Funeral services are ceremonies that many cultures of the world hold to celebrate the life of a loved one that has been lost to death. Customs, rituals, and prayers that are attached to the honoring of the dead vary from land to land. Many create monuments, memorials, or shrines to those that have been taken by death.
One such practice common in the United States and Canada is that a clergyman is called on to officiate at the funeral ceremony. He often gives a sermon involving comforting passages from religious texts, prayers, and speaks of the deceased and their life and accomplishments. Once that part of the ritual has been completed then there may be a procession out to the grave site where a shorter ceremony takes place.
The New Orleans Jazz Funeral is a practice that seems to be unique to a singular region of the United States. There is a procession that originates at site where the memorial service has taken place and terminates at the grave site. The people that make up that procession are the friends and relatives of the deceased and a jazz band. That band plays dirges that are somber and sorrowful. Once the ceremony at the burial site has concluded then the procession continues to a gathering place. The music that is played at that stage is intended to celebrate the life of the decedent and as a result is lively. The participants in the procession then wave their hats and umbrellas while they dance to tunes being played.
Yet another practice is one that suits the preferences of those who are environmentally conscious. It is called a green funeral. This allows those that have concerns about how traditional burial practices impact the environment can opt to have their remains buried in a way more in line with their beliefs. For example they may choose to be buried in a shroud or coffin that is biodegradable. Their chosen burial place may be in a parkland where they have a tree planted on their grave as a memorial.
A few Funeral homes and/or chapels may be equipped to offer the option of a funeral and a visitation that can be viewed online. Friends, relatives, and other who for one reason or another would have been unable to attend can do so by means of a computer with a web cam that is connected to the internet. Thus those that have been left behind can stay connected to those that would support them regardless of circumstance, distance, or weather.
How the body is finally interred is as varied as the funerary practices. For example there are many cultures that place the remains in a burial plot, family crypt, or tomb. In other areas underground burial is nearly impossible due to the fact that the level of the ground water is too high. Thus any remains must be placed in a tomb that is above the ground. The ones that have the grandest appearance are called mausoleums and belong to families of wealth and prominence.
A burial at sea has often been performed when an individual has died aboard a naval ship of a seafaring country. The remains are wrapped and weighed to ensure it sinks into the ocean when it is dropped overboard. In many religions special services were created in order to cover this kind of occurrence.
Funeral services and their associated practices in the would are varied. In point of fact the kinds of rituals that are practiced are as varied as there are peoples, cultures, and countries on the earth. Thus if a memorial for one who is loved can have any form desired.
Losing a loved one is difficult; it is a time of mourning and having to plan a funeral is emotionally staining. Though, with the appropriate resources this pain can be eased a little allowing for families and friends to come together in this time of pain.