A funeral is either a State or a family ceremony, held to honor. It generally involves a number of customs and rites that are specific to the culture or religion of the deceased.
Majority of Christian funerals have rituals that can be categorized into three types of events – the visitation, funeral, and finally, the burial. The first two parts, which are the most essential ones as far as ritualistic aspects are concerned, are explained here.
The first part is the visitation, when the deceased is laid in a casket for public viewing by relatives and other people in the gathering. The body is often adorned with the finest garments and jewellery belonging to the dead person. Some communities follow the ritual of anointing the body, though not all communities are bound to do it.
During the visitation, family members may also exhibit photographs taken of the departed while he was alive, or some valuable possessions that were very dear to the dead person. Some people even play a video recording or do a slideshow in memory of the deceased.
The visitation ceremony is followed by the second part of rituals, which is the memorial service, also known as funeral, and it is carried out in a church. The coffin containing the dead body is placed in a vehicle and carried to the church along with a group of mourners, who accompany the carriage. The coffin with its floral decoration is then placed in the church.
The service generally entails reading of parts from the Bible or the Holy Scriptures and praying for the departed. The mourners or attendees also sing devotional songs in chorus. The priest presiding over the service gives a comforting speech, and it is followed by eulogies or tributes given by relatives and close friends of the deceased, who speak of the latter’s merits and accomplishments. Sometimes, mourners are permitted to see the body for the last time before it is taken for burial. Church bells are also sometimes rung after the service.
The completion of second part, which is the funeral, marks the commencement of the burial, which is the final stage of the proceedings, and the body is taken through a funeral procession.
Death is a sensitive time. After all, funerals present the family with a need to transition into moving on with life. Get the best casket for your loved one’s burial. Free reprint avaialable from: Several Common Rituals In Christian Funerals.
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