How many honorary pallbearers are at a funeral?
How many honorary pallbearers are at a funeral?
Six pallbearers are the standard number needed to carry the casket, but eight or more are sometimes necessary. An honorary pallbearer is one who is given special mention and recognition, but is not required to assist in carrying the casket.
How many pallbearers are usually needed?
The traditional format regarding the number of pallbearers is 6, primarily due to the length of the standard casket, so that 3 people on either side can conveniently carry the casket. Most caskets have additional handles at each end which will accommodate 2 more bearers.
Where do pallbearers sit at a funeral?
Pallbearers typically sit together in one of the first rows on the right. At some funerals, pallbearers sit with their family or friends in the congregation. If this is the case, just make sure that you speak with the funeral director so you understand when you are required to leave your seat to help move the casket.
What do pallbearers wear at a funeral?
Unless the family expresses a desire otherwise, it is customary in most cases for pallbearers to wear a suit, sports coat, and optional tie. It is not necessary, of course, but the dress represents the dignity & respect of the role. Plan to arrive about 30 minutes prior to the funeral service.
Can a girl be a pallbearer?
Traditionally, pallbearers in the funeral service are not members of the family. For women or for anyone who is not physically capable of lifting the casket, they can act as honorary pallbearer and walk in front or at the back of the casket.
What is the handle on a casket called?
A handle on a casket was called a huckle. Holliday, the gun fighting dentist, was raised in a gentile Georgia home, where he would have been aware of such a phrase. Thus, Doc Holliday may have been saying that he’d be to bury Ringo. Since they were about to get into a gunfight, this makes perfect sense.
Why is it called pallbearer?
A pall is a heavy cloth that is draped over a coffin. Thus the term pallbearer is used to signify someone who “bears” the coffin which the pall covers. In Roman times, a soldier wore a cape or cloak called the pallium.
Who sits in the front at a funeral?
Immediate family members and close friends sit at the front of the venue during the funeral service, with other close family members in the seats or pews behind.
What is funeral etiquette?
Traditional funeral etiquette dictates that you should introduce yourself, starting with your name and how you knew the deceased. Express your condolences and move on. Don’t monopolize the mourners. Give others a chance to share their support.
Can a female carry a coffin?
Both men and women can be pallbearers, and many people often choose either family members or close friends of the deceased to carry the coffin. Traditionally, there are four to six pallbearers at a funeral, depending on the weight of the coffin.
What does it mean to be a pallbearer at a funeral?
: a person who helps to carry the coffin at a funeral also : a member of the escort or honor guard of the coffin who does not actually help to carry it.
What does it mean when a casket is carried on the shoulders?
This honorary status is reserved for friends or relatives who are elderly, who otherwise could not bear the weight, or for others not chosen to be among the active, first six.
How many pallbearers should there be at a funeral?
Traditionally, there are six pallbearers at a funeral, as there are usually six handles on a casket (three on each side), though there are often two handles on the front and back sides of a casket, allowing for eight pallbearers.
What do pallbearers wear at a Catholic funeral?
Pallbearers play a central role in helping to carry the casket during a funeral. You may see some of them in white gloves usually worn to signify respect for the deceased or as a sign of purity. Depending on the underlying tradition of the specific catholic community, you may have both pallbearers and casket bearers.
How are pallbearers chosen in the Catholic Church?
In most traditions including modern catholic practices, pallbearers are chosen from among family members, close friends or even colleagues of the departed. In some cases, the pallbearers could be hired from outside depending on the wishes of the family. There is no gender exclusivity as to who becomes a pallbearer.
What should you consider when choosing a pallbearer?
When choosing a pallbearer you should consider age in terms of strength and maturity. As long as the candidate is physically able to lift their share of the coffin and will treat the task with the respect it deserves, they could be any age.