what to wear to a zoroastrian funeral. For example, solar concentrators are used within the structures to focus the heat on new bodies. The only country in the world where these remain legal is India, the country with the most practicing Zoroastrians. In the Zoroastrian religion, its not appropriate to express grief outwardly. Though an ancient religion, Zoroastrianism is still practiced today. If you're wearing a tie, make sure to play it down. The most traditional Zoroastrian burial custom is the use of Towers of Silence. What if I have a haltered styled dress and my shoulders are out? Slacks and a sweater. Would black boot be dumb to wear for spring funeral if that is all i have? Zoroastrians are famous for their tradition of exposure or 'laying out the dead'. Boots, loafers, or dress shoes. After this, mourning is no longer a common cultural practice. Cissy. 10 Facts About Zoroastrian Funerals, Where They Feed The Dead To Vultures On Towers. If you are unsure what to wear to a funeral, it's best to stick to a more conservative outfit like we've outlined below. Zoroaster prescribed a penalty of 1000 stripes to any one who would throw clothes upon a dead body. Black is almost always the preferred choice. When in doubt, err on the side of more formal and more traditional. On the other hand, if you are not very familiar with the family then it is always best to be safe and dress in more formal attire. Today, Towers of Silence are rare, and many Zoroastrians have adapted to more modern funeral practices. These are white cotton wraps. 12. In most cases, no color is off-limits as long as it is a subdued rather than bright color. What to Wear for Women The main things to look for in a funeral outfit for women are: A dress, skirt or suit Not revealing - be knee length and shoulders covered Dark or muted colors Smart/formal footwear Minimal jewellery/accessories Funerals are by and large traditional in their nature. A classic look, always appropriate, perfectly accessorized with simple necklace and earrings. Those practicing Buddhism have a wide range of clothing traditions, but you will not want to wear bright-colored clothing. For men, a conservative suit or tailored dress pants and a blazer are appropriate for most funerals. Thanks for the question! Keep a formal jacket on hand to dress up an outfit and adapt to the temperature. Zoroastrian believers also live in Iran, Kurdistan, and immigrant communities throughout the world. For women, a wrap dress is a good option, as is a cropped-leg jumpsuit or simply an elegant round-neck dress. In general, some things remain the same across practitioners, however. Depending on your context, a dressy/classy/respectable white and navy outfit sounds acceptable. Rather, stick to lightweight slacks or dress pants. In Zoroastrianism, followers praise only a single prophet. You can also wear a hat but should take it off indoors. Unless the church frowns on open-toed shoes, any conservative footwear is appropriate. Not only are vulture populations in decline, but cities are becoming more modern. Cutout anything is a don't. Modest shoes: This is not the time to bring out your sexiest heels, even if . Choose fabrics that are lighter and airy, such as cottons and linens. Thank you for your thoughts. Although unfortunately I had to attend the funeral of a friend who sadly passed away in his mid fourties and his family specifically asked not to wear mourning colours. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Skirts that are too short or too long may be distracting, depending on their styles. Thank you. However, no stockings is also acceptable in most contexts. For one thing, urbanization has made it difficult to continue the practice without upsetting a bunch of non-Zoroastrians in high-rises who insist on complaining about both sight and smell. Men should avoid wearing jeans, shorts, sneakers, baseball caps, non-collared or sleeveless shirts, and sandals or tennis shoes to a funeral or memorial service. Shorts, t-shirts, or other beachwear are also not recommended. However, as you might expect, these are not legal or practical in most parts of the world. Though black remains a favorite for funeral wear, navy blue, gray, and brown are good choices for most funerals. Similarly, some choose to bury the dead in a grave lined with concrete. Shorts are acceptable, especially when there will be heat or sunshine, but pair them with nice shoes and avoid sandals. To understand clearly the funeral ceremonies pertaining to the soul, one must look to the notions of the Zoroastrian belief about the future of the soul. Its no longer practical to have bodies exposed to the elements in large cities, and the boom in population doesnt help. Avoid flip-flops or athletic shoes that are too casual or stilettos that may not be appropriate for walking in cemeteries. The prayers said during these days include: The most traditional Zoroastrian burial custom is the use of Towers of Silence. It's not ideal, but it's better than nothing. Going to my boyfriends uncles funeral/luncheon (Armenian style!) Aside from outerwear and accessories, follow the rest of the tips for mens funeral attire. The glasses should preferably be simple and black rather than a cheery summer fun style. Grieving family members sometimes request that funeral attendees wear a particular color of clothing or accessory to the event. Instead of burying the corpse, Zoroastrians traditionally laid it out on a. Smart black or dark suits - this can be worn with a white, long-sleeved shirt and tie. Attending a funeral in anything but black, dark grey or dark blue would be considered as inappropriate. All you have to do is set a dead body out in the sun on a Tower of Silence and wait for the vultures, who are known for their efficiencywhen it comes to getting rid of dead bodies. If not, would a dress that is black with a tan silky dress underneath to show through holes in the dress be okay? The length of the skirt must be at least to just below the knee and tops are expected to fully cover the shoulders. As such, a memorial service can sometimes be a little less formal than a funeral. They also continue to pray for the first several days after the passing of a loved one. The term celebration of life has come into vogue in recent years, and the idea is to celebrate the life of the decedent as opposed to mourning their death. Sorry to be so vague, but again, the standards do vary according to the each familys expectations. Click here to learn more about pre-planning your funeral. For a memorial service that takes place in a church or other formal setting, the color can be brighter but should still be appropriate for work or church. Sneakers, boat shoes, or slip-flips are examples of what not to wear. Hi Thank you for joining us on our mission. It's a difficult enough task trying to decide what to write in a sympathy card and what to say when someone dies. A black shirt paired with khakis and a clean pair of shoes is an everyday smart casual look you can wear at a funeral. The Zoroastrian afterlife isnt the same as our western counterpart. Even within modern Western culture, there is quite a bit of variation so please keep in mind the culture and traditions of the decedents family, region, heritage, and/or religion. Overall, use your best judgement. 2) jumpsuit The spirit was sent by a higher power into a human body to choose between good and evil in the world. A hall is prepared in the mortuary for those who wish to pay respects. Here is a nice combination of black chinos, a charcoal blazer, and dress shirt: If youd like to make jeans work for attending a funeral or memorial service, try to class it up as much as possible. What to Wear: Men Men can choose from shirts, jackets, blazers, pants, and suits in dark hues (think blacks, navy blues, and grays), and in the case of hot and humid weather, can even get away with wearing a simple polo. And d uring such an upsetting occurrence the last thing you want to think about is your wardrobe. We see a white look that can be used for a funeral event. In fact, feeding one'sdead body to vultures is considered a Zoroastrian's final act of goodness. This is why it is supposed to spend as little time within a community as possible. If you prefer skirts over pants, you can still wear a skirt in winter. All the more reason, then, to choose funeral outfits according the more traditional, formal, and conservative guidelines detailed above. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Closed-toe flats or moderate-height heels are best for walking through cemeteries or standing for much of the day. My Pops funeral is tomorrow and I was wondering if a black turtleneck with gray and white stripes would be okay. A black or gray beanie is acceptable, but a classic fedora is preferred. After the funeral, the mourners will also washwith bull's urine. When in doubt, go with darker colors. The suit is obviously the more formal choice; so check with what others are wearing and/or what you know about the family or venue. If you are going to a visitation, dress conservatively. Im going to a memorial service at the end of June. The person who passed away was a well known and well liked gentleman and the funeral was quite large. Do you think thats inappropriate? In most cases, you will also want to wear a long-sleeved top. Federation of Christian Ministries The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Im attending a visitation service for my sister-in-law (she was 60) would dress white pants be appropriate with a navy color pin-striped long sleeve blouse and navy heels? Funeral attire is typically subdued and conservative in line with the somberness of the day. As long as the shade isn't bright or neon, you can probably get away with wearing it to a funeral and appear respectable. Religious Requirements and Practices of Certain Selected Groups: A Handbook for Chaplains Hope this helps! You can also wear dark red, dark green, and even dark brown to a funeral. For others, there is may be no expectation of dress at all, and for some non-traditional funerals (perhaps a celebration of life or a funeral for a cosplay enthusiast) you may be expected to dress in bright, celebratory colors or even in a superhero outfit. This is why many Zoroastrian funeral elements seem strange to outsiders, since they dont reflect the grief we think of in other religions. A drug called Diclofenac, developed as a painkiller for livestock, ended up accidentally decimating the vulture population in the area before it was banned in 2006. When you are attending the literal burial, the service is traditionally known as a committal service but can also be called agraveside ceremony, graveside service, burial service, or simply a burial. Most often this takes place immediately after a funeral service and thus the dress code for one is identical to the other. It is acceptable to wear a suit or gown to a visitation, but not required. Blacks and navys are appropriate tones. The National Funeral Directors Association is the worlds leading, largest and most trusted association to support funeral professionals. No products in the cart. Based on the teachings of the prophet Zoroaster, theres a lot we can learn by delving into these funeral traditions. 2023 by National Funeral Directors Association. You can tone down what you have with conservative accessories to make it work. A long, plain black dress is perfect for a funeral. Wear thick, dark wool socks. 358, P.C 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman. Look . In this case, the most common choice is cremation. I was told that my son would look out of place if he was to wear black pants buttoned long sleeve shirt and a tie because we are not family and only friends that had lost contact for a couple of years. The Association of Religion Data Archives Women should wear dresses, skirts or slacks. The cloth wrappings are removed by the nasa-salars and the body is left to the elements. Lots of great ideas for what to wear at a funeral, especially if you will be attending in a working/professional capacity. This term means caretaker, and this is an esteemed honor. link to Types of Headstones: Common Designs, Materials & Costs, link to Paying for a Funeral: Should You Pay For A Funeral With Cash. According to certain Zoroastrian scriptures,death is the work of a demon that overpowers a person and replaces their living body with dead matter and putrefaction. A funeral is the traditional term for a service with the body present, while a memorial service honors the decedent when the body is not present. Zoroastrian funerals are pretty different from what's usually found in Western tradition. Conservative dark clothing is appropriate at most funerals, but the rules differ among some groups. Im attending a funeral tomorrow and just confused if some floral designed on a dress is ok to wear. What to Wear at a Funeral: Men Basic tips for men: Dark suits or buttoned shirts are always appropriate Long-sleeved shirts, something with a collar Belt with tucked-in shirt Dress shoes or loafers Avoid: sneakers, athletic shoes, flip flops Consider avoiding: jeans (though in many settings, dark jeans with tucked in shirt is acceptable) When attending a summer funeral, consider the location first. Thanks! Though black remains a favorite for funeral wear, navy blue, gray, and brown are good choices for most funerals. For children, they should generally follow the lead of their parents. In reality, its a symbol of returning bodies to nature. Read next: Funeral Etiquette (A Brief Guide on What to Say & Do). (2014). Dressing in a traditional, more formal style is always a safe choice. This was called the House of Song. Those who didnt live just lives would go to the House of Lies where they faced eternal torment and loneliness. and that this impurity transfers to anything the body touches. As we already mentioned that you should dress conservatively for a funeral and when it comes to colors, it is usually dark colors:. Is it ok to wear grey shirt with black suit with no tie. Wearing semi-formal attire and conservative colors to a funeral is appropriate for a somber occasion. What's the reason for the urine? Cute, strappy sandals keep the look business casual. This link will open in a new window. Avoid nylon, polyester, or other synthetic clothing that will trap in heat and sweat.