All cultures hold funerals for the dead. These can be simple or elaborate and can vary in length. Funerals can be a way of honouring and re-affirming relations with the dead and a celebration of their lives.
In many cultures, a funeral of some kind is seen as necessary, particularly in accordance with religious duty. They can be a way of ensuring the deceased’s transition to the afterlife, resurrection or reincarnation.
[3D scans - Egyptian pot, Peruvian pot, Sikh mourning wear]
Funerals can also be a way of expressing wealth and status. Some people, however, choose not to have a funeral at all, instead opting for a ‘direct’ cremation or burial. This shift may be caused by the decline in the role of religion, the increasing cost of living, or concerns for the environment.
Have you experienced a funeral? How did it make you feel?