The funeral industry has really expanded over the past 20 years in Poland and services include embalming, a wide choice of coffins, fancy hearses, etc. are now widely avaiable. But are there any American-style funeral parlours where relatives and friends come to pay their respects and can view the deceased in an open coffin? Usually people just come to church in Poland where the closed coffin is already on a catafalque at the altar. Also, is the funeral reception as popular in Poland as it is across the US Polonia?
FUNERALS IN TODAY'S POLAND
jump_bunny 5 | 236
5 Jul 2009 / #2
As far as I'm concerned, coffin would be open while family and friends say their last goodbyes.
But only briefly. In America it is open all day at the funeral home or even two days as family and friends come to pay their last respects and sign a memorial book. Used to be 3 days.
jump_bunny 5 | 236
5 Jul 2009 / #4
But only briefly.
Why do you exactly find it a bad thing?
Well, friends and relatives trickle in all day, sometimes two days. Some drive in from a considerable distance. They all come to pay their last respects and bid farewell to their loved and not just view a closed coffin lid.
FUNERALS IN TODAY'S POLAND
toss a body in a hole... cover up with flowers and candles... and then organize a party called "stypa" and drink until everybody passes out...
i don't like funerals...
But only briefly. In America it is open all day at the funeral home or even two days as family and friends come to pay their last respects and sign a memorial book. Used to be 3 days.
I think it has (had?) to do with technology. Most of the time the body was stored in a church (usually briefly, right before the funeral) and in a home before that. With no A/C a body left to heat will not look too well to be displayed.
Last week, here in Niagara, I attended a funeral of a friend's one week old baby boy. The tiny coffin was not even open at all.