Religious funeral customs in the United States differ mainly in three ways: how quickly the funeral happens, how the body is prepared, and whether burial or cremation is expected. Jewish and Muslim traditions call for prompt burial without embalming, Catholic funerals center on a funeral Mass and now permit cremation with conditions, and Hindu families customarily choose cremation. Within every faith, practice also varies by community, country of origin and family.
If you are arranging a funeral, the most reliable guidance comes from the family's clergy or religious community, together with a funeral home that serves that tradition regularly. This overview explains the general patterns so you know what to ask.
At a glance
| Tradition | Usual timing | Burial or cremation | Embalming and viewing | After the funeral |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish | As soon as possible, often within 24 hours | Burial | Generally avoided; closed casket | Shiva, usually seven days |
| Muslim | As soon as possible, often within 24 hours | Burial; cremation not permitted | Generally avoided | Mourning period, often three days |
| Catholic | Commonly within about a week | Burial preferred; cremation permitted | Common, with a vigil or wake | Memorial Masses |
| Protestant | Flexible | Either | Common | Varies |
| Eastern Orthodox | Commonly within a few days | Burial; cremation traditionally discouraged | Open casket common | Memorial services at set intervals |
| Hindu | Often prompt | Cremation | Body prepared by family | Rites over the following days |
| Buddhist | Varies | Often cremation | Varies | Rites often over several weeks |
| Latter-day Saint | Flexible | Burial generally preferred | Viewing common | Varies |
Jewish funerals
Jewish law places great emphasis on respect for the body and on burial as soon as possible, ideally within a day, though not on the Sabbath or major holidays.
- Preparation: a chevra kadisha (burial society) performs tahara, a ritual washing, and dresses the body in simple white shrouds. Someone may stay with the body until burial (a shomer).
- Casket: a plain wooden casket, often without metal, is traditional. Embalming and public viewing are generally avoided.
- Service: a short service at a funeral home, synagogue or graveside, with psalms, a eulogy and the memorial prayer. Mourners often help fill the grave.
- Mourning: shiva, usually seven days of mourning at home, followed by longer periods of remembrance. The Kaddish prayer is recited by mourners.
Practice differs among Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and other movements; some Reform families accept cremation, for example. Jewish funeral homes work closely with local burial societies and cemeteries.
Muslim funerals
Islamic practice also calls for burial as soon as possible.
- Preparation: ghusl, the ritual washing, is performed by family members or community volunteers of the same gender, and the body is wrapped in a simple cloth shroud (kafan).
- Prayer: the funeral prayer, Salat al-Janazah, is offered by the community, usually at a mosque or prayer area.
- Burial: the body is buried facing Mecca. Embalming is generally avoided, and cremation is not permitted. Where cemetery rules or state law require a casket or grave liner, a simple one is used.
- Mourning: relatives commonly receive visitors for three days, with a longer mourning period for a widow.
Muslim funeral homes and mosque-affiliated providers often have washing facilities and can arrange burial within a day.
Catholic funerals
The Catholic funeral rites usually have three parts:
- Vigil or wake, the evening before, often at the funeral home, with prayers or the Rosary. See viewing vs visitation vs wake.
- Funeral Mass at the parish church, with Scripture readings and the Eucharist. A funeral liturgy outside Mass is also possible.
- Rite of Committal at the cemetery or mausoleum.
The Church permits cremation, while still preferring burial of the body. Cremated remains should be treated with the same respect as a body: buried or placed in a columbarium or mausoleum, not scattered or kept at home. Many parishes prefer the body to be present for the funeral Mass with cremation afterward, though Mass with cremated remains present is allowed in the United States. See Catholic funeral homes.
Protestant and other Christian funerals
Protestant traditions (Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Pentecostal, nondenominational and others) vary widely. Common features include a visitation, a service at a church or funeral chapel with hymns, Scripture and a eulogy, and a committal. Most accept both burial and cremation. Many families choose a "celebration of life" format. Black church traditions often include a homegoing service with extended music and tributes. See Christian funeral homes.
Eastern Orthodox funerals
Greek, Russian, Serbian, Antiochian and other Orthodox churches generally hold a Trisagion prayer service and a funeral service in church, often with an open casket. Burial is the norm, and cremation has traditionally been discouraged; families should speak with their priest. Memorial services are held at set intervals after the death, commonly including the 40th day and the first anniversary.
Hindu funerals
Cremation is customary in Hindu tradition and is often arranged soon after death. Family members typically wash and dress the body, and a priest leads prayers. In India, a family member traditionally lights the funeral pyre; in the US, many crematories allow family to witness the start of the cremation or press the button that begins it, a practice sometimes called a witness cremation. Ashes may later be immersed in a river, including in India. Rites continue over the following days, often ending around the 13th day. Ask a crematory in advance whether it can accommodate witnesses. See what happens during cremation and crematories.
Buddhist funerals
Buddhist practice in the US reflects many cultures, including Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Tibetan and convert communities. Chanting by monks or lay members, an altar with a photo, incense and flowers are common. Cremation is often chosen, but burial is also practiced. Some traditions hold rites over 49 days after death. The family's temple is the best guide.
Latter-day Saint funerals
Funerals for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are usually held in a ward meetinghouse and conducted by the local bishop. Endowed members may be dressed in temple clothing, often by family members of the same gender. Burial is generally preferred, though cremation is not prohibited. A family prayer before the service and a dedication of the grave are common.
Questions to ask a funeral home
- Do you regularly serve families of this faith, and which clergy or congregations do you work with?
- Can you meet the timing requirement, including on weekends?
- Can family members or a burial society take part in washing and dressing the body?
- Do you offer refrigeration instead of embalming? (Under the FTC Funeral Rule, you may decline embalming in most situations.)
- Do you carry simple caskets or shrouds that meet religious requirements? You may also buy a casket elsewhere.
- Can you livestream the service for relatives abroad? See funeral homes with livestreaming.
For timing details, see how long after death is a funeral. To find a provider, browse by state or near me.