Funeral Traditions And Rituals
Funerals around the world are governed by several traditions, rites and rituals. Funeral is a service where friends and family pray for the deceased and resign themselves to the fate of the loss of their loved one.
Christian funerals adhere to the rules of the Church. However, as there are more than 200 different Christian community offshoots, there are various differences in the manner in which the funeral services are organized by each community.
The very first ritual in a Christian funeral that is organized before the actual ceremony relates to gathering around the deceased for a night and chanting prayers for the dead. This significant tradition is known as wake. As per the present day rituals, this is when the relatives and acquaintances pay a last visit to the deceased and offer their final respects. The deceased is preserved and placed either at the house or inside a Chapel with only a particular number of visiting hours. In earlier times, the dead person was sought to be absolved of his sins of his earthly existence by performing the ritual of absolution after wake. This included placing a cross on the departed’s chest and offertory in the casket, where gifts offered were kept.
Next comes the actual ceremony, which begins with the bringing of the deceased’s body to the Church in a hearse and is succeeded by chanting of hymns and prayers from the Bible. Then, the clergy requests a friend or family member to give a eulogy or tribute to the departed’s life. In some cases funeral traditions include the ringing of bells to signify the end of the ceremony. Following the funeral proceedings, the casket is carried to the burial site where a burial service is held before the act of burial.
Lastly, the family members arrange for a lunch for the friends, relatives and acquaintances who are attending the funeral. The main aim of this tradition is to share the grief of the family and help them deal and come to terms with the loss.
Leave the delicate matter of funeral needs in the hands of considerate professional undertakers.
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