A Comprehensive Guide for Etiquettes and Traditions of a Christian Funeral

As per Christian beliefs, dying is simply the end of a person’s life on earth, with their soul living on in the afterlife. If you are attending a Christian funeral, expect a lot of prayers and references to heaven. The Christian funeral has three goals:

- Reflect on a person’s life on earth

- Pray to the Lord that the deceased enters heaven

- Offer strength to family and friends to cope with the loss

In Singapore, a Christian funeral is one of the most common types of funerals alongside Taoist, Buddhist, and Chinese funerals. If you are going to attend a Christian funeral service in Singapore for the first time, it is important to know the etiquettes and traditions so as not to offend anyone unknowingly.

Traditions at a Christian funeral:

The funeral is held a week after the death and there may be a wake or viewing if the family prefers. The funerals are mostly held in a church led by a priest or minister which is followed by the burial. If the family goes for cremation, the ashes of the loved one are kept in a cremation urn.

Funeral etiquettes

The Christian funeral service is led by a minister and prayers are said. The guests are encouraged to sing and read along with the proceedings. The dress code at a Christian funeral is dark colours, with men dressing up in black suits and a tie while women normally don black pantsuits/ skirts/ dresses. In some communities, it is mandatory for women to wear hats too.

After the funeral, guests usually express a few words of sympathy for the grieving family. Attendees offer condolences and it typically happens outside the church.

A Christian funeral service typically lasts for half an hour but might be longer if there is a big crowd attending the funeral. You can bring flowers to the funeral and also write simple messages on a sympathy card for the grieving family.

Search the web for more information and suggestion on the customs and etiquettes of a Christian funeral services in Singapore. Also, you can seek advice of your family and close friends about what to do and what not to at a Christian funeral to avoid embarrassment and prevent yourself from offending their religious beliefs unknowingly.