Rituals and Traditions
Here you will find clear information about funerals and farewells: what is usually done, in what order, what rituals and traditions exist, and the different approaches to burial and cremation across religions, cultures and non-religious practice. We do not give instructions or tell you what the right thing to do is. We have brought together and explained existing practices and approaches so that you can quickly find the information you need and understand what may happen next.
The wishes of the person who has died should come first.
Whether you are religious or not, whatever faith or tradition you belong to, and however familiar you are with its customs, questions about death and funerals may one day matter to any of us. Sometimes we look for this information in advance, sometimes out of curiosity, and sometimes because something is worrying us or we simply want to understand what happens. Burial or cremation, a religious ceremony or a non-religious farewell, the traditions of different cultures – here you can find information about the things that matter to you or that you want to understand better. When someone close to us dies, even an expected death can leave us feeling lost and uncertain. At such a time, it is easy to forget things we once knew, overlook important details or simply not know what to do next. When arranging a funeral or farewell, the wishes of the person who has died should come first. Their faith, beliefs, traditions and any wishes they expressed during their lifetime should take precedence over the preferences of those making the arrangements. This section is here to help you find the information you need and to say goodbye in a way that respects what the person believed and what they wanted for their own funeral and farewell.
