right off.

I think that those people who are undertaking the voyage because of some connection are making a pilgrimage - and I wonder how many of them would prefer that there wasn't so much media involvement. I'm not saying that the event shouldn't be remembered but why so much hype?