Funeral Rites And Rituals
Funerals around the world are marked by a number of rites and rituals. Funeral is a service in which family and relatives pray for the dead and settle with the fate of the loss of their loved one.
Church rules regulate the rites of funerals in Christian communities. However, given the fact that there are over 200 denominations of Christians, the rituals can change depending on the affiliation of the family.
The very first ritual in a Christian funeral that is organized before the actual service is held relates to assembling around the dead person for a night and chanting prayers for the departed soul. This important tradition is known as wake. According to present-day standards, this is the moment when relatives and close friends can pay their last respects to the deceased person. The body is preserved and placed either at the house or in a Chapel with only a particular number of visiting hours. In olden days, the deceased 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 deceased's chest and offertory in the casket, where gifts offered were kept.
Next comes the actual ceremony, which starts with the transportation of the deceased's body to the Church in a hearse and is succeeded by recitation 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. Some Christian communities have tolling of the bells as an integral part of the tradition that marks the end of ceremony. Then the casket with the deceased's body is brought to the burial site for the final set of rituals, called the burial service which precedes the burying.
Lastly, the funeral's end is marked by a mourners' lunch organised for the family and those present at the funeral ceremony. The main aim of this custom is to partake in the sorrow of the family and support them so that they can come to terms with the loss.
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