In The US It Is Important To Observe The Right Funeral Culture And Traditions.
Posted by Bereaved - 29/01/12 at 10:01 pmNorth America follow some distinct funeral rites most religious and cultural groups. In US that is mostly observed here are the Common Funeral Culture and traditions:
Visitation
Funeral service
Burial service
Gathering.
This varies depending on different religions. Most US cultural groups follow these rites. Before the actual funeral service a visitation is also called a wake and it takes place two or three days. It must be observed that unlike some Asian cultures like Hindus, Muslims, etc. first. Over a period of a few days US funeral rites do not take place at once.
The body will be embalmed and dressed up in formal clothes. In a casket chosen by family members and kept on display then it will be placed. At the funeral parlour, home, community hall or a religious place of worship this happens. With religious symbols like a cross or rosary jewelry may also be placed on the body along. In the casket these maybe removed prior to burial or cremation although most people will leave the religious ornaments to be buried.
A visitor’s book will be kept that people can sign and write messages of condolence. Pictures of the deceased in happier times will be displayed. These days, a DVD is often prepared with happy memories of the deceased with family and friends and this can be played throughout the visitation. The viewing of the body can be either open or closed casket. In open casket, the body will be embalmed and dressed with make up for the viewing. However, if the body is badly damaged due to a fire, accident or illness or if family members cannot bear to see the face of their dearly departed loved one, then a closed casket is used.
Viewing the deceased and comforting family members the time and date of the visitation will normally be announced and friends and relatives can come and spend time. Flowers maybe sent for the viewing and placed around the casket. Jewish people who make up a large part of American culture never display the body. The funeral takes place soon after death embalming is also not allowed. To the deceased’s home similarly, flowers are not taken to a Jewish visitation although a food or fruit basket maybe sent.
On the day of the burial, a funeral service may be held at the church or other places of worship, community hall or even at the funeral parlour. A priest will conduct a formal service, hymns will be sung and a passage from the scriptures read. If an elderly person has died, the family will often have the visitation, funeral and burial service on the same day to facilitate other elderly friends to attend the service. The burial service also called the ‘Vale of Rest’ takes place at the gravesite, crematorium or mausoleum. A funeral procession usually takes place from the site of the visitation to the burial site.
If a military person has died, military rites will be observed at the final resting place. Pallbearers – usually male close friends and relatives - will carry the coffin from the church. They will place it in the hearse, which will bear the casket to the burial site. Here again, the pallbearers will carry the coffin from the hearse to the site. At this time, most religions allow the casket to be closed although sometimes, it maybe opened one last time for everyone gathered to say a final goodbye.
Now, further prayers maybe said by the priest before the body is finally placed in the ground, tomb or cremated. While usually the jewelry worn on the deceased will be left, sometimes – especially for cremation – these maybe removed. The final funeral tradition observed in the US is a gathering or memorial service. This is a time to celebrate and remember the life of the deceased. It can be held a few days or weeks after the actual funeral service.
Where they can reminisce about the deceased, tell stories, read poems and sing songs close friends and family attend this memorial. By dinner this need not be a religious service and will often be accompanied. With this memorial service and eulogies maybe said at the funeral service itself some traditions dispense. As to the type of wake, visitation, funeral and memorial service they want sometimes, people will write a living will leaving behind specific instructions.
Article by Dunbar Winston of FuneralesReforma. For more information on funerarias Guatemala and funerales Guatemala, visit his site today.
