30 Things We Only See At Funerals

1. Funeral customs around the world

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There are many funeral customs around the world and they vary widely.  Each custom, with its rich and unique traditions surrounding death and funerals, offers a unique perspective on how different cultures around the world commemorate and remember their loved ones.

2. Different traditions

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Learning about the different funeral customs and traditions of different cultures from around the world provides us with fascinating insights into the various interesting and unique items and practices that you might see when you attend a funeral ceremony.

3. The importance of food

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No matter what the traditions and customs are, you'll find that food is more often than not involved in funeral ceremonies around the world.  In many cultures, food is served as part of the funeral, usually to provide nourishment to mourners afterward, but in others, it could symbolize the circle of life and be used as a mark of respect for the deceased.  Either way, the types of foods vary greatly from culture to culture.

4. Casket or Coffin

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Despite the differences in traditions around the world, there are some similarities with some of the items you can expect to see at funerals.  One of these items would be a casket or a coffin and these look different around the world.  For example, in Ghanaian tradition, their fantasy coffins are elaborate and custom-made, often shaped like objects or symbols to represent the deceased's life and interests.

5. Shroud

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Not every culture's funeral customs include a coffin or a casket.  In a Muslim burial, the deceased person's body is interred wrapped in a shroud.  However, a coffin might be seen as sometimes they are used to bring the body of the deceased near to their graves.

6. Open Casket Viewing

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In some traditions, people are able to see the body of the deceased in order to say their final goodbyes. Families often choose an open casket if they are able to in order to allow people to see their loved one for one last time, say goodbye, and have a chance to accept that the person has moved on too, in the hope that they will be able to.

7. Soil

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Soil holds profound cultural significance in many funeral practices worldwide.  For example, in Jewish funeral customs, mourners are often seen to participate in the act of filling the grave with soil as a final goodbye to their loved ones.  It also provides mourners closure.

8. Flowers

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Flowers play a huge role at funerals.  In Western Cultures, sympathy flowers, wreaths, and sprays can be seen usually consisting of white lilies and roses. In Chinese Culture, red flowers are used because of the color's association with happiness and good luck.  Flowers play a significant role in funeral customs and their meanings and uses can differ widely.

9. Mourners

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Mourners of course play a role in funerals around the world, no matter what the customs are. When you attend a funeral, you are a mourner because you are likely to be mourning the loss of someone you know. Emotions run high at funerals but it's important to know that everyone mourns differently so you'll likely see a mixture of emotions, from tears to smiles, and everything in between.

10. Funeral program

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You might be given a funeral program too and these also vary from culture to culture, including some traditions not including them in their ceremonies.  However, despite them varying from funeral to funeral different cultures will have different traditions when it comes to funeral programs.  For example, in many of them, you'll probably find an order or ceremony and information and images from the person's life.

11. Officiant

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When you attend a funeral, there is usually somebody who leads the ceremony or an officiant. In many cultures, religious leaders play the central role of leading the funeral service. But across the world, many funerals will have non-religious officiants or celebrants to guide the ceremony.

12. Eulogy

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Eulogies are speeches that are given at funerals in commemoration of a person's life and they are generally practiced worldwide.  In a Japanese funeral service, or "shinsosai", eulogies are often spoken by the officiant and list the person's life and achievements, along with some greater contexts of Buddhist teachings.

13. Condolence cards

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You might see condolence cards at funerals or relatives might receive them just before when people first learn about the person's passing. These also vary widely. In Western cultures, condolence cards are usually given in order to convey sympathy and support.

14. Music

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You might see musical instruments or hymn sheets too.  Music plays a significant role in many funerals, whether it's playing the deceased's favorite music like in some customs, or whether it's music from a religious or cultural tradition.  In Christian funerals, hymns and organ music features.

15. Candles

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Candles are also likely to be present at a funeral and they are used in a variety of contexts including in the ceremony as well as at vigils.  The burning flame of vigil candles and candles used at Christian funerals is said to represent life, hope, and the light of Christ.  In Buddhist ceremonies, candles are part of the offerings and will be seen on the altar along with flowers and fruit.

16. Guest Book

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Guest books are common in many cultures and will be a place where people can sign and write their condolences for relatives to read later on.  They also provide some key functions including letting the family know who was there to mourn their loved one.

17. Memorial Photos

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There might be lots of memorial photographs at a funeral too and these might be located in various places throughout the ceremony.  For example, many funerals might have one large photograph of the deceased in the room, there might be a collage inside the funeral program and some might even choose to play a video slideshow of photographs.

18. Prayer or scripture readings

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You'll often find that many religious funeral proceedings usually contain prayers and/or scripture readings. These might be included within the funeral program or religious texts, or you might just be able to hear them. Sometimes they're prescribed, but sometimes, a family can choose their own.

19. Hearse

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Hearses are used across the world and are large vehicles used to transport the the body of the deceased in a coffin to a funeral. In the past, they were typically horse-drawn carriages, and sometimes people still choose this option today. They are also used to transport the deceased close friends and family to the venue of the funeral.

20. Funeral home staff

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If the funeral that you're attending is taking place at a funeral home, then you're also likely to see an array of funeral home staff.  Their role is to assist grieving families in different cultural contexts.  They often follow specific protocols and customs based on their culture and place in the world.

21. Flags for military funerals

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At military funerals in the US, you're more than likely to see a flag but there are other things that you're likely to see too.  These include the folding of the flag to honor the veteran, as well as perhaps a bugle or a trumpet playing 'Taps' which represents a final farewell.

22. Tissues

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Tissues are generally provided for the use of attendees, and this has been found to be a universal practice. Tissues offer emotional support during emotional moments of grief or sadness. These are either provided or people can bring their own if they wish.

23. Grave marker

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When a person is buried, it is customary worldwide for them to have some sort of grave marker or headstone.  The designs of these and what's usually included on them vary across different cultures and religions but they generally include inscriptions that mark the grave.

24. Grief counseling resources

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Some funeral homes and locations might hold various grief counseling resources, including posters and leaflets that are meant to support the attendees of funerals. They might include advice and phone numbers that you can contact for support should you need it.

25. Funeral attire

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At a funeral, you might also notice the attire of the mourners. Western traditions see mourners wearing black but some people request that this is avoided. Sometimes it depends on personal preference and sometimes it depends on custom. In some cultures, you might see mourners wearing veils and in others, you might see people wearing white sashes as a sign of mourning and respect.

26. A procession

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Funeral processions are also common and, again, vary widely across the world.  In a funeral procession, you might see a line of vehicles, including the hearse and the mourners' cars moving together towards the funeral and/or the burial site. They usually drive super slow, as respect for the deceased.

27. Insense

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Incense is an important feature in many religious or cultural funeral rituals for purification and blessings.  For example, in Buddhist funeral ceremonies, incense is included in the offerings located on the altar along with flowers, candles, and fruit.

28. Funeral urn

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You may or may not see an urn, but one will be present during the process if the deceased is going to be cremated. The urn is used to hold the ashes of the deceased and is given to the family to either keep or scatter in a special and meaningful place.

29. Offerings

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In many cultures, attendees may make offerings during the funeral. This traditional practice is incredibly diverse and varies depending on religion and culture. Funeral offerings often mean the objects that are placed in a grave or added to the cremation of the departed soul.  These might be candles, incense, fruit, or other food and drink, and more.

30. Bells

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You'll probably see the bells but if not, you'll certainly hear them if they are part of the tradition and custom of the funeral you are attending. The tolling of bells, either at the funeral location or at nearby churches marks the passing of a loved one and might also be used to signify the start or the ending of the funeral service.