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Caskets, open or closed?

TheCatWoman

I've wondered about this for ages, but the Pope's funeral made me think of it again, is it just us British or a Protestant thing not to have open caskets? I know the Americans are very keen on them, they seem to get a bit freaked out by cremations too.

Parents

  • It's more a religious based thing as far as I am aware (open caskets)  but this is for Catholics and Protestants.  Perhaps there's too many non-believers about these days? 

    Apparently though, the cremation rate is steadily rising in the US and  as many get cremated as are buried now.  


    **The things you must wonder about never cease to amaze me !

  • in reply to overwhelmed & underwhelmed ( O & U )

    My dad didn't want a fuss or even a funeral when he died, he was cremated in the pyjamas he died in and said he thought it a waste to burn a good set of clothes that someone else could make good use from. We saw him and said our goodbyes as he was dying and after he'd died whilst he was still at home waiting for the undertakers.

    I've only ever been to one other funeral, so I don't know what happens at others, the other funeral was a Catholic one, I just sat politely and stayed quiet, interested, confused and amazed at what went on, all the stuff about the Pope and saints, the priest kept staring at me, I think he knew I was a not a Catholic and he seemed a bit hostile, I don't know why though.

    I'd wondered about it having read several American books that refer to open caskets as normal, so I wondered if this was an American thing, or a Catholic thing.

  • in reply to TheCatWoman

    Speaking as someone who was *supposed* to be Catholic, I would say that it depends on how seriously those involved take the religion and ceremony.   There are various different churches within the Catholic faith too, and each has different levels of ceremony and service - just like you'd have a high mass or not.  I guess if you wanted all the trimmings, so to speak, and a traditional service - including the open casket before-hand, then this would form part of the arrangement.  Often the priest would be on hand to meet and greet as mourners came to pay respects at the coffin too.  I'd point out that if you pay, you get what you desire (with all due respect)

  • in reply to TheCatWoman

    Yes, you have 'High' and 'Low' mass in a Catholic church.  If you have a Requiem Mass at a funeral, this includes a Holy Communion and lasts for ages (certainly compared to a Protestant service, or most other funeral services).

    Silly me, I didn't mention the wake. 

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  • in reply to TheCatWoman

    Yes, you have 'High' and 'Low' mass in a Catholic church.  If you have a Requiem Mass at a funeral, this includes a Holy Communion and lasts for ages (certainly compared to a Protestant service, or most other funeral services).

    Silly me, I didn't mention the wake. 

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