How are American funerals different from Russian ones?

How are American funerals different from Russian ones?

Perhaps, everyone at least once saw in American films how the inhabitants of the United States bury their compatriots. A sea of ​​flowers, mournful faces, memorable speeches, a place in a cemetery (and almost certainly rain and black umbrellas in the view from above) – it seems that a lot of things in this regard are going on for them approximately like in Russia. In fact, the process of seeing off on the last journey in the States is organized differently. What are these differences, explored the “Subtleties”.

Preparation

Yes, in the USA it is customary to prepare for your own funeral. Americans estimate in advance how much this procedure will cost them, save money and pay for everything – from a coffin and a place in a cemetery to renting a hearse. In Russia, often the relatives of the deceased, after the death of a person, hastily collects money for his funeral. It’s rare that someone buys a place in a cemetery in advance: our people are superstitious. f550x700/as/zs/aszsu3d4vtc8wwo4804ok8cks.jpg” media=”(max-width: 549px)”>

How are American funerals different from Russian ones?

Anna-Louise: Pexels

Americans estimate in advance how much this procedure will cost them, save money and pay for everything from a coffin and a place in a cemetery to renting a hearse.

The process itself

Here, too, there are many differences. In the United States, more often, the bodies of the dead are opened to determine the cause of death, and the dead are embalmed and cremated. In Russia, all this is not very common. But in our country they arrange farewell right at home (although now they often do this in special farewell houses). In America, it is customary to put up a coffin for parting in funeral halls. The main actors at a funeral in the United States can be called a priest and funeral directors. They strictly monitor the observance of the prescribed stages and rules of burial. In Russia, usually the entire responsibility for the funeral procedure falls on the shoulders of relatives who make sure that everything is on time, in order and according to plan. Priests are not always present at funerals, funeral services only provide cars and other paraphernalia, we still have few funeral directors.

The funeral itself in both countries is approximately the same: they say goodbye, they are taken to the cemetery, a few more words – and the burial begins. But the decoration of the graves is very different. Americans are for simplicity and uniformity. In Russia, by the splendor of the memorial fence and the size of the grave, one can accurately determine the wealth of the deceased. tonkosti.ru/sized/f550x700/60/j0/60j0lto7upsgoog4g0gwckg0.jpg” media=”(max-width: 549px)”>

How are American funerals different from Russian ones?

Americans for simplicity and uniformity. In Russia, by the splendor of the memorial fence and the size of the grave, one can accurately determine the wealth of the deceased.

Nuances

In Russia, it is customary to bring bouquets of an even number of flowers to the graves, in the USA – from an odd number. Also, Russians necessarily arrange a wake – at home or in a cafe, where a large number of guests are invited and where there is a lot of alcohol, tantrums and dancing happen. Americans do not always gather after the funeral and usually at home, with a very narrow circle of close people. However, they do not drink alcohol and eat little. In the United States, there are no superstitions and rituals familiar to Russia: they don’t commemorate the deceased on the 9th and 40th days, they don’t leave him food at home and in the cemetery on memorable dates – only flowers. And yet they don’t hang mirrors and bury in one fence even suicides, even those who died for other reasons (unless, of course, the family and the deceased are not followers of Orthodoxy and the cemetery is not Orthodox).

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