Unusual Funeral Rituals

[Marblez]

My mothers family, they have this unusual practice of burying their own dead. It is so important to my them that it was a deal breaker if the cemetery said no - they tried to claim it was a union violation but backed down when we threatened to go elsewhere.

Here is a picture from my mother's funeral....

[Homicidalheathen]

I have heard of people doing this, I think it is kinda cool.

Yup. I went to a biker funeral that was more of a party and we poored beer on his casket........he would have been happy.

[The_Dark]

In my mothers Family.. all prayers are done facing east and everyone tosses in at least one shovel of dirt.

My fathers family... well... everyone gets cremated and someone keeps the ashes.

[Homicidalheathen]

Wow I like the east idea. That is beautiful.

In my mothers Family.. all prayers are done facing east and everyone tosses in at least one shovel of dirt.

My fathers family... well... everyone gets cremated and someone keeps the ashes.

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[odims_sphere]

My mothers family, they have this unusual practice of burying their own dead.  It is so important to my them that it was a deal breaker if the cemetery said no - they tried to claim it was a union violation but backed down when we threatened to go elsewhere.

Let me start by saying that I worked in a cemetary for 8 years, and my father was a superintendant of one for about 25 years. Cemetaries generally will do whatever they can to accomidate people's wishes during the funeral. We would allow people to do similar things however from the cemetaries point of view they have to weigh the risk of possible injury and lawsuits aginst respecting a families wish. Say for example the bank had caved in and someone fell into the hole. The cemetary is now liable for any injuries to that person. Them saying that it was a union violation was their nice way of saying we don't really want to take the risk of people in an emotional state around an open and possibly unstable hole.

In no way did I mean to belittle your loss, and I apologize if it came off that way, I was just trying to give the cemetary's perspective.

[odims_sphere]

In my mothers Family.. all prayers are done facing east and everyone tosses in at least one shovel of dirt.

This is generally practiced by muslims. In fact in our cemetary all the plots were run north to south but when we decided to put in an Islamic garden we had to lay it out east to west.

Hindus had to be buried facing north-east. I never understood that but then again we didn't do very many of them. They also required that they be buried with nothing but a sheet. No casket, No vault, No clothes, just a sheet.

[Steven]

My mothers family, they have this unusual practice of burying their own dead.  It is so important to my them that it was a deal breaker if the cemetery said no - they tried to claim it was a union violation but backed down when we threatened to go elsewhere. 

Here is a picture from my mother's funeral....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I actually think this is a great idea.

it seems honerable to say goodbye this way, much more personal.

it also gives those who greive a chance to physically release.

I've never heard of this before. But i'm impressed with the idea...

[Homicidalheathen]

I suppose that is why I liked the east idea. I consider myself a hindue pagan of sorts....I have Shiva and Shakti on my altar at times. They consider east, not north...the direction of beginnings and creation.

[Onyx]

My mothers family, they have this unusual practice of burying their own dead.  It is so important to my them that it was a deal breaker if the cemetery said no - they tried to claim it was a union violation but backed down when we threatened to go elsewhere. 

Here is a picture from my mother's funeral....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I really like that idea somehow. I've never heard of that but somehow it seems it would be comforting.

My family doesn't have any rituals, but my parent's gravesites and funerals are prepaid. She was in debt for years and years after burying my grandfather and didn't want to see that happen to me and my brother and sister.

Now all we will have to do is contact the funeral home and all the arrangements are already made. I hope it's many years away too.

(((hugs to Marblez)))

[ManicQueen]

My family doesn't have any kind of rituals before, durring or after a funeral. Actually, everyone gets drunk afterwards but I think that's pretty common now a days.

Marblez, I think that is a beautiful thing. Is it culture or something else? Just me being nosey :grin

[Marblez]

I don't know where it came from, they are not particularly spiritual or anything.

[livininxtcgoth]

i've been to a lot of funerals in my short life.... 15, all people i was rather close to

and in not a single one of them was there any important ritual or event, anything unusual at all. they were all just the same... funerals...

my grandparents were placed ina tomb... first my grandmother whens he died, my grandfather thot this would be less unsettling than her having dirth thrown on her... but seeing your grandparents get shoved in a whole in the wall isnt exactly not unsettling either...

[Homicidalheathen]

This is the gothiest thread of all. :cheerful

[cptdeath]

we have a ritual

drinking sloe gin and fago red pop during the service.

i generally speak at a podium to the family.

then the whole family goes out to eat after.

about burying your own i would say that it's good. allows everyone to unite and face the situation together braveley. like when the kid had to man up and put his dog down in old yeller, he said "no pah it aint right for you to do it it's my dog so i supose i ought ta, (blam) "

also the tradition i think would be as old as grave robbers. who knows what would go on should you leave the service unattended. there are some folks who are quite unscrupulois and would happen to know alot of ways to bennefit.

[Homicidalheathen]

Faygo and Gin.......ICP crunk. Now there is a thought......an ICP funeral......I can just see it now.