Protestant Funeral Traditions: Wake, Service, and Reception

What Are the Protestant Funeral Traditions?

Protestant funeral traditions include special ways to say goodbye to loved ones who have passed away. 

Protestantism came into existence in 1517 and has changed in many ways, but the core four pillars of its funeral beliefs and practices have remained as follows:

1. A visitation or wake, where people can say their goodbyes
2. The funeral service, where everyone gathers to remember the person
3. The burial or cremation, where the body is laid to rest;
4. Finally, a reception, where people can share memories and comfort each other

These traditions help honor the deceased person and comfort their friends and family.

Visitation or Wake

A Protestant wake ceremony is a special time before the funeral when people come together to remember the deceased and to bid them farewell. It’s a gathering where friends and family support each other, share stories, help the grieving, and say goodbye.

While the core ideas of this Protestant tradition remain the same, there are endless local varieties. Some wakes — most notably, the Irish wake ceremonies — can be more jubilant without becoming disrespectful. Rather, they are a space where the full range of human emotions can be safely displayed and experienced, in memory of the deceased and the legacy they leave behind.

In general, Protestant wake ceremonies share these common elements:

• Wakes tend to be smaller and more private, often happening at a family’s home with just close loved ones.
• Usually, there’s a casket that might be open or closed.
• Visitations are similar, but they can be at someone’s home or a funeral home, and anyone who wants to can come to show their respect. 
• Both of these events usually happen the day and night before the funeral service, but a wake held at home can last more than one day.

In many ways, the visitation brings a greater sense of closure, as the attendees can take the time they need with the deceased. Funerals often have time constraints imposed either by the clergy, the funeral home, or the cemetery, whereas a Protestant wake ceremony is more intimate and unstructured.

Funeral Service

The funeral service is a more formal event held in a church or a funeral home.

The funeral service usually happens within a week after the passing, but it can be postponed depending on how far family and friends must travel and the availability of desired venues. Funeral services are often led by a religious leader like a pastor or minister. 

Funeral services differ the most among the funeral traditions, as different denominations of Protestantism have different beliefs. For example, Anglican services often engage in the ritual of laying on hands and anointing and communion, practices that aren’t as common in the US and its various denominations.

Burial

Christian burial practices usually follow a similar structure.

The burial is usually immediately after the funeral service. Those who attend the service travel to the burial site to pay their last respects, and sometimes there is a short gravesite ceremony as well.

Cremation is also acceptable within Protestantism. In the case that the body has been creamed the ashes can be buried or scattered in a location of the family’s choice.

The level of involvement of the clergy can be restricted to the funeral service, but a priest can be present for the internment or even at the ash scattering.

Reception

After the burial, many Protestant families hold reception services. Similar to a wake, it is an opportunity for the bereaved to get together in a less formal context, to share their grief, exchange stories, and find the strength to step on the path toward closure.

Typically, receptions are held at home, but they can be organized in a church or a restaurant as well.

Protestant Funeral Service Outline and Structure

Most Protestant funeral services follow a similar structure. While the local varieties are countless, the overall procession is largely the same throughout.

The funeral service is held at a church. It starts with an opening statement, followed by prayers, scriptures, and songs, the eulogy, and finally a funeral message or sermon.

• The opening usually contains a sort of welcoming statement for the friends and family of the deceased, thanking them for attending. This can be conducted by a clergy member or loved one of the deceased. The opening statement is usually concluded with a prayer.
• Next, there are often selected scripture readings or hymns. The congregation generally sings along with these hymns. Which songs and bible verses are used in the funeral service and how much the attendees participate depends on denominations and family preferences.
• After scripture and songs comes the eulogy. It is an endearing speech about the deceased’s life. Whether it is given by a minister, pastor, or a loved one varies depending on denomination and preference. This remembrance can take on various forms and sometimes includes participation from those in attendance.
• Once the eulogy has been given, a clergy member will give the sermon or funeral message. This is the longest part of the funeral service and its content varies depending on the speaker and their denomination. Most funeral messages usually involve the themes of faith, death, and joining God in heaven. The tone of the message could be a warning to those in attendance to make every moment count and to remain firm in their relationships with God. It could also be more celebratory, expressing joy that the deceased lived a life that touched so many, and they have returned to the Lord’s embrace in heaven.

How Are Protestants and Catholics Different

Though Protestants and Catholics are both Christians, many of their traditions and practices have diverged over time. For example, Catholicism as a whole places a great emphasis on tradition while Protestantism focuses more on individuals, their faith, and their relationship with God. This distinction can be seen in the differences between their approaches to funeral ceremonies.

• Catholic ceremonies generally place a much stronger emphasis on the ritual aspect of worship and mourning. The service is almost always conducted by a priest and often lasts much longer than a Protestant funeral. Catholic funerals are more likely to be open casket, allowing individuals to touch the body while paying their respects.
• Historically, cremation was frowned upon by Catholics, but over time their position has become more relaxed. As previously mentioned, cremation is among the accepted Protestant death rituals.
• Protestant funerals place less of an emphasis on rituals and a heavier emphasis on the individual and their relationship with God.

Planning a Protestant Funeral

Funeral planning is a complex process that exerts a heavy emotional and financial toll. Our detailed guide will help you navigate its unique challenges, but in brief, here are the main things to consider:

• A funeral should be not just a time of mourning but a celebration of the life of the deceased.
• When planning a funeral, what feels most meaningful to you and your loved one is the most important.
• Try to accommodate the schedules of as many people as possible, but if logistics and long-distance travel become problematic, consider a memorial service after the burial. They are less time-sensitive and often make a lot of sense when many people come from far away. Online attendance is another possibility.

Conclusion

Protestant funeral traditions have a wealth of rituals to honor the deceased and comfort those who cherished them in life.

These traditions are often seen as the norm in parts of Northern Europe, the UK, and the US, but are present all over the world. They help a grieving family to honor their loved one in a meaningful way that provides spiritual comfort and guidance in this most difficult of times.