History UsefulNotes / Funerals

In the Japanese VisualKei and Music/HeavyMetal subcultures, those who attend wakes and burials of other artists are expected to tone down their appearance and dress as formally as possible (even if said appearance is a lifestyle appearance - someone who always has blonde or red or white or blue hair even offstage is expected to cut it as conservatively as possible and dye it black, or if this isn't possible due to upcoming work or events, to at least dye it a darker color or cover it). Anyone who knew the artist even as an acquaintance (and if the artist was famous enough, this includes fans as well) is usually expected to attend if at all possible, and if attendance is not possible, to send flowers and a card in their absence. Overly dramatic emotional displays are not frowned upon ''nor'' demanded - it is very much "express how you truly feel" as a contrast to mainstream culture.

UsefulNotes/{{Islam}} mandates burial underground with the head pointing toward the ''Qibla'', i.e. the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca from wherever you're standing. It also mandates that the body be washed and wrapped in a plain white shroud as soon as possible--immediately after death is best--with the actual placement in a coffin and burial to take place no more than a few days after--preferably the same day, although this isn't always possible. Prior to burial, the body (in the coffin of course) is taken to the mosque for noon or afternoon prayers, where a short (2-3 minutes) additional prayer called ''Salat al-Janazah'' ("[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Funeral Prayer]]") is added to the usual prayer for that time. This prayer is a collective obligation for the community; as long as a few people perform it, the obligation is relieved. Typically the imam/sheikh/whatever gives a short speech--no more than five minutes--just before the coffin is buried; there is a cultural custom that the deceased's close relatives take at least a symbolic part in the burial.

UsefulNotes/{{Islam}} mandates burial underground with the bodies pointing toward the ''Qibla'', i.e. the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca from wherever you're standing. It also mandates that the body be washed and wrapped in a plain white shroud as soon as possible--immediately after death is best--with the actual placement in a coffin and burial to take place no more than a few days after--preferably the same day, although this isn't always possible. Prior to burial, the body (in the coffin of course) is taken to the mosque for noon or afternoon prayers, where a short (2-3 minutes) additional prayer called ''Salat al-Janazah'' ("[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Funeral Prayer]]") is added to the usual prayer for that time. This prayer is a collective obligation for the community; as long as a few people perform it, the obligation is relieved. Typically the imam/sheikh/whatever gives a short speech--no more than five minutes--just before the coffin is buried; there is a cultural custom that the deceased's close relatives take at least a symbolic part in the burial.

Most ''ulema'' agree that although the community is collectively obliged to give condolences to the bereaved, it is forbidden to gather to do so. Thus the families have a quasi-open house for a few days--generally the three-day period of mourning--with a few people at a time trickling in and out to pay their respects. The bereaved are forbidden to prepare food for those coming to give condolences; the community is expected to bring food to them. Finally, wailing, shrieking, breaking things, and other violent displays of grief are also strictly forbidden; Islamic grieving is supposed to be quiet, reflective, and dignified.

!!Zoroastrian

Within those subcultures there are also occasionally annual or occasional memorial events or shows (usually on an artist's birthdate or death date, sometimes both - for example, [[Music/HidetoMatsumoto hide's]] are on his death date and birthdate both, while MMunetakaHiguchi 's are usually on or around his death date). These are less formalized and other artists, whether performing or not, are generally encouraged to appear in their style rather than toned down as they would be for a funeral, and a more celebratory atmosphere of the artist's life and work exists. These are, obviously, public events and open to all where a wake or funeral might be more restricted for a less famous artist.

Within those subcultures there are also occasionally annual or occasional memorial events or shows (usually on an artist's birthdate or death date, sometimes both - for example, [[Music/HidetoMatsumoto hide's]] are on his death date and birthdate both, while Music/MunetakaHiguchi 's are usually on or around his death date). These are less formalized and other artists, whether performing or not, are generally encouraged to appear in their style rather than toned down as they would be for a funeral, and a more celebratory atmosphere of the artist's life and work exists. These are, obviously, public events and open to all where a wake or funeral might be more restricted for a less famous artist.

Within those subcultures there are also occasionally annual or occasional memorial events or shows (usually on an artist's birthdate or death date, sometimes both - for example, [[HidetoMatsumoto hide's]] are on his death date and birthdate both, while [[{{Loudness}} Munetaka Higuchi's]] are usually on or around his death date). These are less formalized and other artists, whether performing or not, are generally encouraged to appear in their style rather than toned down as they would be for a funeral, and a more celebratory atmosphere of the artist's life and work exists. These are, obviously, public events and open to all where a wake or funeral might be more restricted for a less famous artist.

In the Japanese VisualKei and HeavyMetal subcultures, those who attend wakes and burials of other artists are expected to tone down their appearance and dress as formally as possible (even if said appearance is a lifestyle appearance - someone who always has blonde or red or white or blue hair even offstage is expected to cut it as conservatively as possible and dye it black, or if this isn't possible due to upcoming work or events, to at least dye it a darker color or cover it). Anyone who knew the artist even as an acquaintance (and if the artist was famous enough, this includes fans as well) is usually expected to attend if at all possible, and if attendance is not possible, to send flowers and a card in their absence. Overly dramatic emotional displays are not frowned upon ''nor'' demanded - it is very much "express how you truly feel" as a contrast to mainstream culture.

Although the stereotypical Viking funeral is pushing a burning boat out to see with the dead man, plenty of archeological evidence points to burial. Large mounds were built to hold the dead man and his grave goods, which could include [[HumanSacrifice slaves]], and a ship. These, however, were often burned on a pyre before burial.

Within those subcultures there are also occasionally memorial events or shows (usually on an artist's birthdate or death date, sometimes both - for example, [[HidetoMatsumoto hide's]] are on his death date and birthdate both, while [[{{Loudness}} Munetaka Higuchi's]] are usually on or around his death date). These are less formalized and other artists, whether performing or not, are generally encouraged to appear in their style rather than toned down as they would be for a funeral, and a more celebratory atmosphere of the artist's life and work exists. These are, obviously, public events and open to all where a wake or funeral might be more restricted for a less famous artist.

In Shinto, an oracle decreed that the appropriate funeral rites are performed by a Buddhist priest, which is normal nowadays. Cremation and the burial of the ashes in a family plot are the common form.

DueToTheDead is an old trope. Very old. Based on archeological evidence, we have reason to believe that [[OlderThanDirt they occurred as long as 300,000 years ago]], as a practice among the Neanderthals. Elephants have what looks a lot like some kind of funerary rite too, but it's a kind that doesn't show up well on the fossil record, so who knows how long the dead have been ritually mourned?

DueToTheDead is an old trope. Very old. Based on archeological evidence, we have reason to believe that [[OlderThanDirt they occurred as long as 300,000 years ago]], as a practice among the Neanderthals.

In Tibet, it is believed that one's body upon death is merely trapping the soul on Earth. So the body is taken to a mountain and cut into pieces for vultures to eat, who in turn carry the soul to the afterlife.

* The wearing of proper attire by the mourners. This generally is black -- a somber color -- or white, which is undyed and so simple. This is a mark of proper behavior, which of course is grieved.

The body, in its coffin, is kept in the home, assuming the deceased is old enough for there to be junior people to pay respects to it. (Parents, for instance, can not pay respects to an unmarried son, and he has neither wife nor children to do it, so his corpse must be kept in a funeral home.) Their descendents and daughters-in-law should wail and cry aloud. Offerings of incense and paper money are made. Once the wake is completed, the coffin is buried in the cemetary.

The normal Hindu practice is cremation.

In Zoroastrianism, the dead body is unclean and polluting. It can not therefore be either burned or buried, because that would sacrilegiously taint fire or earth. The body is therefore exposed on a Tower of Silence, so that vultures may eat it.

* The wearing of proper attire by the mourners. This generally is black -- a sober color -- or white, which is undyed and so simple. This is a mark of proper behavior, which of course is grieved.

Christian practice is generally burial, normally facing east, because of belief in the resurrection of the body. Because cremation has been used historically to express disbelief in resurrection, it has been discouraged and even banned. Grave goods are also not used. This is so prevalent that archeologists use burial <I>ad orientum</I> and lack of grave goods to determine whether a grave is Christian or pagan in times where either was possible (and observe that their findings grow much sparser as regions are Christianized and no grave goods are found).

* The setting aside of cemetaries and locations for dealing with funerals. Mixing this with the affairs of the living

Christian practice is generally burial, normally facing east, because of belief in the resurrection of the body. Because cremation has been used historically to express disbelief in resurrection, it has been discouraged and even banned.

* The setting aside of cemetaries and locations

One common trait is the wearing of proper attire by the mourners. This generally is black -- a sober color -- or white, which is undyed and so simple.

The normal Hindu practice is cremation.

In Shinto, an oracle decreed that the appropriate funeral rites are performed by a Buddhist priest, which is normal nowadays. Cremation and the burial of the ashes in a family plot are the common form.