Funeral Customs

AN exhaustive treatise on funeral customs, ancient and modern, has yet to be written.


Leaving to the theologian and philosopher the thankless task of assigning the mystery of death its proper place and functions in the scheme of creation, the writer has confined himself to a general survey of those practices which surround the physical fact of death, a subject which is as immense as it is fascinating.


Whilst investigation shows that almost all our present usages have their origin in stupid pagan superstitions, they have none the less an interest of their own to record.


It is a wholesome sign that a more enlightened public is slowly releasing death from much of its ugly trappings, for—“Death, beautiful in itself, is only made terrible by groans and convulsions and a discoloured face, and friends weeping and blacks and obsequies.” So wrote Bacon three hundred years ago in his “Essay on Death.” “But above all, believe me,” he concludes, “the sweetest canticle is Nunc Dimittis.”


This classic includes the following chapters:


I. The Provisions of Nature

II. Death Warnings—When Does Death Take Place?

III. Preparation for Burial, Coffins, “Grave-Goods,” Suttee

IV. Wakes, Mutes, Wailers, Sin-Eating, Totemism, Death-Taxes

V. Bells, Mourning

VI. Funeral Feasts and Processions

VII. Early Burial-Places

VIII. Churchyards, Cemeteries, Orientation and Other Burial Customs

IX. Trees, Flowers, Body-Snatching

X. Plague

XI. State and Public Funerals

XII. Cremation, Embalming

XIII. In Memoriam

XIV. Memorials, Epitaphs, Rings and Mourning Cards