Funeral Etiquette - How To Survive A Sad Day

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It is something nobody likes to think about, but we will all know somebody who dies at some point in our lives. The average person will go to more funerals than weddings, christenings or anything else, so it is important to understand how people expect funeral attendees to behave.

Funerals are a very sad time, when some people might want to burst into tears or lean on others for support, and in general displays of emotion are considered acceptable at a cremation or burial. However, a lot of people wonder just how they should act and what is appropriate and what isn't. Here we take a look at the right etiquette for funerals.

What to Wear

Generally, the traditional dress for funerals is smart and somber, which means you may want to wear a dark colored suit, or a black dress that isn't too revealing.

You should usually stay away from clothes that are too bright or too sexy, and dress in a sober, serious sort of way. This is traditional, however a lot of younger people who die demand that their funerals be less serious and dark and ask that attendees wear colorful clothes. This in itself can be tricky if you tend to wear a lot of black and have a wardrobe that doesn't really lend itself to the occasion.

If you find yourself needing to go to a funeral like this and are stuck for choices because you tend to wear sober colors all the time, consider buying or picking out a scarf or tie in a bright color. While the dress code might be bright and sunny, nobody is expecting you to look completely out of character so if you never wear these kinds of colors, it will be accepted as an effort made if you just add them to your normal outfit.

Non Religious People

Many funerals, even if the person in question wasn't religious, have a religious element. If you aren’t religious and find yourself at a funeral like this, it is generally guided, so you can stand when you are told to, sit when you are told to, and will be given a song book so you can join in the hymns.

While you may not believe in the religious aspects, the quiet reflection of the prayer time can give you a chance to think about the person who has died and the hymns can be quite a cathartic way to join in mourning with everyone else. If it is a cremation rather than a burial the most important song is usually the ode chosen to play or be sung as the coffin goes behind the curtain.

Even if you aren't religious, this is the time when you should be standing up and joining in as it is the most important part of the funeral and the people around you will care very much that respect is shown.
Funerals can be a hard thing to bear socially but by planning ahead and knowing what to expect you can make sure you look the part and act in the right way, regardless of your religious position.

Featured images:

•  License: Creative Commons
•  License: Creative Commons
•  License: Creative Commons

The author of today’s post, Keith Dunham, is an accountant at AbbeyCremation.com which provides affordable cremation services in Connecticut. He is a voracious reader and he enjoys catching up on his favorite novels when he gets free from work.