All over the globe, funeral rites are governed by different customs and traditions. It is at the funerals that friends and family finally accept the fate and pray for their departed loved one’s soul.

Church rules govern funeral rites in Christian communities. However, as there are over 200 different Christian community offshoots, there may be many differences in the way they hold funeral rituals.

The most important ritual in a Christian funeral is known as the wake, which is conducted before the real funeral service and where the dead is watched the entire night and psalms are read to pray for the departed soul.

As per the present day funeral rites customs, this is when the family and friends pay a last visit to the dead person and offer homage for the last time. The body is properly preserved and kept either inside a Church or at the house, and the time is specified. In earlier days, the second stage after wake used to be that of absolution, where a cross was put on the deceased’s body and offertory, which carried the presents given by visitors, and the person was ritually absolved of the sins committed during his earthly tenure.

Then comes the main funeral rites, which starts with the transportation of the deceased’s body to the Church in a coach and is followed by recitation of hymns and prayers from the Bible. Then, the priest calls upon a friend or family member to give a eulogy or tribute to the departed’s life. Some of the communities follow this by a ritual of ringing of the bells, marking the end of the service. Once the funeral service is over, the casket with the deceased is transported to the burial site and burial service takes place before the body is laid to rest by burying.

Lastly, the funeral’s completion is marked by a lunch organized for the family members and those present during the funeral rites. The main aim of such rituals is to give support to the grieving family and assist them to overcome their grief and resign themselves to the fate.

Give your deceased loved ones the funerals they deserve with peaceful funeral services.