22 guides
Faith & Culture
Every faith and culture marks a death in its own way, from the Catholic funeral Mass to Jewish shiva and Hindu antim sanskar. These guides explain the rites, the timing and what guests should know.
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Catholic Cremation Rules: What the Church Allows for AshesThe Catholic Church allows cremation but prefers burial. Learn the rules for ashes, what changed in the Vatican's December 2023 note, and how to plan. 6 min readPentecostal Funeral Traditions: What to Expect at a Homegoing ServiceWhat happens at a Pentecostal funeral or homegoing: the order of service, music, sermon and altar call, cremation views, repast, dress and etiquette for guests. 7 min readCatholic Mass of Christian Burial: What Happens and How to Plan ItWhat happens at a Catholic funeral Mass, from the vigil to the committal: the order of the rite, readings, music, eulogies, non-Catholic guests and planning. 6 min read
Every faith & culture guide
- 49 Days After Death in Buddhism: Meaning and RitualsWhat the 49 days of Buddhist mourning mean, how the bardo and seven-day services work, how traditions differ, and how families and guests can take part.
- Antim Sanskar: Hindu Last Rites Explained Step by StepWhat happens in a Hindu antim sanskar (antyesti): washing the body, the cremation rites, the ashes, the 13 days of mourning and shraddha.
- Buddhist Funeral Traditions: Rituals, the 49 Days and Guest EtiquetteHow Buddhist funerals work: cremation, chanting, merit-making, the 49 days of memorial prayers, how traditions differ, and what to do as a guest.
- Catholic Cremation Rules: What the Church Allows for AshesThe Catholic Church allows cremation but prefers burial. Learn the rules for ashes, what changed in the Vatican's December 2023 note, and how to plan.
- Catholic Mass of Christian Burial: What Happens and How to Plan ItWhat happens at a Catholic funeral Mass, from the vigil to the committal: the order of the rite, readings, music, eulogies, non-Catholic guests and planning.
- Church of England Funeral: What to Expect and What It CostsHow a Church of England funeral works: who can have one, the service step by step, Common Worship or Book of Common Prayer, and the 2026 fees.
- Hindu Cremation in India: Rituals, Ghats and What Families Need to DoHow a Hindu cremation works in India: the rites from mukhagni to asthi visarjan, wood pyre vs electric crematorium, and the paperwork families must file.
- Jewish vs Christian Burial: Differences, Costs and ChoicesHow Jewish and Christian burial differ on timing, body preparation, caskets, cremation and flowers, typical US costs, and how interfaith families choose.
- Latter-day Saint (Mormon) Funeral Traditions: What to ExpectWhat happens at a Latter-day Saint funeral: who leads it, the viewing, temple clothing, dedicating the grave, cremation and how the ward helps the family.
- Muslim Cemetery Requirements: Rules, Timeline and OptionsWhat Islamic burial requires of a cemetery: burial within about 24 hours, qibla-facing graves, shroud or simple casket, plus your options and costs in the US.
- Muslim Funeral Traditions: Janazah, Washing, Shrouding and BurialHow a Muslim funeral works: ghusl, the kafan shroud, the janazah prayer and burial, plus how to arrange one in the US and what to say and do as a guest.
- Pentecostal Funeral Traditions: What to Expect at a Homegoing ServiceWhat happens at a Pentecostal funeral or homegoing: the order of service, music, sermon and altar call, cremation views, repast, dress and etiquette for guests.
- Presbyterian Funeral Traditions: What to ExpectWhat happens at a Presbyterian funeral, called a service of witness to the resurrection: the order of worship, music, cremation views and how to plan one.
- Quaker Funeral Traditions: What to Expect at a MeetingWhat happens at a Quaker funeral or memorial meeting: silent worship, spoken ministry, no set liturgy, who leads it, burial or cremation, and how to take part.
- Religious Cemetery Requirements: Catholic, Jewish and Muslim Burial RulesWhat Catholic, Jewish and Muslim cemeteries require on timing, cremation, caskets and vaults, plus the questions to ask any cemetery before you buy a plot.
- Religious Funeral Services: Customs by Faith and PlanningHow religious funerals differ by faith, from Catholic, Jewish and Muslim customs to Hindu, Buddhist and Latter-day Saint services, and how to plan one.
- Scattering Ashes in the Ganges: Rites, Rules and Taking Ashes to IndiaHow asthi visarjan works, where families immerse ashes in the Ganges, and how to carry ashes from the US to India: documents, the consulate and airline rules.
- Shinto Funeral Traditions: Rites, Customs and EtiquetteHow a Shinto funeral works, from the wake and spirit tablet to tamagushi offerings and the 50-day rites, and why most Japanese funerals are Buddhist.
- Shiva: What It Is, How It Works and What to Do When You VisitWhat shiva is, how the seven days of Jewish mourning work, how to set up a shiva house, and what to do, bring and say when you make a shiva call.
- Sikh Funeral Traditions: Antam Sanskar ExplainedWhat happens at a Sikh funeral (antam sanskar): preparing the body, the five Ks, cremation, Kirtan Sohila and Ardas, the scripture reading and ashes.
- Tahara Ritual: How the Jewish Washing and Shrouding of the Body WorksWhat happens during a tahara, the Jewish ritual washing of the body before burial: who performs it, the three steps, shrouds, shemira and key terms.
- Zoroastrian Funeral Traditions: The Tower of Silence and Modern PracticeHow a traditional Zoroastrian (Parsi) funeral works: why the dead are not buried or cremated, the Tower of Silence, the sagdid, and how practice is changing.