Religious Funeral Customs & Traditions
How a religion views the afterlife, and beckons its deceased onto the next stage of their journey is attributed to the specific customs and traditions of that religion. Funeral traditions consist of a complex set of beliefs and cultural convictions that individuals within the same faith or belief system share in regards to the afterlife.
Learn more about the rituals, ceremonies and traditions held by the world’s most common religious communities around the globe. Gain insight into each belief system’s funeral etiquettes and the ways in which they honor their loved ones as they say their final goodbyes.
Orthodox Christian
A spirit of tradition is at the center of the Orthodox Christian funerals. Family and friends come together to honor a loved one through generational customs and rituals that have persisted over the years. Orthodox customs and traditions are often compared or confused with those of the Catholic Church, but the two differ in many of their views and beliefs. Learn more about what makes Orthodox funerals unique as you become immersed in special cultural values, hymns, and prayers, and a beautiful final message of hope that culminates in most of Orthodox funeral ceremonies.
Learn More
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Jehova’s Witnesses are one of the many Christian branches with core values and beliefs centered around the idea of a life existing beyond death. Their funeral ceremonies include a variety of hymns and prayers and retain an overall perspective that the afterlife will bring something better that is yet to come. Although Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in eternal life, they do so only after Christ’s second return. They hold a different viewpoint in regards to their idea of what awaits after death than the one held by most Christians. Find out more about Jehovah’s Witnesses’ funeral customs and etiquette and how they choose to view death as a momentary event and not the final destination.
Learn More
Mormon
Mormon funeral services are often very exclusive, maintaining a celebratory viewpoint as they hold tight to their faith and the hope of resurrection. However, they also retain the somber atmosphere present at any funeral service, while making sure to set emphasis on the promise of eternal life. For Mormons, the spirit never dies and death occurs as a consequence of a world corrupted by sin. Learn more about Mormon traditions, their unique ways of saying goodbye to those that have passed, the etiquette that is observed and common funeral gifts shared among members of the religion at a Mormon funeral service.
Learn More
Hindu
Hindu funerals often consist of a set of rituals and are often divided into three parts, each with its own level of importance for those of the Hindu religion. Their rituals and traditions vary from the washing of the deceased’s body and the sprinkling of water, to the scattering of ashes, and many more. Learn more about Hindu funeral customs and traditions, and their unique view of the afterlife. For those who’ve never attended a Hindu funeral, they’ll likely be surprised at the many rites and practices followed by Hindu believers in regards to honoring those they love who have passed away.
Learn More
Muslim
Muslims practice the religion of Islam and a Muslim funeral service is also referred to as an Islamic funeral service. For Muslims, funeral services follow a rather quick approach with a sense of urgency, while holding great spiritual meaning for those who practice the religion. Learn more about common Muslim burial traditions and some of the most popular funeral etiquettes those in the Muslim faith abide by.
Learn More
Jewish
From sitting Shiva and Kadisha, to gravesite ceremonies, Jewish funeral services exude the beautiful Jewish culture and traditions the religion has worked so hard to preserve and enjoy. For those of the Jewish faith, the burial of the deceased is an act that symbolizes returning to humble beginnings, putting the emphasis on a simple yet meaningful ceremony. Learn more about Jewish modern and traditional funeral customs and take a closer look at the modest, yet dignified and sentimental aspects of Jewish burial ceremonies.
Learn More
Buddhist
The infusion of traditional rites and cultural aspects is what differentiates Buddhist funerals from the rest. A Buddhist funeral service is focused on honoring those who have passed in a peaceful and serene way. Funeral rites are usually overseen by monks and maintain a very subdued and calm ambience. Learn more about Buddhists’ funeral etiquette and the major spiritual meaning funeral ceremonies hold to those of the Buddhist religion.
Learn More
Atheist
Secular funerals differ in many ways from traditional ones associated with various religions, with the main difference pertaining to a lack of spiritual focus. For atheists, burial ceremonies represent the end of someone’s journey and a time to remember those who have passed in a meaningful and special way that is not associated with a certain religious faith. Atheist funerals still retain many of the aspects of more traditional kinds, and guests can still expect many of the same etiquettes and traditional norms. Learn more about Atheist funeral traditions and become familiar with how secular funerals differentiate from religious or more traditional ones. For atheists, funeral services are highly personal, each one holding different values and customs.
Learn More