Dubai Forums Dubai Discussions Dubai General Chat

I just attended a funeral (person is still dead) and was wondering: What do they do at funerals in other religions countries/locales?

Here is the "tradition" where this christian funeral was;

The body is placed in an open casket and can be viewed for a day or more. Visiting hours are 2 hours in the afternoon (2-4) and two hours in the evening (7-9). People come to visit the deceased and pay their respects to the family.

On the second or third day a funeral is held. Starting with a funeral mass at church where, typically a relative, gives a eulogy. The priest requires that the eulogy be in writing and kept short (in writing to prevent rambling). The mass is typically in the morning and can't be on Sunday. After the mass the casket is taken to the cemetary for burial. The immediate family and close friends typically attend the burial. After the burial (people leave before the casket is lowered and covered) the people who come to the funeral are invited for a get-together lunch at a restaurant/catering place where food and drinks are served.

What is the tradition in your home country / religion for funerals?

Sorry for your loss Concs. Canada is pretty much the same (or slight variations thereof). Regionally, however (French and Atlantic Canada esp.) the catered shindig is usually followed by a two-day bender. Er.."celebration of life".

Concord wrote:The body is placed in an open casket and can be viewed for a day or more.

I always wondered about this. Placing the body in an open casket is that a Catholic tradition? I am coming from a Protestant background and funerals are never with a open casket.

Flying Dutchman wrote:

Concord wrote:The body is placed in an open casket and can be viewed for a day or more.

I always wondered about this. Placing the body in an open casket is that a Catholic tradition? I am coming from a Protestant background and funerals are never with a open casket.

So what do they do at protestant funerals?

For muslims it is part of the culture/religion that you bury the body as soon as possible (except ofcourse where there is the need for autopsy, etc ..) There is a prayer right before the body is buried and then you bury it and its without a casket. The body is usually rapped with white cloth only.

the burial is usually attended by close family and friends. And then for the following 3 days condolences are accepted at a relatives house and people take turns in the 3 days to cook meals for the family of the deceased. It is very common for people to go to those even if they didn't know the deceased very well as it is believed that its good to have people surround the grieving for those 3 days and engage with them and talk to them to keep there mind off the sorrow.

I think thats about it... ofcourse in the arab world each country has slightly different variation.

MaaaD wrote:For muslims it is part of the culture/religion that you bury the body as soon as possible (except ofcourse where there is the need for autopsy, etc ..) There is a prayer right before the body is buried and then you bury it and its without a casket. The body is usually rapped with white cloth only.

the burial is usually attended by close family and friends. And then for the following 3 days condolences are accepted at a relatives house and people take turns in the 3 days to cook meals for the family of the deceased. It is very common for people to go to those even if they didn't know the deceased very well as it is believed that its good to have people surround the grieving for those 3 days and engage with them and talk to them to keep there mind off the sorrow.

I think thats about it... ofcourse in the arab world each country has slightly different variation.

Isn't it usually only men that attend the burial? Oh, and we usually visit the people for a week. But that maybe just the people I know that do it that way.

Also, I had a question Concs. Muslims have a cleansing ritual for the deceased before s/he is wrapped in the white cloth. I was wondering if Christianity had something similar to that.

bushra21 wrote:

MaaaD wrote:For muslims it is part of the culture/religion that you bury the body as soon as possible (except ofcourse where there is the need for autopsy, etc ..) There is a prayer right before the body is buried and then you bury it and its without a casket. The body is usually rapped with white cloth only.

the burial is usually attended by close family and friends. And then for the following 3 days condolences are accepted at a relatives house and people take turns in the 3 days to cook meals for the family of the deceased. It is very common for people to go to those even if they didn't know the deceased very well as it is believed that its good to have people surround the grieving for those 3 days and engage with them and talk to them to keep there mind off the sorrow.

I think thats about it... ofcourse in the arab world each country has slightly different variation.

Isn't it usually only men that attend the burial? Oh, and we usually visit the people for a week. But that maybe just the people I know that do it that way.

Also, I had a question Concs. Muslims have a cleansing ritual for the deceased before s/he is wrapped in the white cloth. I was wondering if Christianity had something similar to that.

Speaking from an RC point-of-view...not really. Just some embalming juice and a make-up artist for the open casket.

RC stands for Roman Catholic?

bushra21 wrote:RC stands for Roman Catholic?

No it means Rigid Corpse

Concord wrote:So what do they do at protestant funerals?

Okay, just attended one
The body is kept at home. On the day of the funeral the body is placed in a casket and transported to the burial site. The reverent speaks, some people speak about the life of the person and then the casket goes into to ground. Once the corpse is in the casket, it remained closed. After the ceremony there is time for condoleances. In this case the body was buried 6 days after death.

Flying Dutchman wrote:

Concord wrote:So what do they do at protestant funerals?

Okay, just attended one
The body is kept at home. On the day of the funeral the body is placed in a casket and transported to the burial site. The reverent speaks, some people speak about the life of the person and then the casket goes into to ground. Once the corpse is in the casket, it remained closed. After the ceremony there is time for condoleances. In this case the body was buried 6 days after death.

You mean the body is kept in the house for 6 days? It must stink by then. And if it is only placed in the casket on the day of the funeral. Where is the body the rest of the time (on a bed)?

Where I live no-one is allowed to hold a wake at home (for health reasons) regardless of religion. That is what funeral homes are for (non-demoninational).

What do they do in Dubai? I never saw a cemetary in Dubai. Are there any?

Funeral for Hindu's is a ritual that would free the soul from the body. Hinduism is a wide spread religion with hundres of casts and sub cults, there for there are many region specific, cast specific rituals. Having said that, the basic steps performed and the common idea of a funeral is like this,

Most hindus cremate the body of the dead person. Unless the deceased is a Saint or a Small Child or a Noble person. The idea is to free the soul as soon as possible from the body and enable it to enter the next phase of life. And this is usually done at the earliest.

If the dear and near of the deceased are present, the rituals start. The body is washed by relatives(at times rose water and sandlewood oil is used for this) and wrapped in fresh white cloth. Jasmine flowers are also kept inside the wrapping.after which the body is kept inside the house for a brief time for the visitors/ relatives to see. and perform some rituals where a few drops of water from Ganges are poured into the deceased's mouth.

And then carried on a stretcher by sons or relatives to the funeral pyre( these days in cities they have electric crematoriums) or cremation furnaces. All through out these rituals Bhajans, Prayers (Songs praising Gods) go on in the back ground sung by they relatives and priests. The funeral pyre, supposed to b of fresh cut wood from a mango tree and some pieces of Sandle wood. (this is the old custom, especially in south india), is lit by the eldest son of the deceased. The bhajans, prayers are chanted and the sons and relatives stay near the pyre till the pyre is completely lit and the sound of cracking bones is heard( this is considered exiting of the soul from the dead body)

On the third day, the eldest son or all sons collect ashes into a mud container and place them in one of the sacred rivers after another detailed rituals and prayers.

The period of mourning for family and relatives is 13-15 days, where they will not attend any ceremonies, festivals etc. Usually, marriage ceremonies in the family are also not conducted for an year.

St.Lucifer wrote:The period of mourning for family and relatives is 13-15 days, where they will not attend any ceremonies, festivals etc. Usually, marriage ceremonies in the family are also not conducted for an year.

How close, family wise, must the decease be in orde for the marriage to be postponed? In large families (India), and high mortality rates, relatively low life expectancy, I can see a wedding being postponed for decades based on family funerals..

Concord wrote:

St.Lucifer wrote:The period of mourning for family and relatives is 13-15 days, where they will not attend any ceremonies, festivals etc. Usually, marriage ceremonies in the family are also not conducted for an year.

How close, family wise, must the decease be in orde for the marriage to be postponed? In large families (India), and high mortality rates, relatively low life expectancy, I can see a wedding being postponed for decades based on family funerals..

It's customary to put off marriage if the deceased is a parent or grand parent or someone very close to the person getting married like a very dearly aunt, unc etc. Families typically refrain from any other celebration for an year( like traditional new year, etc).

PS: I think that low life expectancy and high mortality rate part is a bit hyped in your post.