Funerals are state of family ceremonies conducted after the death of a person, in his memory. It involves a number of rites and rituals that are specific to the culture of the dead person.

Most Christian funerals have rites that are categorised into three main parts – visitation, funeral and burial. The first two parts, which are the most essential ones as far as ritualistic aspects are concerned, are discussed below.

The first ceremony is the visitation, when the deceased is laid in a coffin for public viewing by friends and relatives. The body is dressed up in the best clothes and any jewellery that belonged to the person who has died. Embalming of the body for this occasion is not a compulsory ritual in every community.

Visitation mostly includes a display of photos of the dead person by the family or a display of items that were cherished by the departed while he was alive. Some families also like to do a video or slideshow from the lifetime of the deceased.

This service is succeeded by a memorial service, also called a funeral, which is held normally inside a church. The coffin with the body in it is carried in a vehicle to the church, surrounded by a funeral procession of mourners. The coffin with its floral decoration is then placed inside the church.

The service usually entails reciting lines from the Holy Scriptures or the Bible and praying for the deceased. Devotional songs are also sung by the mourners in chorus. This is followed by a comforting speech delivered by the pastor presiding over the proceedings of the funeral and tributes by the family and friends, who then fondly recollect the deceased and his life. Sometimes, mourners are allowed to see the deceased for the last time before it is taken for burial. Church bells are also sometimes rung after the service.

Once these services are over, the deceased is taken in a funeral cortege for burial, which finally concludes the funeral ceremony.

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