Choosing the type of ceremony to have for a lost loved one can be a tricky task. Do you stick with the traditional option or go for something a little more unconventional? The question that often arises when it comes to this time of life is, ‘What is a celebration of life ceremony?’ And ‘how does it differ from a regular funeral?’ In this piece, we will delve deeper into the basics of funeral ceremonies and celebrations of life and their unique traits and differences. Following your engagement, we hope that this will help support your decision on giving your loved one the send-off that suits them best.
Key Elements of a Funeral
A funeral is a traditional, formal ceremony that is held shortly after death. The functions of which usually include the following:
- Religious influences
Many, but not all, funerals have religious or cultural rituals such as prayers or hymns.
- Formal location
Funerals are mostly held within crematoriums, churches or cemeteries that are either close to the deceased home or that had a significance to their lives.
- Formal attire
Typically, those who attend funerals are required to wear black, formal clothing to pay their respects.
- Viewings
Funerals have the option to have an open casket, where friends and family members can view the deceased before the ceremony begins.
- Burial or cremation
Following a funeral service, you will expect to see the body cremated or buried with an additional graveyard service.
- Readings
A speech, eulogy and/or readings will be delivered by loved ones or a clergy member to narrate the deceased life.
- Sombre atmosphere
Guests are expected to express their grief respectfully, and the atmosphere is generally serious and focuses on the sadness of loss.
Key Elements of a Celebration of Life
A celebration of life is a much more modern way to say your final goodbyes and is generally what you imagine it to be. It focuses on the joy of a person’s life and achievements rather than the sadness of their death. Here’s the lowdown on the celebration of life:
- Casual setting
A celebration of life can be held wherever you fancy! Some families choose the deceased’s home, whereas others choose a location that is meaningful to the person, such as a beach, park, favourite restaurant or local community hall.
- Relaxed dress code
Unlike funerals, a celebration of life encourages its guests to dress far more casually. Some may express their desires to wear bright, happy colours, or others may suggest wearing the deceased favourite colour or dress in a theme that fits the deceased personality.
- Shared stories
Rather than just one to two speakers, a celebration of life welcomes any guest to share stories, favourite moments or funny memories of the deceased in a joyous manner. Some even choose to tribute the lost person by creating activities such as scrapbooks or messages in balloons.
- Uplifting tone
The whole focus of a celebration of life is exactly that, a celebration and not a sadness of one’s passing. The event is created to focus on the happy moments of the deceased, their achievements, and the way they have added joy to their guests’ lives.
- Flexible structure
A celebration of life does not conform to traditional timetables, and can be personalised to suit the personality of the deceased.
Celebration of Life vs Funeral
So, now you know the differences between a celebration of life vs a funeral, what do you think would work for your family? Here’s what we would recommend:
- Funeral
If the deceased and your family have a religious or cultural background, then we would say that a funeral is the way to go. This may also be the preferred option if your loved one was more traditional. Some families choose the same location for all of their family members’ funerals, so they choose this option as a sort of special tradition.
- Celebration of life
If your loved one was fun-loving, eccentric, or generally enjoyed doing things a little differently, then a celebration of life would suit them perfectly. Everything you can imagine is far from the norm, including the way you dress, the music you listen to and the type of anecdotes you share.
Celebration of Life vs a Funeral – A Personal Choice
As you can see, there is a lot to unpack when you think about a celebration of life vs funerals, but ultimately, what you decide depends on your family values, religion, personal preferences and of course, the unique taste of the deceased. But whatever you choose, the most important factor is expressing the love shared for the lost individual.