It is customary to bring food to a grieving family, and a good rule of thumb is to bring something simple that can be easily reheated. The gathering after a funeral often has light food known as a repast, which is served to provide something for mourners to eat.
The gathering after a funeral usually has food and drinks and serves as a venue to offer one's condolences to the family. This is also commonly known as a repast. While it's not required to host a reception after a funeral, it serves as an event to aid people in their grieving process.
Today, although symbolic rituals around food and mourning still exist, food's most important purpose is to comfort the mourners. Across cultures in America, whether it's Jewish or Mormon, Italian or Southern Black, food is often provided by the community for the family of the deceased.
Proper etiquette suggests that people should acknowledge receipt of gifts and personal messages with thank you notes, even after a funeral. Expert etiquette website, EmilyPost.com, says there is only one exception to this rule: if the card does not contain a personalized message it does not require a thank you note.
After the funeral, the family and close relatives to the deceased are supposed to refrain from entertainment and merry-making. This is a basic rule that should be adhered to during such times and events. A period of 49 days is prescribed for this as a way of showing respect to the departed family member.
Leave the bad luck at the funeral, and bring good luck home. In Chinese culture, red is the color of good luck, and the coin represents fortune. Before guests arrive home, they should eat the candy and spend the coin to seal their luck. Families in other regions may present guests with a red thread instead.
What Is a Mercy Meal? In the Greek Orthodox and Catholic religions, a mercy meal is offered after the burial service. The mercy meal is an informal event that allows the family to gather and celebrate the deceased's life with one another. It's very similar to a funeral repast offered by other religions.
Bakers and families may have their own special funeral cake recipes that are traditionally served in their church, social circle, or family. Beyond those special traditional recipes, classic cakes that are easy and can serve a crowd are good options to serve at funerals.
Platters start arriving once news of a loss spreads through a community or as the evening of the wake approaches — casseroles and pasta bakes in easily reheatable aluminum pans; buckets of fried chicken from KFC, Popeyes or Church's with baked beans and pasta salads; sweet treats like red velvet cake or banana pudding.
A funeral reception luncheon, or funeral repast, is a gathering for a meal after the funeral service. The person who hosts the luncheon will decide with the family to hold the event at a restaurant, banquet hall, or someone's home.
No one will offer food to comfort those who mourn for the dead--not even for a father or a mother--nor will anyone give them a drink to console them. "And do not enter a house where there is feasting and sit down to eat and drink.
Eat well: A well-balanced diet can help you withstand the stress of grieving, says Harvard Medical School. Eat lots of vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins, and don't forget to drink plenty of water. It's easy to get dehydrated when you're busy grieving!
A repast or reception is an important part of the funeral process. By bringing everyone together in a less formal atmosphere, it provides a wonderful opportunity for guests to express their sympathies to the family of the deceased.
Likewise, it is totally acceptable to attend the funeral service but not the reception. If you have to miss the function, try to say a quick goodbye to the family after the service and let them know you are unable to join them afterwards.
Do not give a toast at a funeral. If you find yourself with a small intimate group of people after a funeral or memorial service, you may want to provide a toast.
If you're attending a funeral with a potluck lunch afterward, you'll want to bring a dessert with enough portions to at least feed your family plus one more. Desserts don't have to require a ton of preparation, complex storage, or serving instructions to be crowd-pleasers.
When someone is experiencing grief, sending a delicious warm healthy meal is a wonderful way to show support and comfort. Through this simple act of giving, you can help ease one of the situational burdens families face during the weeks and months following the loss of a loved one.
Some pagan traditions believe that the soul of a recently deceased person continues to wander the earth for forty days; other religious traditions believe the soul will rest in the Lord's hands after death. The number 40 is often used in many spiritual traditions, but the specific reason is unknown.
Flowers, sympathy cards, custom keepsakes, and donations are all appropriate gifts to bring to a funeral. While a gift is certainly not required, it can be a thoughtful way to communicate your love for those grieving. Flower and plant arrangements can often be sent to the funeral home prior to the service.
Refrain from trimming your nails or hair, as these have been given by one's parents. During the initial days of their passing, such acts must be avoided.
To avoid Bacteria or any other such thing from the Burial / Funeral Ground to enter into the house, or not to contaminate things by touching it; hence they tell you to take a bath or do not touch anything until you take a bath.
After paying respects to the dead and performing the last rites it is prescribed by tradition that the person take a bath and wash his/her clothes before entering their house. This is done to purify themselves and make themselves fit for their household activities.