Funerals by faith
What happens at the funeral
Two kinds of people read a page like this. Someone arranging a funeral for the first time, who needs to know what is expected of them. And someone who has been invited to one and is quietly worried about getting it wrong. Both are welcome here.
Sikh funerals
What happens at a Sikh funeral, from the time of death to the tenth day: antam sanskar, cremation, Kirtan Sohila, and what to expect if you attend.
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Muslim funerals
What happens at a Muslim funeral: ghusl, kafan, salat al-Janazah, why burial follows so quickly, and what to expect if you are attending one.
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Jewish funerals
What happens at a Jewish funeral: taharah, tachrichim, burial within a day, and the stages of mourning from shiva through sheloshim.
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Catholic funerals
What happens at a Catholic funeral: the Vigil, the Funeral Mass and the Rite of Committal, plus what the Church permits on cremation and ashes.
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Orthodox Christian funerals
What happens at an Orthodox funeral: the panikhida, the sung service, the final kiss, and the memorials on the third, ninth and fortieth days.
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Protestant funerals
What happens at a Protestant funeral, from a set Anglican or Lutheran liturgy to a free church service with no fixed text, plus cremation and ashes.
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Still being written
Guides to Hindu, Buddhist and Humanist funerals are in progress. We are writing them one at a time and checking each against named sources rather than publishing a full set quickly and getting some of it wrong. In the meantime you can read how each tradition answers questions about death and what follows it.
Explore the questions