Traditional Funerals Make Way for Life Celebrations

Across cultures, humans have rituals and celebrations to mark milestones in the cycle of birth, life and death. These occasions are deeply connected to culture, and just as cultures and societies are ever-changing, these traditions evolve and change over time even while remaining rooted in tradition. End of life rituals are no different.

In recent decades, there has been a shift away from traditional funeral services towards celebrations of life. This change reflects a growing preference for individualized, personalized occasions that allow friends and family to connect to the deceased in a unique and meaningful way.

While both traditional funerals and modern life celebrations can be profoundly meaningful, life celebrations are an opportunity to pay tribute and say farewell to the deceased in a personalized way. Many individuals are opting for life celebrations for themselves and their loved ones because they better reflect the values and preferences of their family or community.

When choosing between a traditional funeral and a life celebration, it is important to consider what the deceased would have wanted, but the emotional and spiritual needs of the family and community are also important.

Differences Between Funerals and LIfe Celebrations :-

Traditional funeral services and life celebrations are similar in many ways, and they serve the same most important functions. They are both ceremonies that feature the gathering of people with a shared loss. They allow the deceased's family and community to acknowledge and together grieve a shared loss. They both provide the grieving family with support by surrounding them with friends and community. And finally, they both serve to ritually move the deceased from one social order to another; from life to death or the afterlife.

The main difference between funerals and life celebrations is that one is more rooted in tradition, while the other is more rooted in the individual life and personality of the deceased. Another difference is that the body is present at a funeral, but not at a celebration of life.

Funerals are usually ordered according to traditionally prescribed stages and rituals and are often defined by spiritual and religious meaning. Traditional funerals tell a story about life and death, and the transition from one state to the next, often in the context of larger spiritual and religious meanings.

A life celebration is more about telling, and celebrating, the story of a person's life.

Either approach can provide family and friends with a great deal of comfort, depending on the values and practices of the deceased's community.

Benefits of a Celebration of Life :-

The main reason that people choose celebrations of life over traditional funerals is personalization. This is especially true if the deceased was not a very traditionally religious person. A life celebration is a chance to craft a meaningful and personalized celebration that reflects the personality and values of the deceased as an individual. A celebration of life taylored to the deceased's individuality helps guests to connect to the deceased in a personal and meaningful way as they make their farewells.

The other reason that celebrations of life are increasingly popular is more practical. Funerals must take place before the body is buried or cremated, but celebrations of life usually happen after the body has been cared for. Therefore they can take place at any time, even days, weeks or months after the deceased's passing.

This allows time for the family to plan a meaningful occasion and for families spred far and wide to gather. It also allows time for private grieving, and for the family to grieve and commemorate their loved one when they are ready.

Planning a Celebration of Life :-

Whether choosing a traditional funeral or modern life celebration, it is best to start planning for end of life while your loved one is still around to participate in the discussion. While these conversations can be difficult or intimidating for many people, they can also be wonderful opportunities to get to know your loved one more deeply. Learning about your loved one's end of life wishes can be very personal, and a chance to know their most cherished values and how they reflect upon their life.

If the deceased never shared their wishes, then the process of planning a life celebration can be a chance for close family and friends to reflect together on their loved one's life and personality as they create a personalised celebration of that person's life.

With the flexibility of life celebrations, the ways to commemorate and celebrate your loved one are nearly endless. Any aspect of the occasion can be tailored to the personality, preferences and unique quirks of the deceased. Often celebrations of life center around sharing memories and stories of the deceased. It can be a good idea to provide guests with different ways of sharing, such as speaking and sharing publicly, or providing notecards or a guestbook to share more privately. Share moments from their life with a photo memory board, slideshow or commemorative video. Music, food and even activities can be chosen to reflect the things the deceased loved in life. Instead of reading traditional funeral verses and scriptures, many choose to read meaningful poems and passages reminiscent of the deceased.

Celebrations of life can also be arranged in conjunction with any number of traditional funeral practices, including viewing the body, graveside committal ceremony, burial or scattering of the ashes.

If you are unsure how to plan for the meaningful funeral service that is right for you and your family, one of our experienced Prearrangement Advisors can guide you through creating a comprehensive funeral plan.