Planning a Funeral During the Holidays: Timing, Closures and Costs

You can hold a funeral at any time of year, but holidays slow the paperwork and can raise cemetery fees. Funeral homes can usually care for the person right away. Government offices, many cemeteries and some venues close on public holidays, so the service itself often takes place days or weeks later than it otherwise would. You are never required to rush, and a simple arrangement now with a fuller memorial later is a common solution.

What closes and what stays open over the holidays?

Different parts of the process run on different schedules.

• Funeral homes. Many take calls for a death at any hour and can collect and care for the person on a holiday. Meetings to plan the service may wait until staff are back.
• Vital records offices. Death certificates are issued by the state or local vital records office where the death occurred, and the CDC says the federal government does not distribute vital records. Public offices are generally closed on public holidays, so permits and certified copies can be delayed.
• Cemeteries and crematories. Many have reduced hours or extra charges on weekends and holidays. Call the cemetery directly and ask what days they will open a grave.
• Churches, halls and venues. Clergy, organists and venue staff may be away or booked for holiday events.

Ask the funeral director what they can do in each area, and get any closed days in writing or by email so you can plan around them.

Which holidays affect funerals in late 2026 and early 2027?

The US dates come from the Office of Personnel Management's federal holiday list, and the UK dates from GOV.UK. State and local governments set their own holidays, and some add days, so check with your county.

Does a holiday funeral cost more?

It can. The funeral home's own charges are listed on its General Price List, which the FTC Funeral Rule says it must give you, so ask whether any weekend, holiday or after-hours charges apply. The larger difference often comes from the cemetery. Two 2026 fee schedules show the pattern:

These are examples, not national averages, and many cemeteries charge less or nothing extra. Our guide to opening and closing fees explains what the fee covers, and weekday vs weekend funeral costs looks at the difference. Flowers, catering and travel for guests can also cost more at peak times, although those prices vary by place and supplier.

Hold the service now or wait until after the holidays?

There is no right answer. These points help families decide.

Waiting is common. The FTC says no state law requires routine embalming for every death, although some states require embalming or refrigeration if the body is not buried or cremated within a certain time. Ask the funeral home how long they can care for the body and whether they charge for it, and check your state's rules with them. Our guide on how long after death a funeral takes place gives typical timelines.

The two-part approach

Many families split the funeral into two parts during the holidays.

1. Now: direct cremation or immediate burial. The FTC says these are options that don't require any form of preservation, and funeral homes must list their prices for both. There is usually no gathering, so there is no need to book a venue or coordinate travel.
2. Later: a memorial service or celebration of life, when the weather is better, travel is easier and people have time to come. See planning a memorial service and direct cremation.

If relatives cannot travel at all, a livestream or hybrid service lets them take part from home.

What about the UK?

If you are arranging a funeral in the UK, a doctor confirms the death and a medical examiner confirms the cause of death before you register it. GOV.UK says to register the death within 5 days in England and Wales, or 8 days in Scotland, and that this period includes weekends and bank holidays. Contact the register office straight away if you need more time. The registrar gives you the paperwork your funeral director needs before the service can go ahead. In England and Wales, the bank holidays are Christmas Day on Friday, December 25, and a substitute Boxing Day on Monday, December 28, with New Year's Day on Friday, January 1, 2027. Scotland and Northern Ireland have some different bank holidays, so check GOV.UK. Read more in our guide to registering a death in the UK.

Looking after yourself during the holidays

A death close to a holiday can make the season harder. You do not have to attend gatherings or keep traditions, and you can ask someone else to handle calls and messages. Our guides on grief during the holidays and planning a funeral while grieving may help.

What to do next

1. Call a funeral home, even on a holiday, and ask what they can do now and what has to wait.
2. Ask the funeral home and cemetery about closed days and any weekend or holiday charges before you choose a date.
3. Decide whether to hold the service soon or split it into two parts.
4. Tell faith leaders and close family your plan, then let others know once details are set.