I went to my friend's Mom's wake - loved the celebration. Other than that, never participated in a nine-night or Dead Yard. But I do know that traditionally Jamaicans are buried in their yards. These days there's a few hoops to jump through to do this - my friend and neighbor was buried in her yard just a couple of years ago.
Several times while on the road we've passed lavish funeral processions - a truck and band are hired and play joyous music at the front of the procession from the church (funeral) to the yard or cemetary (burial). The coffin is lifted and the pall bearers dance with it....very similar to a New Orleans style funeral.
Years ago a friend there who is an artist and was close to the deceased had the great honor of painting in the grave. This is done so the deceased stays where they are and doesn't come back as a Duppy to haunt anyone. I forgot what imagery she said she painted but it was very signficant, each painting on each wall.
When I was in Jamaica this last time I visited the cemetary in Redground where the grave sites are lavishly decorated and the tombstones are brightly painted, again with signficant imagery and words. On several the deceased's dates were written as "sunrise" and "sunset". I took that cue when we put together a memorial slide show for my friend who just succumbed to Cancer - at the end of the film we notated his dates just that way.