Religion is one of the most basic factors in deciding how long after death funerals of the deceased and his or her family. Many faith traditions have strict rules regarding how much time is to be allowed after a loved one passes before the body is buried. We are going to explain how each religion affects the planning of burial, cremation, or memorial service.
In Catholicism, a 2-day wake is traditional, with the funeral and interment on the third day after death. While once forbidden, cremation is now accepted in most Catholic parishes, and a cremation memorial may be scheduled, giving the family more flexibility when scheduling the service.
Mainline Christian denominations (Methodist, Baptist, Nazarene, etc.) also traditionally observe the 3-day rule—although less strictly than in Catholic tradition. A viewing or visitation prior to burial is typical. If the body is cremated, cremation before or after the funeral is allowed, giving the family of the deceased more options for paying their respects.
In Jewish tradition, it is seen as disrespectful to the body to delay the burial. Funerals are held as quickly after death as possible—within 24 hours for Orthodox Jews when possible—allowing for family travel and other scheduling issues. There are also a number of Holy Days when funeral services are not held.
Muslim burial ideally takes place within 24 hours or before the next sunset following the death, and after the traditional bathing and enshrouding of the body. Cremation is forbidden.
Today, almost all of these faiths show increasing flexibility when it comes to burial traditions, allowing for the fact that families are often far-flung and may have to travel great distances to attend services. Even if your church or synagogue is fairly conservative or traditional, you will have some leeway about when to hold the funeral after death.
