Sproul’s funeral service faded, Pastor Don Bailey emerged from the darkness and stepped to the podium. At the viewing, the friends and relations greet the more distant relatives and friends of the deceased in a social gathering with little in the way of ritual. The viewing often takes place on one or two evenings before the funeral. Post-funeral events usually take the form of receptions or gatherings. Practice: Even the most expert public speakers practice their funeral eulogies before they deliver them. Post-Funeral Events. called a casket). Funerals happen, and how we act and what we say before, during, and after them can help ease the suffering of the bereaved—or add to it. It is generally held at a funeral home, a place of worship, or, in some cases, the home of the deceased or a close relative. Practice will give you the chance to make sure the eulogy is the right tone and length. Customs vary between cultures and religious groups. A funeral is a ceremony connected with the final disposition of a corpse, such as a burial or cremation, with the attendant observances. If the person who died was Jewish, a post-funeral event called shiva may be held. A funeral visitation is an event that gives family, friends, and associates the opportunity to express sympathy to the family of the deceased. Both ceremonies have evolved in recent decades to be much the same: a social gathering amidst the deceased's body, usually at a funeral home's reception area. To learn more about planning events before the service, see our article Viewing, Wake, or Visitation. You will sometimes hear it referred to as a wake or viewing. If you aren’t sure how long it should be, check with the person making the funeral … Most are 10-15 minutes long. A Funeral’s Opening Words. Both typically take place the night before the much more formal funeral and burial ceremonies. If you arrive late, do not walk down the center aisle to take your seat. Here, etiquette experts answer the most common questions about funeral etiquette: 1 I get tongue-tied around people in mourning. Answer: The visitation is an informal gathering usually held the evening before the funeral. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember and respect the dead, from interment, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor. Catholic funeral Mass (also called the Requiem Mass) The funeral or memorial mass is traditionally held at the church. When should I arrive at a funeral? The casket or urn is often sprinkled with holy water when carried into the church, and symbols of the Christian faith such as an open Bible or crucifix may be placed on the casket. A good rule of thumb is to arrive 10-20 minutes early to allow for a few moments to interact with other guests before the service begins. 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