History of Funerals - How Funerals Have Evolved Over Time

As old as humanity itself, the funeral has changed in some respects, yet in other respects, it hasn't changed at all. While many funerals are steeped in religion and in tradition, in today's world, funerals have evolved to the place where such modern aspects such as the internet have become an integral part of the process. Whether it's a burial mound or cave from the Neanderthals of three hundred thousand years ago, or the launching into space of the ashes of our loved ones, the memorial of a funeral transcends all the ceremonies.

There is evidence that long before homo sapiens became the dominant species, the Neanderthals buried their dead with gifts of flowers. Some will argue that this means the Neanderthals had a belief in an afterlife, but there are those that would simply state the flowers were placed with the body in remembrance and in hopes the body would come back to life. Regardless of the purpose, flowers were placed with the deceased.

As humanity expanded and became more emotive, funerals became more elaborate. Funeral mounds and piles of stones became common, both as a way to dispose of the body, but as a way to mark it as well. As time passed, and people of importance gained power, these funeral mounds evolved all the way to the Great Pyramids in Egypt. Excavations of these tombs have revealed much of the ceremony that surrounded the funeral processions of the Pharaohs, and, as a byproduct, the funeral processions of the less fortunate.

Funerals in Ireland, Scotland and England all honored the earth, most often with bodies buried with plates of salt and earth as symbolism of the body and soul. The Greeks, Romans and Asians all have esoteric rites and symbolism. Most funerals are a remembrance or a memorial, some are a celebration of the life and, especially when the deceased lived a particularly long time, the celebrations can be quite happy.

Funerals have evolved both in complexity and simplicity as the ages have passed. Even in modern times, caskets range from the simple boxes of pine to place the bodies of troops in multiple wars, to caskets made of precious metals and elaborately carved wood for the powerful and privileged. Ceremonies to honor and memorialize every variety of faith and belief, whether it be Christian, Jewish, Muslim or even retro beliefs like Druidism and even Green/Environmentalist beliefs have a place in today's funerals. State funerals for dignitaries and significant politicians and even celebrities can involve hundreds of people and can have thousands, even hundreds of thousands of mourners sharing from around the world. The advent of satellites, television and the internet have expanded the reach of people, and as a natural result, the scope of a funeral can reach around the world.

About the Author

Johney Maron, medical device salesman, comes across a need for many different items. Dignified Caskets helps you save money and offers free nationwide delivery for burial caskets to most areas within 25 miles of a major airport in the United States. From wood caskets to steel and everything in between, Dignified Caskets lives up to their name by standing behind every casket they sell.

Author (Johney Maron33). Submitted on Sat, 5 Jun 2010 Time: 2:12 PM

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